Update 13/09/2004 - Council Wants Freehold Rights to Water Police Site

Friends of Pyrmont Point have been told that Sydney Council aims to gain freehold ownership of the site.

As designated "owner" of the former Water Police site the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is required to give owners consent to any development application for the construction of a community resource providing green open space. Furthermore, SHFA would assess Council’s development application and would refer the assessed application to SHFA's Minister for consent.

Friends of Pyrmont Point have referred before to SHFA's undue control of the planning, development and assessment process for such sites. We strongly believe that SHFA's roles and responsibilities must be be reviewed and revised to reduce SHFA control and increase the openness and transparency of the development process. We therefore welcome moves to reduce SHFA's control over the Water Police site, though the wider problem of SHFA’s influence over developments in the area remains.

Although there has not been much publicity since our historic victory in achieving the return of the former Water Police site to the public, there has been activity behind the scene. Discussions have been underway between City of Sydney officers and SHFA staff about due diligence issues relating to the handover to Council.

We also understand that quite detailed issues have been under discussion. For example, we understand that Council took the initiative for old wharf timbers on the site to be retained for incorporation into a revitalised community space. Unfortunately, it is reported that these timbers are contaminated and that SHFA agreed to remove them from the site.

We do not have a planned timetable of events yet but are attempting to get this information.