A proposal to build housing at a port in Sydney Harbour has been slammed by critics who fear it will ruin the city’s biggest events.
Glebe Island faces redevelopment after the NSW government commissioned a report to assess whether properties should be built around a new Bays metro station.
Banks Events producer and project manager Adam Huie claimed the development would disrupt major events such as Vivid and the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
‘Sydney has one of the best fireworks displays in the world,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘But the event could not be done the way it’s currently done without that Glebe Island facility.’
‘People have spent years trying to work out how to deliver the New Year’s Eve fireworks if Glebe Island suddenly wasn’t available.’
The 260m wharf space at Glebe Island allows cranes to load fireworks onto the barges that are then directed across the harbour for the fireworks display.
Vivid included a drone show this year that was only made possible after organisers were able to make use of the wharf to build a barge and install equipment.
Mr Huie has more than 30 years’ experience coordinating water events and warned more celebrations, such as Australia Day, Sail GP and Opera on the Harbour, were at risk.
The Sail GP event relies on the island to house 120 containers of parts required to build the race boats.
Mr Huie said the organisation delivers essential cargo to wharves near the race site in every international city the event operates in.
The independent Tourism and Transport Forum Australia’s CEO Margy Desmond said the harbour city excels in hosting events, but needs a stable platform to support them.
That platform, she said, is Glebe Island.
Events experts have rejected suggestions of using alternative ports including Port Botany, Port Kembla, or Newcastle to load events barges.
Conditions at the harbour mouth and other complications reportedly make the proposal untenable.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolau said the island was vital for the city’s economy, culture and tourism.
‘The thought that the fireworks and other major events could be in jeopardy is truly alarming,’ he said.
Events group bosses have not yet submitted to the loss of Glebe Island’s critical facilities.
They’re awaiting the release of the full report, slated to come before the end of the year.
Mr Huie said the report had unnerved event organisers.
The Port Authority, which manages the site, has shown strong support for maritime events in the harbour.
Organisers are hoping their support can quash the residential rumblings contained in the report.
