Premier Chris Minns signals Glebe Island could share space with housing

Premier Chris Minns has confirmed housing is being considered at Glebe Island, amid growing pressure to find alternative sites following the failure of the government’s Rosehill housing plan.

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

Premier Chris Minns has broken his silence on speculation that Sydney’s working port at Glebe Island might be sacrificed for high-rise apartments, saying the industrial hub could survive but share the site with housing.

While confirming the government is searching for alternative housing sites following the collapse of his government’s plan to build 25,000 homes at Rosehill, Mr Minns said the inner-city port was “not necessarily” part of a fallback plan despite speculation it was next in line.

“There’s a couple of options that we’re looking at right now,” Minns told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“Part of every site, on every kind of reform for Glebe Island, is going to be housing. Now, whether you take all of it for housing, or whether you keep some industry… that’s a decision we have to make.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns broke his silence on Glebe Island. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Pressed on whether the port would need to shut down, the Premier said: “Not necessarily all of it. There’s different elements to it — you’ve got sugar that goes in there, you’ve got critical minerals for the construction sector, a working port, and the cruise terminal. So there’s many different aspects to the Glebe Island area.”

Minns also welcomed growing public debate over alternative housing options, such as Long Bay jail or Homebush.

“In the past, we’ve had a culture where we’ve tried to rule out new housing developments rather than rule them in.”

He said any announcements would be made once commercially sensitive negotiations were finalised.

“As soon as I’m able to announce more housing options for Sydney, I’ll come on and say it immediately.”

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Originally published as Premier Chris Minns signals Glebe Island could share space with housing