Naval expert warns closing Glebe Island port could impact our national security

Closing Glebe Island port to build high-rise apartments has been flagged as an option to ease Sydney’s housing shortage following the collapse of plans for Rosehill racecourse. But an expert has flagged huge concerns.

Closing Glebe Island port to build high-rise apartments could have ramifications for Australia’s national security, a naval expert with a celebrated career in the defence forces has warned the Minns Government.

Jennifer Parker once served as second in command of HMAS Darwin and was director of operations for a Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain before ending 21 years in the Royal Australian Navy to enter the world of consulting and academia.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph as clouds gather over the future of Sydney Harbour’s last working port, Ms Parker said Glebe Island is viewed as a “significant” waterfront asset by the Navy.

Glebe Island port is a significant Sydney asset used by the Royal Australian Navy. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Her comments come as dozens of industries and businesses continue the fight to retain long-standing port facilities they say are vital to the NSW economy.

“There is a real issue with space to berth naval ships in Sydney Harbour,” said Ms Parker, a former RAN officer who specialised in strategy, planning and operations.

“This has been increasingly a problem over the last 10 years. It will become an even bigger problem with the Federal Government’s plans for expansion to the fleet. Anything that impacts that, does impact our national security.

“Any decision that reduces the Navy’s ability to berth ships in Sydney Harbour as the Navy is meant to be expanding, will impact our capabilities. Those capacity issues are only going to get worse over the next decade as the Navy looks to get new ships.”

Ms Parker said the Albanese Government’s attempts to shore up Asia-Pacific alliances also put pressure on the RAN “at a time when China has evolved from a modest coastal navy into a true bluewater force”.

“With the government increasingly trying to encourage deeper relationships in the region, we are encouraging other countries to send their ships to Australia,” Ms Parker added.

American ship the USS Blue Ridge during a visit to Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“For their security those ships generally need to berth at Garden Island, which displaces Australian naval ships. It means they need to find other places to berth.”

Ms Parker said the only outcome that could offset the loss of Glebe Island port was if the Federal Government delivered a new east coast submarine base with sufficient berthing for naval ships.

“We do know the government is overdue a decision on the base,” she said. “But in the absence of any decision or new access to maritime real estate, it would just make the Navy’s life harder at a time when Australia needs to step up as a genuine maritime power.”

Approached on the Glebe Island issue, a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Richard Marles said: “The Albanese and Minns governments take Australia’s security seriously and will always work cooperatively to ensure both national security requirements and local community needs are appropriately addressed.”

Glebe Island is on the NSW government’s radar for residential development because it plans to open the Bays metro station in 2032 and wants to complement the transport centre with high-rise in the surrounding areas.

Leading figures from the construction, maritime, events and tourism industries have opposed any form of development that would lead to Glebe Island port shutting down.

But stakes were raised last week when the government’s hopes for 25,000 new homes at Rosehill were shot down by Australian Turf Club members refusing to sell the racetrack.

A proposed sale of Rosehill Gardens fell through after Australian Turf Club members voted against the plans. Picture: Getty Images

But as the government struggles to meet supply targets and comes under pressure to deliver more housing, a Working Port Coalition of 27 organisations argues the industrial hub should not be the “fall guy” for the failed Rosehill proposal.

The Coalition argues any high-rise on Glebe Island would not ease the housing crisis and would be destined to become a harbour front “millionaire’s row”.

Paul Nicolaou, Business Sydney executive director and spokesman for the Coalition, said: “The stakes are too high. Closing Glebe Island Port would be a catastrophic economic mistake.

“It would disrupt Sydney’s supply chains, inflating construction costs, and permanently damage the state’s industrial future — all during a housing crisis.”

Paul Nicolaou fronts a media conference for the Working Port Coalition. Picture: Gaye Gerard

As revealed by this masthead last month, the Coalition has urged the government to consider a hybrid model where the port facilities and residential development could coexist.

They cited international examples where the approach had succeeded including Rotterdam, New York, Gothenburg and London.

“The NSW Government must not gamble Sydney’s future on a shortsighted, economically destructive decision,” Mr Nicolaou added.

“Glebe Island is too valuable to lose — and keeping it operational is the only choice that makes sense.”

The port receives by ship 40 per cent of Sydney’s cement and all its gypsum for construction.

Sixty per cent of Sydney’s food-grade sugar also lands at Glebe Island while the harbour front operations are critical to the New Year’s Eve fireworks, Vivid, Sail GP and other headline events.

“This port has injected $29 billion into Sydney’s economy over the past 30 years and underpins over 5,000 jobs,” Mr Nicolaou said. “Once lost, deepwater ports like Glebe Island are gone for good.”

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Originally published as Naval expert warns closing Glebe Island port could impact our national security