Shutting down Glebe Island port at odds with promises to reduce carbon emissions
The Maritime Union has slammed the NSW Government over threats to shut down Glebe Island port, saying it flies in the face of the state’s promise to scale back on carbon emissions.
NSW
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A union boss has slammed the NSW Government as “delusional” over threats to shut down Sydney Harbour’s last working port, saying it flies in the face of the state’s promise to scale back on carbon emissions.
Maritime Union of Australia Sydney branch deputy secretary Paul Garrett has launched a stinging attack after Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe announced investments into emissions-reducing technologies this week.
“The Minns Labor Government is investing in the new technologies, jobs and industries that will drive our state’s transition to a low-carbon economy … as we address the critical challenges climate change presents,” Ms Sharpe said of the $26 million initiative.
“This investment will see these projects transition into practical, real-world solutions for emissions reduction.”
But Mr Garrett said the government’s commitment to a low-carbon future was at odds with its review into the future of Glebe Island port, and the prospect of the maritime hub being scuttled to make way for high-rise apartments.
A 2024 report from the Port Authority of NSW, a government agency, outlined “the importance of continuing port operations at Glebe Island, and the significant risks and subsequent costs to Sydney and NSW should operations cease”.
The report, prepared by KPMG, said closing Glebe Island port and having materials freighted from Port Kembla or Newcastle to Sydney would result in an extra 226,000 truck movements per year.
It would increase “road congestion and safety costs by $360.2m over 30 years”, and lead to increased emissions of 24,064 tonnes CO2 equivalent per annum.
Mr Garrett, who recently approached Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey to argue against the port’s potential closure, told The Daily Telegraph the government risked losing credibility over the issue.
“It’s delusional in one sense to argue for carbon emissions but then go and put another 200,000 trucks on the road every year,” he said.
“We’re prepared to continue engaging with the NSW Government to find a fix but it has to include maintaining a working port at Glebe Island.
“We expect capital investment, not closure, and we expect the government to come out and support a working port.
“Sydney Harbour has always had a working port and needs to retain those berths there.”
The future of Glebe Island remains undecided as the government considers using the precinct for high-density developments to complement a Bays metro station planned to come online in 2032.
But Mr Garrett and the Working Port Coalition – made up of industry and business stakeholders invested in Glebe Island’s future – argue a “millionaire’s enclave” on the harbourfront site will do nothing for the housing crisis.
“There won’t be any affordable housing there when the minimum cost is likely to be $2.5 million,” Mr Garrett added.
Acting Opposition Leader Damien Tudehope has previously told The Daily Telegraph closing Glebe Island port would be revenue-raising “under the guise of housing”.
“These are harbourside developments we’re talking about, where the government will be selling off prime real estate and filling up its coffers with the proceeds of those sales under the guise of wanting to deliver housing,” he said.
“It will not deliver affordable housing for people trying to get into the market for the first time.”
Premier Chris Minns told The Daily Telegraph: “Whatever we do, and this goes for any of our planning proposals, there’s got to be an element of affordable housing (and) there’s got to be an element of social housing.”
But Mr Minns added: “We haven’t made a final decision about the Bays Precinct, and I’ve got to weigh up the fact that there are aspects of the working Harbor that are really important for a port city like Sydney.”
The Daily Telegraph also reported on Monday how global shipping company CSL has backed out of a multimillion-dollar renewable energy project until the government guarantees the future of Glebe Island port.
The Canadian-headquartered multinational signed a letter of intent with the Port Authority of NSW in 2022 to help reduce carbon emissions by supporting the installation of shore power to enable ships to berth at Glebe Island and shut down their engines while continuing to unload materials.
“It’s madness that we’re here in 2025 and shore power still hasn’t been sorted out,” Mr Garrett said. “With the number of operators down there it should have been done ages ago.”
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Originally published as Shutting down Glebe Island port at odds with promises to reduce carbon emissions
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