Newsletter March 2023

Despite the challenges of the last few years, thanks to your help supporting the Sydney Harbour HighLine Association, we have continued to work towards achieving our goal of creating a scenic walking path between the present northern boundary of Luna Park and Union Street (near Waverton Station). The project enjoys the continuing full support of the offices of Chief Operations Officer Transport for New South Wales, the Chief Executive of Sydney Trains, the North Sydney Council and of course you – members of the Sydney Harbour HighLine Association. Importantly the project now has the support of the NSW Premier.

Attached to this Newsletter is a summary of the concept and a chronology from inception in 2016.

During the first quarter of 2023 our activities included:

Clarifying some design features prior to re-costing

The project is “shovel-ready” but we are currently clarifying some design features with Sydney Trains prior to re-costing the project, needed after the delay caused by COVID and other factors.

  • Given the Waverton to Lavender Bay line is used infrequently and is used by trains operating at low speed, we are investigating a possible dispensation from Sydney Trains ‘normal’ 3.5-metre setback of the fence from the midline, applicable for mainline track services.
  • If the walkway is widened, as a result of the fence setback reduction, then it may be feasible to leave the new stanchions in the walkway and make them safe for the public. Not all stanchions have been replaced – there may be opportunities to rationalise these.

Light shows in the tunnel – software

The Tunnel and the opportunity it presents for spectacular light shows is a most exciting element in the project. Digital projection requires hardware and software. We are having discussions with TDC Australia concerning hardware and we are now sourcing a software company to provide the lighting installations to replace ADB Events which chose not to proceed with assistance to the HighLine.

Legal structure

Discussions with Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer, Transport for NSW and Matt Longland, Chief Executive, Sydney Trains are continuing re options for the legal and operational structure of the project whilst Sydney Trains is operating in the corridor and after cessation of Sydney Trains’ use of the corridor.

A critical issue for the HighLine to progress is the ownership and control of the land that will be taken up by the HighLine. The land is presently “owned” by the State Government.

The options readily available include the:

  • Transfer of the land to an entity that undertakes to maintain and operate the HighLine – that entity could be:
    • North Sydney Council;
    • A trust to hold the land and maintain and operate the HighLine for the benefit of the people of Sydney.

  • An expansion of the lease of Wendy’s Secret Garden to include the HighLine. North Sydney Council would continue to be the lessee.

  • The appointment of North Sydney Council as a Crown Land Manager making it responsible for the care, control, and management of the land.

Present thinking is the appointment of Council as Crown Land Manager is to be preferred because it can be achieved without delay.

Media Release “SYDNEY SET FOR STUNNING CITY HIGH LINE”, February 2023

On 11 February 2023, a joint Media Release from Dominic Perrottet, NSW Premier and Rob Stokes, Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport stated … “The Lavender Bay high line project would start with a 300 square metre expansion of Wendy’s Secret Garden, followed by a strategic business case to canvas options for converting the 3.3-kilometre-long disused rail corridor along the Milsons Point foreshore.”

This announcement is welcome. The suggestion of a strategic business case may suggest a mechanism for funding is being considered. In 2017 the then Premier set up a Committee, chaired by Felicity Wilson M.P. and comprising relevant State Government Departments together with community representatives, to investigate creating the scenic walkway. The Committee submitted its unanimous Final Report in December 2018 detailing the design and costing for the walkway. Since then, we have consistently pressed the Government to move ahead with the HighLine project.

We are now in a critical phase. We are completing comprehensive plans and costings for submission to the State Government. All of this requires us to engage experts to help us and this involves the Association incurring costs.

Membership renewal

The Association could not continue its work without your generous support. We did not call on you for funding during Covid. However, we now request that you continue your support for the SHHL by renewing your membership today.

There are four levels of membership:

Bronze

$25

Silver

$50

Gold

$100

Platinum

$500

You can renew your membership in several ways:

Credit Card:

Go online to https://www.sydneyharbourhighline.org.au/support-shhl/ , scroll down and follow the prompts

Electronic Funds Transfer:

Bank:

National Australia Bank

Account Name:

Sydney Harbour High Line Association

BSB:

082 057

Account No:

879 131 078

Reference:

Your name

Cheque:

Payable to Sydney Harbour High Line Association and mail it to the address below.

