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BalmainRozelle.com |
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The $31 million proposal to build an 18 storey Cement Terminal at
White Bay Rozelle has been withdrawn by the applicants, namely Independent Cement & Lime Limited.
Planning Minister Frank Sartor announced that the proposal by IC&L had been withdrawn following a meeting with the Company where he expressed "serious" concerns about the project. However, this leaves it open for IC&L to reapply after the March 2007 NSW State Govt election. Only after a new Master Plan has been formulated, will the Community rest assured that inappropriate development will not occur on this prime piece of Sydney Harbour foreshore land. |
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Who
was behind the Development Application |
Independent
Cement & Lime
Pty Ltd wanted to construct and operate a Cement Dust Terminal at
White Bay, Balmain / Rozelle. ICL is owned 50/50 by Barro
Group Pty Ltd based in Melbourne and Adelaide
Brighton Pty Ltd based
in Adelaide.
► Download > Glebe Island & White Bay Master Plan - Nov 2000 ► Download > ICL Environmental Assessment White Bay Cement Terminal ► Download > ICL Information Sheet re White Bay Cement Terminal ► Download > ICL 2nd Information Sheet re White Bay Cement Terminal |
What was proposed? |
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The Development Application was
for a
huge crane and gantries to
unload cement powder from ships berthed at White Bay. The crane system
would have been 17
metres in height (6 storeys) and 130 metres long - located directly
in front of the Waterdale residential apartments.
ICL also planned to build a 55 meter
tall silo to store 40,000 tonnes of cement dust and a warehouse to package
(bagging) the cement dust.
ICL disclosed a operational capacity
of up to 500,000 tonnes per annum - that's equal to 20
million standard 25kg bags of cement dust. The cement dust was
to be packaged and loaded onto heavy duty trucks for distribution throughout
Sydney and NSW.
The Cement Terminal would have
operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
constant noise from the operations would have been unbearable
to residents in the Waterdale Apartments in Buchanan Street, within 50
meters of the crane and gantry and closeby the pumping station. The ICL
application forecasted noise levels of up to 96
decibels. Also
a worry was the noise and traffic disruption from large trucks collecting
bulk cement dust and palletised bags of cement dust. Up to 500,000
tonnes per annum.
Part of the existing goods
rail line would have been removed in
the process. The White Bay goods rail line joins the existing
light rail network servicing the Inner West,
Annandale, Glebe, Pyrmont, Casino, Darling Harbour and Central. It is likely
to be extended to Circular Quay in the not to distant future.
The sharp
edge of the wedge: The approval of the Cement Dust Terminal
would have opened the way for other inappropriate heavy polluting
developments along the entire foreshore area of Rozelle White Bay and
Glebe Island and the Rozelle shunting yards.
Opportunities
forever lost...the
State Govt owned land at White Bay is up for lease.... if this proposal
went through, the land would be "off-limits" for decades,
preventing the extension of the light rail and re-introduction of harbour
ferry services into White Bay to alleviate the traffic congestion in this
bottleneck area. The State Government collected the stamp duty whilst Pymont
and White Bay was subject to "urban consolidation" with large
scale high density residential apartments. The residents who bought the
apartments had a reasonable belief that if changes were to occur it would
be in a positive direction. Not a Cemet Dust Terminal next door.
White
Bay - Glebe Island is unique, it's location
close to the City, a large tract of inner Sydney habour-front
land of some 220 acres, owned by the NSW Govt. The
area should be developed as a transport hub (without the car); to
create a hi-tech Digital Age employment and cultural zone, with recreation
and tourist attractions in the historic White Bay Power Station and
along the waterfront.
Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of NSW. The Cement Dust Terminal, besides being an ugly and a dirty facility - just does not make economic sense. We understand this 'massive' development would have added only a handful of jobs in the area. The Glebe Island & White Bay Master Plan - Nov 2000 was produced by Sydney Ports Authority, and published soon after the Sydney Olympics. That Master Plan relates solely to Port Activities and does not canvass alternative uses of greater State and regional economic benefit in the medium to long term. The Plan is out of date as the development of residential land closeby the site has occured in recent years. |
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Destruction
of local amenity in Balmain Rozelle |
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Health hazard – cement
dust can cause silicosis, cancer, chronic bronchitis -
summer NE winds - winter southerlies will blow dust
waste across the Balmain Rozelle peninsula
Noise pollution - 24 hours a
day - 7 days a week - admitted by ICL at 96 decibels
Sleep disruption - windows closed
- air conditioners on
Yet more traffic problems - caused
by more heavily laden trucks in the local streets
Lost potential for inner city
highly efficient public transport - bus terminal, harbour ferries, light rail - bike and walking tracks around the foreshore to the city.
Lost potential for additional
jobs in the locality from clean light maritime, hi-tech digital age industries, cultural and recreational activities aimed at tourists, visitors and locals.
Poor use of prime foreshore land - setting precedent for other "dirty" heavy industries
Impact on heritage listed White Bay power station |
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Politicians
involved |
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Balmain
residents lining up to sign Verity Firth's petition |
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Your input
is most welcome ... at BalmainRozelle.com |
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Contact - Glenn
DuBois a Rozelle resident
by email info@balmainrozelle.com regarding concepts or suggestions as to various development options for the
White Bay, Glebe Island, Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay foreshore lands owned by the NSW State Government.
View concepts for new Master Plan for the White Bay, Rozelle Bay, Glebe Island and Blackwattle Bay region including public access to foreshore; reuse of White Bay Power Station; bringing in light rail; ferry wharves; park land and building developments click here for more details |
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BalmainRozelle.com |
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