What’s in the Berrys Bay masterplan COMMUNITY

By Hannah Wilcox

The final master plan for the controversial Berrys Bay foreshore site has been released, which will see old dormant industrial land split into three community-centred precincts.

Comprising the former BP site, Woodley’s Boatyard and the quarantine boat depot, the Waverton waterfront will be transformed into foreshore parklands and public spaces.

Plans for the new foreshore parkland at Berrys Bay have been “shaped by the community” and provide a “vision to transform the former industrial land of [the site] into usable public open space”, according to the master plan overview.

Transport for NSW prepared the project with aims to “complete the missing link in foreshore access on the Peninsula” as well as “reconnect the community and visitors to the Bay’s histories, foreshore lands and waters”.

“The NSW Government is committed to improving public open space and plans to deliver a new foreshore park at Berrys Bay, much earlier than planned, for the benefit of the local community”, the overview reads.

Locals will have access to a new open-space area which includes sprawling native foliage, walking tracks and slipways with spectacular Sydney Harbour views.

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the final master plan transforms the former industrial land of Berrys Bay into a stunning foreshore open space that everyone can enjoy.

“The master plan unearths one of Sydney Harbour’s hidden gems and reconnects the community with local bushland, water and history,” Ward said. “This will complete the missing link to foreshore access along this stretch of the harbour with new connected pathways around the bay under a revitalised larger green canopy.”

The key design changes will see the evolution of a working waterfront into foreshore parklands that families, visitors, boaters and kayakers can enjoy, Ward, the Minister for Metropolitan Roads, said.

“The Berrys Bay plans include upgrading the jetty at Woodley’s Shed and new slipways that improve access to the bay for boaters and kayakers.”

“Parents will soon be able to take their children to play at the local beach, explore native bushland, or picnic in the stunning recreation areas, without impacting the family budget”, Ward said.

The bay has seen controversy over the past few years, starting in March 2019 when a development proposal was lodged by the Noakes boatyard to construct a Floating Dry Dock. The

$5.75 million proposition was to service commercial vessels up to 1000 tons in weight.

It was presented before the Land and Environment Court but was refused in September 2020.

More recently, there has been lengthy discussion about the bay’s role in the construction of the Western Harbour Tunnel.

In 2020, the NSW Government released plans detailing the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade, with Berrys Bay set to be turned into a temporary construction site.

The four-and-a-half year project would see excavation of the tunnels both towards the harbour and back towards the Warringah Freeway.

In December last year, plans to lay massive tubes on the harbour floor for the new crossing were ditched in favour of digging a deeper tunnel after Transport NSW allocated the second and final stage of the project to Acciona Construction Australia.

The company is set to use Tunnel Boring Machines to drill in and under the rock face to construct a section of the tunnels under Sydney Harbour, meaning Berrys Bay will no longer need to be converted into a temporary construction site - allowing development of the new foreshore park to begin a lot sooner.

The new plan has led to Mayor Zoe Baker seeking reassessment.

“A full and comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement is urgently required .. The Government has awarded a $4.24 billion contract to ACCIONA to bore the tunnel under the seabed, following concerns that the planned Immersed Tube Tunnel would stir up toxic sediment and kill marine life”, Baker said.

“While it is gratifying that reason has finally prevailed, and Berrys Bay appears to have a reprieve, we know from experience that the devil is in the details and once again none has been provided.”

A NEW DESIGN: Nevertheless, North Shore MP Felicity Wilson said the next step in the development of the Berrys Bay master plan is a detailed design, where there will be further opportunities for input from the local community.

“Berrys Bay is going to be the next great public parkland on Sydney’s harbour foreshore, and I am excited that we have been able to secure this huge win for our local area,” Wilson said.

“I want to thank the community for their comprehensive insights and feedback, which has helped us to create a plan that will revitalise and return this foreshore to our community, while recognising our local First Na- tions history and the heritage of the working harbour.”

“I am thrilled that this vision will be realised even sooner than previously promised– for all of our local community to enjoy and experience.”

On February 13 a motion was passed by North Sydney Council calling for the NSW government to transfer ownership of the site before the state election; in addition to seeking a commitment from the leader of the opposition that if elected, the transfer would still go ahead.

“For at least three decades, council and the community we represent, has been calling on the State Government to transfer ownership, care and control of the foreshore lands at Berrys Bay, Waverton to Council in order to ensure public access to the public foreshore in perpetuity”, Baker said.

“The time for action and to deliver ownership of the land to the community is now.” She was concerned the government had yet to “provide certainty to the community that the project will be delivered nor that the land will be transferred to Council after the election.”

But MP Wilson said the Balls Head Road site is a “huge win for our local community” and she has “engaged closely with the local Council and community to deliver this outcome for them.”

“The site has been dormant for many years and will now be returned to the community to provide more than two square kilometres of extra open space for public recreation.”

“The NSW Government has stipulated that the Council must reserve the property grounds for community open space for at least 15 years as part of the conditions of the transaction”, she added.

“The Liberal and Nationals Government has worked closely with North Sydney Council and the Berrys Bay Community and Stakeholder Working Group since early 2021 in the development of the final master” plan.

Construction on the 1.9 hectares of land making up the Berrys Bay site is expected to start later this year with the foreshore parkland set to open in 2024.