The New South Wales Government has confirmed that thousands of new homes will be built on Glebe Island as part of a major redevelopment that will create a new inner Sydney suburb known as Bays West. The announcement marks the first time in decades that a brand new suburb will be delivered in the inner city. 

Plans for Bays West include up to eight thousand five hundred homes along the harbour foreshore, with at least ten percent designated as affordable and essential worker housing. The new residential precinct will sit directly above the Bays West Metro Station, which is currently under construction. The government says the location, around four kilometres west of the central business district, offers a rare chance to create significant housing close to transport and services. 

Although the development will replace many port operations, the White Bay Cruise Terminal will remain in place. The cruise terminal receives more than one hundred ships each year and is built to accommodate vessels that can pass beneath the Harbour Bridge. It sits roughly two kilometres from the future suburb. Given the proximity, the government is installing new shore power technology at the terminal to help reduce noise and emissions for nearby residents. 

Bulk port functions now based on Glebe Island, including cement, gypsum and sugar handling, will be phased out by no later than 2030 as the area transitions from an industrial zone to a residential community. The government says this shift represents a better use of prime waterfront land and will open up public access to the area for the first time. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged that the transformation may not appeal to everyone, but emphasised that change is necessary for Sydney to remain a place where young people and families can afford to live. He described the redevelopment as a significant improvement over the site’s current industrial use. 

Source: ABC News