If you have any questions about the renewal process, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

As always, we thank you for your continued dedication to the Sydney Harbour HighLine. We look forward to working with you to realise our own unique Sydney Harbour HighLIne.

Yours sincerely

Joan Street

Secretary/Treasurer

Sydney Harbour HighLine Association

2 Dind Street

 

 

The concept

Creating the HighLIne on the Lavender Bay rail spur provides Sydney with a once in a lifetime opportunity to –

  • link the Sydney icons of Bridge, Luna Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden and a mosaic of isolated harbourside parks;

  • rebuild a Lavender Bay rail platform opening on to Lavender Green and the harbour;

  • enable display of our railway heritage with historic train events possible.

The Sydney Harbour HighLine Route Map

 

Chronology –2016 to 2023

  • April to June 2016: A series of community meetings was held where the vision for the Sydney Harbour HighLine as conceived received unanimous support.

  • 16 August 2016: The Sydney Harbour HighLine Association was incorporated.

  • February 2017: Mr Chris Muir, Chief of Staff for the Hon Andrew Constance MP Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, advised “… the Minister for Transport and the Chief Executive of Sydney Trains, Howard Collins agreed that the Sydney Harbour HighLine walkway may operate in conjunction with the ongoing operation of Sydney Trains.”

  • March 2017: Premier Gladys Berejiklian established a committee chaired by Ms Felicity Wilson, State Member for North Shore, to investigate creating a scenic walking track along this unique stretch of railway land.

The Report confirmed:

  • The pathway construction may be undertaken now as it would meet the safety requirements of Sydney Trains and current planning codes.
  • The pathway may be operated in conjunction with the ongoing operation of Sydney Trains.
  • A strategic link will be created between Lavender Bay and Waverton accessing the parklands and tourist features of this important precinct that is rich in aboriginal, railway and maritime history.

The costings covered development of the Sydney Harbour HighLine in two stages:

  • Stage 1 being Union Street (near Waverton Station) to Wendy’s Secret Garden; and
  • Stage 2 being Wendy’s Secret Garden to the present northern boundary of Luna Park, constructed either once use of the line by Sydney Trains comes to an end or by Sydney Trains’ retention of a line(s) allocated to Railway Transport Heritage.
  • 17 June 2019: Ms Wilson received a response to the Committee Report from the Minister for Transport which amongst other matters contained several misstatements relating to:
  • Co-existence of the operational rail line and the walkway
  • Sydney Trains’ continued operational need for the rail line
  • Building the walkway on the rail siding would require an Act of Parliament (a misstatement).
  • 1 July 2019: The Association met with Ms Wilson and clarified the misstatements. We further clarified the misstatements in writing to Ms Wilson on 16 July 2019.
  • 10 June 2020: The SHHL Association met with the Minister for Planning to discuss the HighLine project and its contribution to green space.

The SHHL Association clarified the misstatements in writing to Minister Stokes in our letter of 19 June 2020 and requested a meeting with Minister Stokes.

  • 10 July 2020: Minister Stokes’ Private Secretary advised the Association that its request to meet Minister Stokes was declined.
  • July 2020: SHHL submitted its entry to the public space ideas competition, run by the Committee of Sydney. The entry envisaged a walkway from Harbourview Cres through the southern end of Wendy’s Secret Garden to the southern end of the proposed HighLine, incorporating a station for Heritage Trains and an upgrade to the waterfront boardwalk. Our competition entry was commended and although not successful in winning, it garnered a large amount of community interest and further support for the HighLine.

