The precinct
Blackwattle Bay is re-emerging as a vibrant inner-city destination. It mixes the past with the future, blending history, culture and sustainability into a vibrant urban village.
Precinct vision
Blackwattle Bay offers an extraordinary opportunity to reconnect the harbour, its surrounding neighbourhoods and the city;
to showcase Sydney’s living culture and stories of Country;
to build an inclusive and iconic waterfront destination that celebrates innovation, diversity and community.
How will we achieve this?
Moving the Sydney Fish Market to the head of the bay unlocks approximately 10.4 hectares of harbourside land.
It presents a rare opportunity for urban renewal with new housing, employment and harbourfront community spaces located less than 1km from the Sydney CBD.
Our ambition is for the precinct to deliver an iconic waterfront destination with around 1,500 new homes, 4,300 new jobs parks and green spaces and new cultural and recreation spaces for everybody to enjoy.
A mixed-use precinct
All your daily needs within steps
The close proximity to Pyrmont, Glebe, Darling Harbour and the city makes Blackwattle Bay one of the best places to live and work. The new Sydney Fish Market and the future hospitality and commercial offerings within an enviable destination, providing all the goods and services you need within walking distance.
Recreation on the door step
A 15 kilometre continuous waterfront walkway will be on the door-step connecting the Precinct to Woolloomooloo to the north, and Roselle Bay to the south. Bike routes and shared paths will weave through and around the precinct into a well-connected local transport network.
The green belt of existing parks and planned parks will be within steps providing passive places for respite. A new 1.1 hectare park on Sydney Harbour will be created, connected by a boardwalk and foreshore promenade to the new Sydney Fish Market waterfront urban parks.
Convenient transport connections
The Precinct will be one of the most well-connected places to live, work and visit, limiting the need for personal motor vehicles. Future and existing transport links include:
Sydney Metro West and Pyrmont Metro Station, connecting to the CBD and Greater Sydney
Cycle routes, a key transport mode for a sustainable village
Inner West Light Rail, connecting the Eastern Suburbs with the Inner West
Pedestrian links, connected to a soon to be 15km harbour walk
Ferry, linking to the CBD.
Key features of the renewal
Public spaces
More than half the site will be open and accessible to the public
A green harbourside
3.4ha of new public open space
A sustainable precinct
Targeting Net Zero Carbon by 2041, with future development to deliver socially and environmentally sustainable outcomes and Green Star Communities ratings
A direct boost to the NSW economy
4,300 new jobs, a boost of around $600 million total economic benefit to NSW and attract an estimated $3 billion of public and private capital investment
Connection to the water
A 20-30m wide waterfront promenade will complete the missing link in a 15km foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo
A vibrant 24-hour mixed-use precinct
Creating jobs and homes surrounded by a working harbour, waterside parks, cafes, restaurants and retail in an easily accessible location
A renewed tourist destination
The new Sydney Fish Market, currently under construction, will be the biggest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere aiming to attract 6 million visitors. It will offer a variety of fresh seafood, restaurants, cafes, bars, and specialty food retailers in a market hall setting.
Design excellence
High quality architecture for buildings and open space will be achieved across the precinct
Connection with Country
The renewed precinct will recognise and celebrate the traditional custodians of the land and waters of Blackwattle Bay – the Wangal and the Gadigal people
Integrated transport to the CBD and beyond
Multiple modes of transport accessible within 500m - Sydney Metro, light rail, bus, ferry and active transport links
To unlock the precinct for urban renewal, Infrastructure NSW has followed a State Significant Precinct planning process.
- Minister for planning determines Blackwattle Bay a state-significant precinct
- Department issues State-significant Precinct Study requirements
- A State-significant Precinct Study is prepared including proposed planning framework
- The State-significant Precinct Study is placed on public exhibition for feedback
- Infrastructure NSW considers feedback from submissions and prepares a Response to Submissions Report and Revised Precinct Plan
- Department of Planning and Environment makes an assessment and submits a recommendation to the Minister for Planning
- The Minister for Planning makes a determination on the Precinct Study and planning framework for future development We are here
State Significant Precinct rezoning
State Significant Precinct Study
The Blackwattle Bay Precinct was declared a State Significant Precinct (SSP) and has been following a Department of Planning and Environment SSP planning process. The planning process is illustrated on the left.
The SSP Study prepared in 2021 provided a comprehensive assessment to determine the development potential of the area, carefully considering environmental and social factors, and identifying the infrastructure needs of the future population. The study included an Explanation of Intended Effects (EIE), Design Code and supporting technical studies. Community engagement has been essential in the development of the Precinct, and will continue throughout the urban renewal.
The rezoning was approved in December 2022.
State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) amendment
A SEPP amendment to change the land-use controls on the existing Sydney Fish Market site to allow a further 320 homes has been approved by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in May 2025. This planning determination increases the homes permitted on that site from 860 to 1,180 homes. The amendment was sought in response to the need for more housing in close proximity to infrastructure, public transport, open spaces and jobs.
With the DPHI determination, the Blackwattle Bay Precinct (including Government-owned and private landowner sites) will deliver around 1,500 new homes, 4,300 new jobs, 3.4-hectares of public open space and new cultural and recreation spaces for everybody to enjoy.
Next steps
The NSW Government is seeking an experienced delivery partner for renewal of the existing Sydney Fish Market site. Urban renewal is expected to occur after the new Sydney Fish Market is operational and tenants have moved into the facility.
Explore the existing Sydney Fish Market opportunity by clicking on the above tab "Existing Sydney Fish Market site".
Blackwattle Bay development partner shortlist announced
Following an open and competitive Expressions of Interest (EOI) process, three development partners have been shortlisted to bring the vision for the Blackwattle Bay mixed-use precinct to life:
Lendlease Development Pty Ltd
Mirvac Office Developments Pty Ltd
Stockland Urban Development Sub 2C Pty Ltd
These three highly regarded urban renewal specialists have extensive experience delivering housing, world-class public spaces, as well as active retail and commercial precincts, and will progress to Stage 2: Request for Proposal.
The EOI process was highly competitive, and appreciation is extended to all proponents who submitted proposals.
A short video on the Opportunity
Interested parties were invited to respond to the EOI process. Submissions closed on 19 August 2024 at 12pm AEST.
Register for project updates to stay up to date with procurement and the shortlisted development partners.
Open for living
Delivering up to 136,423sqm of gross floor area zoned for mixed-use development including affordable housing the site will bring residents back to Blackwattle Bay for the first time in over 100 years.
Open for opportunity
A thriving 24-hour economy will be supported by workers and visitors as well as residents. Retail and commercial space is envisioned across the site, and is likely to include stores, cafés, restaurants and attractions, as well as office spaces.
Open for all
Over half the site is intended for in parks, walkways and gathering places in 34,000sqm of public space. This will include the final piece in a waterfront promenade linking to Barangaroo and the Opera House, intended to establish the site as a major new Sydney attraction.
Open for connection
Part of Sydney’s Central Business District, the site and precinct are connected to multiple modes of public and active transport. Within 500m there are bus, cycle and walking routes, in addition to the new Pyrmont Metro Station, a potential new ferry stop and two light rail stations.