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Media Releases |
Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 12 June 2009 WHITE BAY REFUELLING FACILITY APPROVED WITH STRICT CONDITIONS Approval has been given for an $8 million marine refuelling and supply facility at White Bay Berth 6 on Sydney Harbour. The project will create around 65 construction and operational jobs. Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said approval was subject to strict conditions to minimise impacts on surrounding areas. That includes prohibition of night time truck movements to and from the site. “Baileys Marine will offer a range of services which are not currently available and are important to Sydney’s continued role as a working harbour,” Ms Keneally said. “The project will provide a new refuelling, servicing and maintenance facility which will benefit operators of both working and recreational boats. “The proposal will allow activation of the currently disused site without compromising future long term uses that will be subject to the Bays Precinct consultation. “My decision to approve the project followed extensive public consultation since 2006, including a public exhibition process, advice from an independent panel, and two days of public hearings.” Ms Keneally said measures the company has committed to, conditions imposed by Government, and the nature of the specific proposal itself will limit its impact on the surrounding area. That includes: • A prohibition on truck movements after 6pm every day, and not before 8am on Sundays. Use of the facility by recreational boats will also not be allowed after 10pm. • Operational noise level limits. The company will be required to implement a noise management plan and commission noise monitoring reports. • Other conditions relating to safety, air, light and odour impacts, traffic impacts, water quality and visual impacts. “The conditions I have imposed reflect the issues raised during the public exhibition period and are designed to directly respond to community views,” Ms Keneally said. “In addition, the company has committed to the preparation of a traffic management plan, to limit the number of heavy vehicles accessing the site and to ensure fuel tankers do not use residential streets. “A number of measures will be put in place to protect water quality and the new buildings will actually decrease light spill from the site compared to the present time, while not obstructing views. “With issues raised by the community managed, the benefits of this important new piece of marine infrastructure can be realised, including a boost in jobs and investment for the local area.” The proposal by Bailey’s Marine Fuels Australia Pty Ltd is for development on Berth 6 (the most north-eastern berth at White Bay) owned by Sydney Ports Corporation. The development will include: • Construction of a new two-storey marine office and storage building; • Construction of a new single-story bulk storage building; • Four underground storage tanks and associated refuelling infrastructure; • Grey water and sullage pump facilities; • On-site parking for 30 vehicles; and • Construction of three temporary moorings, wharf, travel lift ramp, roll on/roll off ramp and steel pontoon.
DONATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: No reportable political donation disclosure has been made under the NSW Local Government and Planning Legislation Amendment (Political Donations) Act 2008 in regard to this proposal. More information on this law is available at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/assessingdev/donations.asp The proponent, Graham Bailey Pty Ltd, trading as Baileys Marine Fuels Australia, has confirmed that the company and its directors have not made any political donation to any party in NSW.
FACT SHEET: BAILEY’S MARINE REFUELLING FACILITY The Bailey’s Marine Fuels Australia Pty Ltd proposal will see development on the site known as Berth 6 (the most north-eastern berth at White Bay) owned by Sydney Ports Corporation. Construction and ongoing operation of the facility will create around 65 jobs on the site. The facility will activate the site and allow for its viable economic use until the potential future development of the Bays Precinct is resolved after an extensive consultation period. Following a meeting with community representatives, the former Planning Minister appointed an independent panel of experts to consider and advise on several aspects of the proposal, including: • The need for such a facility; • The capacity of White Bay to accommodate the facility; • The adequacy of proposed noise mitigation measures and other environmental performance issues; • Justification for the requested 24-hour operation of the facility. After holding public hearings in February 2008 and also visiting a number of existing refuelling operations on Sydney Harbour, the panel concluded that there is a need for such a facility, that the site is an acceptable location and that proposed noise management measures are adequate. However, it also recommended a number of restrictions be placed on the facility’s operation, including restrictions on operating hours for certain activities such as use by recreational boats, truck movements and activities involving machinery such as forklifts and cranes. These include a prohibition on truck movements after 6pm every day and not before 8am on Sundays. Use of the facility by recreational boats will also not be allowed after 10pm. Operational noise level limits have also been imposed and the proponent will be required to implement an Operational Noise Management Plan and commission noise monitoring reports. As well as the conditions relating to noise, other issues such as air and odour impacts, traffic impacts, water quality and visual impacts have also been carefully assessed. These issues have either been adequately addressed as part of the proposal itself or are subject to strict conditions requiring the proponent to comprehensively manage their impact to acceptable levels. For example, the proponent has committed to the preparation of a traffic management plan, to limit the number of heavy vehicles accessing the site and to ensure fuel tankers do not use residential streets. A suite of measures to protect the water quality of the harbour will also be implemented on the site and the new buildings will actually decrease the level of light spill from the site to nearby residences compared to the present time, while not obstructing existing views.
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