Should have been planned earlier
The venue will be the Opera House for fish, a sparkling architectural marvel on Sydney Harbor that will also feature fresh and delectable seafood.
When it opens on January 19, the new Sydney Fish Market promises to be a state-of-the-art replacement for the outdated facility on the adjacent waterfront, and although problematic and expensive at $836 million, it looks set to appeal to seafood lovers and tourists alike.
So what could be better than getting there by ferry via a new route? A floating pontoon dock was proposed on the east side of the Fish Market, which would rise and fall with the tide and make it easier for passengers to board and disembark ships. A shuttle service between Barangaroo and the Fish Market is expected for the first two years to test demand; the idea was put forward a year ago as a rival to the famous trip to Manly.
Unfortunately, it’s at least a year away from the ferry taking anyone to the new fish market for one simple but avoidable reason: the pier hasn’t been built yet.
Plans for a $30 million pier are still at the design stage, transport and infrastructure editor Matt O’Sullivan revealed today. This means ferry services are not expected to start until 2027, at least a year after the fish market opens to the public. This will put pressure on the limited vehicle spaces available, the nearby light rail line and the two bus routes serving the area.
It’s hard to disagree with Public Transport Action spokesman Graeme Taylor, who said this was due to poor planning. The new fish market was long in the making; It was just a matter of when. “The ferry service should have been there from day one. They’ve known about it for years,” Taylor said.
The delay alone is glaring and embarrassing enough: Given the massive investment in fish markets and the desire to make them successful, adding a $30 million pier early in the planning stages doesn’t seem like too much of a problem.
But this oversight becomes even more puzzling when you consider that two piers were built at a cost of $78 million near the entrance to Botany Bay, with no ferries in sight. Although the “Kamay ferry docks” stand some 230 meters out into Botany Bay, waiting for ferries, services between La Perouse and Kurnell take years at best.
As with any infrastructure project, there are reasons not to rush the Fish Market ferry terminal. Plans for the pier are also complicated by concerns from Glebe paddlers who fear a greater risk of collision in Blackwattle Bay, O’Sullivan said. An additional challenge for transportation authorities is operating ferry services into the bay, which would likely require the removal of some maritime infrastructure.
These are foreseeable and surmountable obstacles. Delays may be understandable, but a whole year seems inexcusable.
Get a weekly opinion pack that will challenge, defend and inform your own views. Sign up for our opinion newsletter.
Herald’s Opinion – Since the Herald was first published in 1831, the editorial team has believed that it is important for readers to express a considered view on the issues of the day and always put the public interest first.
