State Reveals Blackwattle Bay Developer Shortlist

Three big guns in Australian property have been shortlisted to develop 3.6ha in the Blackwattle Bay precinct next to the much-anticipated Sydney Fish Market.

Lendlease, Mirvac and Stockland have been invited to submit a request for proposal in early 2025 to develop the government-owned land.

A change to the planning controls was currently being sought by the state to enable a more flexible land use mix to add more homes without changing building heights or gross floor area.

Under the new controls the area could have 1100 homes within walking distance of the CBD, light rail and future Pyrmont Metro Station towers.

There is also a 1.1ha park and foreshore promenade to complete the missing link in the 15km continuous Harbourside walk between Woolloomooloo and Rozelle Bay. 

The precinct was rezoned in late 2022 and an expressions-of-interest tender to develop the area closed in August.

Meanwhile, installation of the floating roof of Sydney Fish Market, lauded as the “masterpiece” of the precinct, got under way in September.

▲ This site in question is part of the broader urban renewal of Blackwattle Bay.

NSW lands and property minister Steve Kamper said they were confident in the ability of the shortlisted developers.

“This is a major milestone for the project and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Blackwattle Bay into a lively world-class waterfront precinct alongside Sydney’s harbour,” Kamper said.

“Blackwattle Bay is now set to boost housing supply, while unlocking the potential of the area and creating thousands of jobs to support a thriving 24-hour economy.”

The finalisation report for the Blackwattle Bay Precinct from 2022 shows  97,500sq m of residential space, 100,320sq m of commercial and 34,000sq m of public space.

The new buildings would range from 6 to 35 storeys, a downgrade from the 2019 plans that received 2409 submissions concerned about the impacts of density in the area.