White Bay Power Station brief 'too restrictive': Urban Taskforce

The Urban Taskforce believes rejected private sector proposals to redevelop Sydney's White Bay Power Station reduces confidence in the private and public partnership process.

Urban Taskforce chief executive Officer Chris Johnson said after 13 teams have spent millions of dollars in good faith the whole process has been cancelled.

“It would appear that the brief was just too restrictive with the requirement to only house technology companies while restoring a decaying heritage building and to somehow fund this from very limited new development," he said.

“The large development companies in NSW have previously had two rounds of proposals for the central area of Barangaroo cancelled and with the termination of the White Bay proposal process, tens of millions of dollars have been wasted.

“There is also much confusion around the White Bay site about the impact of WestConnex and future public transport options. This lack of clarity increases the risk to the private sector in preparing proposals but it is very unfair to use this as an excuse in rejecting all proposals.

“It now appears that UrbanGrowth NSW were premature in calling for private sector proposals and too restrictive with their brief.”