Local community group Friends of Ultimo is voicing strong opposition to the NSW Government’s plans for the high-density Blackwattle Bay redevelopment, raising fears that urgent needs for affordable housing and public services are being ignored as major developers are chosen for Ultimo’s last piece of available public land.
Project Moves Forward
The state government has advanced its plans for transforming the 3.6-hectare government-owned site, currently occupied by the Sydney Fish Market. Three experienced development companies – Lendlease Development Pty Ltd, Mirvac Office Developments Pty Ltd, and Stockland Urban Development Sub 2C Pty Ltd – were shortlisted following an Expression of Interest process to partner with the government.
These companies are known for urban renewal projects involving housing, public areas, shops, and offices.
The government is seeking changes to planning controls for the site. It says this allows a more flexible mix of land uses, including more homes and potentially up to 1,100 new residences. These changes are not intended to alter the approved building heights or total floor area.
This redevelopment is part of a larger renewal of the Blackwattle Bay area, which includes the new Sydney Fish Market site and a planned 1.1-hectare harbourfront park at Bank Street. Authorities state delivering world-class public spaces is a priority, including finishing a missing section of the 15-kilometre harbourside walk between Woolloomooloo and Rozelle Bay.
Residents Raise Concerns
However, the local community group Friends of Ultimo has expressed significant worries about the project. Jean-Pierre Alexander, a key campaigner for the group active in the area for over ten years, stated that their main objection is the planned density.
He suggested the location is not ideal for future residents or workers and that the tall buildings proposed near the Anzac Bridge will block views and sunlight for people living in nearby Jacksons Landing. The group believes the scale of the development does not fit the surrounding neighbourhood.
Friends of Ultimo highlighted that the current proposal comprises only private apartments and commercial offices. Alexander pointed out the lack of public or social housing in the plans, which the group argues is desperately needed for essential workers like nurses, doctors, and police who struggle to afford housing in the area and often have to live far away.
He also noted the absence of planning for vital community facilities, stating there is no provision for amenities such as schools, medical services, or spaces for sport, leisure, and culture. The group feels this is a missed chance to use public land to build what the community requires, recalling a past situation where land intended for a school in Ultimo was sold for luxury apartments instead.
Community Action and Demands
Friends of Ultimo organised a protest outside the Fish Market to raise awareness of their campaign. Alexander reported that the event in March went well, attracting many people, including the local Member for Balmain, Kobi Shetty, who spoke at the gathering.
The group actively tries to influence the project through submissions, community forums, and meetings with officials. They encourage other residents to voice their disagreement by writing to the Planning Minister, the Infrastructure Minister, and the City of Sydney.
Alexander clarified that the campaign aims not to stop development completely, but to push for a smarter, more inclusive plan. Friends of Ultimo wants to see a mixed-use development that includes genuinely affordable housing and the public facilities needed to support the community, building something that benefits everyone rather than just another set of luxury towers.
Next Steps
According to the government’s earlier announcements regarding the project timeline, the shortlisted developers were expected to be invited to submit a request for proposal in early 2025.
Published Date 30-April-2025