MEDIA RELEASE 30.09.2026
A BETTER FUTURE FOR BAYS WEST: PUBLIC MEETING CALLS FOR CONSULTATION ON BAYS WEST
Media Contact: John Stamolis 0408 448 285 or jstamolis@hotmail.com
A brilliantly attended meeting at Balmain Town Hall last night (Tuesday 29.9.26) rejected the NSW Government proposal to develop Bays West into a densely packed high-rise suburb with up to 8,500 flats and units.
Instead, the meeting agreed that Bays West is a rare opportunity to plan the inner-city harbour foreshores for the future of our global city with vision and for public benefit and enjoyment. The audience heard from Judy Mundey – long-term housing campaigner, Eddie Ma – architect & urban designer, Kobi Shetty – State MP for Balmain, John Stamolis – former independent councillor.
John Stamolis said that “Sydney harbour defines our city and our identity. It is not anyone’s housing estate or industrial site. It is not under ownership of a political party. It belongs to all of us. As we open up the foreshores for public use and enjoyment, Sydney has become a more exciting and mature city.”
There has been no public consultation about Bays West, nor scrutiny from Council. It is insulting that the only consultation the Premier wants for Bays West is a ‘naming competition’.
The meeting urged the NSW Premier and Inner West Mayor to commence public consultation before any further decisions or actions are taken for Bays West.
The meeting agreed that we should develop a much better vision for our harbour foreshores than high-rise towers of units.
We must prioritise the waterfront, not subdue it with unit towers. We must provide continuous public foreshore access and large open spaces. The White Bay Power Station should be the cultural and entertainment hub. Metro, ferrys, walking, cycling and opening up the Glebe Island Bridge will provide easy access. Ecology and beauty must feature.
John Stamolis said “Sydney needs housing but it also needs land for public purpose for the next 1 million people in 11 years … the next 2 million people in 20 years … or 3 million in 27 years.”
With 8,500 dwellings, Bays West will have MORE dwellings than the suburbs of Balmain, Balmain East and Birchgrove combined. It will be 1,500 dwellings bigger than Pyrmont in a much smaller area! This an intense scale of development.
John Stamolis said that “Inner West Council has the 6th highest population density of all 540 Councils in Australia. To suggest that anyone in the Inner West is against density is ignorance. We know density better than anywhere in Australia. We supply more housing per sq km than 99% of Councils in Australia.”
Better Future Coalition is a grassroots initiative of concerned Community Groups across the Inner West. www.betterfutureco.com.au
betterfuturescoalition@gmail.com
