Letter to Chris Minns urges the Government not to mess with the harbour’s last working port

Industry leaders are writing to the NSW Premier calling on him to understand the ‘dire consequences’ if Sydney Harbour’s last working port at Glebe Island is scuttled.

Industry leaders fighting to save Sydney Harbour’s last working port claim the NSW Government is split on whether to shut down the facility for high-rise apartments.

In a letter being sent to Premier Chris Minns, the Working Port Coalition says it is aware of Ministers within Cabinet who believe it critical for Glebe Island to retain existing port facilities, while others are not convinced.

The Coalition – a group of 24 organisations from a range of sectors – also revealed it has commissioned an independent economic analysis to support the case for retaining the vital maritime hub.

“The economic implications and dislocation of closing Glebe Island port are so dire it’s hard to imagine any authority brushing them aside,” says the letter, obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

“We’ve made some progress with your government. A wholly inadequate consultation process before Christmas has been beefed up to a genuine conversation.

Concrete delivery ship berthed at Glebe Island port. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“We know there is a ‘meeting of the minds’ in your Cabinet, with some Ministers believing it’s critical for Glebe Island to remain a port.

“But others are wedded to the view that our last working port should be turned into expensive harbourside housing to feed a new Bays Metro Station.

“So, as a coalition, we still have work to do to convince you and your Treasurer Daniel Mookhey that losing Glebe Island would be disastrous for Sydney.”

The letter says Glebe Island supplies 40 per cent of Sydney’s cement, 100 per cent of its gypsum used in building and construction, 60 per cent of the city’s food-grade sugar needs, and is an essential nerve centre for the New Year’s Eve fireworks, Vivid and the global Sail Grand Prix series.

Sydney Harbour views from the top of the cement silo at Glebe Island. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“Lose a deepwater port of this kind and you say goodbye to it forever,” the Coalition writes. “Losing a port that has contributed $29 billion to Sydney’s economy over the past 30 years and supports more than 5000 jobs is, frankly, a big deal.

“And, if the port were to close, it would result in a potential 50 per cent increase in cement and gypsum prices adding dramatically to construction costs for homeowners and builders.

“Not to mention the 226,000 additional truck movements annually to get all of this material back to Sydney from either Port Kembla or Newcastle.

“A new facility in Port Kembla or Newcastle to handle cement operations alone would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

“There might be some who think it’s just a matter of shipping cement and other products by rail. Even if it were possible, which it isn’t, little thought has been given to how this extra rail traffic would smash Sydney Trains’ operations.”

The letter says the coalition will also hold a “special forum” next week to “examine all the issues surrounding Glebe Island’s future” with maritime experts to provide additional insights.

“Premier, it might be a hard decision but it’s not a difficult choice,” the letter continues. “Retaining Glebe Island as a port is good for Sydney and its economy. It’s the only choice that makes sense.

“No government wants to find itself on the wrong side of history with one bad decision because it lacked information.”

Originally published as Letter to Chris Minns urges the Government not to mess with the harbour’s last working port