Activities since last Newsletter in February 2021

  • March 2021: The Tunnel and the opportunity it presents for spectacular light shows is a most exciting element in the project. During 2018 the SHHL Association engaged several consultants to advise on initial design and costing of projections in the tunnel. In March 2021 we met with Michael Hassett, Managing Director, TDC Australia, a technical direction company and discussed various options for hardware for digital projections in the tunnel. Michael introduced us to Anthony Bastic, CEO, Creative Director, AGB Events, who has worked on award winning displays for Vivid, as a possible provider of software for the tunnel projections.
  • 26 April 2021: In 2018 Sydney Trains declined to release detailed work and costs for its component which limited our production of full costings. We met with Christopher Jennings, Structural Senior Project Engineer, Stantec Australia who agreed to conduct an independent peer review of our cost plan.
  • May 2021: The SHHL Association engaged a Chartered Quantity Surveyor to review its initial cost plan.
  • 17 May 2021: Stantec provided an independent peer review of our cost plan.
  • June 2021: In June 2021 we met with Anthony Bastic, CEO, Creative Director, AGB Events who conveyed exceptional vision for the Tunnel that will not only appeal to local residents but become an intrastate, interstate and, eventually, an international tourist destination. Anthony agreed to assist by preparing some initial concept schematics or video of the planned concept for the Tunnel that we could use in presentations and submissions to Government as well as in maintaining our members’ enthusiasm and support in raising further funds.
  • 1 December 2021: Post the COVID lockdown, the SHHL Association re-engaged with Howard Collins, now Chief Operating Officer of Transport for NSW to seek advice on several issues including:
  • Will Sydney Trains cease operational use of the corridor, as previously envisaged, in late 2023 with the opening of the cross harbour section of the Metro?
  • If Sydney Trains require use of the corridor after that date, are they aware of when their use will cease?
  • Prior to the end of 2023 or at the later date will Transport Heritage require use of the line on an irregular basis?
  • If Transport Heritage does require use, will they need a new platform at the Luna Park end of the line?

At this meeting Mr Collins also agreed to introduce us to Matt Longland, the new Chief Executive of Sydney Trains.

  • 9 March 2022: We met with Trent Zimmerman who agreed to introduce us to Matt Longland, Chief Executive of Sydney Trains.
  • 23 May 2022: We met Mr Matt Longland where issues discussed included:
  • Sydney Trains’ estimated costing completed in 2018 but regrettably Sydney Trains at the time chose not to share their Quantity Surveyor’s Report with the Premier’s Committee. We agreed to provide the Sydney Trains’ costing information the Association possesses, which may provide further detail on Sydney Trains’ estimated costings.
  • Confirmed that the project has the full support of North Sydney Council
  • Advised the positive relationship the Association enjoys with David Bennett at Transport Heritage.
  • Mr Longland agreed to appoint a staff member to the project with whom the Association can liaise on a regular basis.
  • 20 June 2022: We wrote to Mr Longland and advised:
    • Ian Mutton had met with the new North Sydney Council Mayor, Zoe Baker, who had reiterated her personal support for the project.
    • Ian Mutton would contact Mr Collins and Mr Longland to investigate and coordinate the options for the legal and operational structure of the project whilst Sydney Trains is operating in the corridor and after cessation of Sydney Trains use of the corridor.
    • We would meet with David Bennett, Transport Heritage to update him on the project and to seek his office’s feedback on their requirements for future use of the corridor.

We also advised we were endeavouring to establish:

  • Which cost items (if any) were duplicated within the cost estimates of Sydney Trains and the Association.
  • Which items within the Sydney Trains’ schedule were repairs and maintenance items, capital items for upgrading and any capital works completed by Sydney Trains since Sydney Trains did their cost plan.

The SHHL Association’s view is that once the project costings are addressed then a full and accurate proposal may be submitted to various Government Departments for funding.

  • July 2022: We followed up on our successful meeting in June 2021 with Anthony Bastic, CEO, Creative Director, AGB Events regarding lighting presentations for the tunnel. Regrettably they advised that their recent conversation with Destination NSW indicated the Government would not spend any money on projects outside western Sydney and hence they were unable to assist us further. Despite this, we will now source a new supplier.
  • August 2022: Felicity Wilson MP, Member for North Shore advised us on 1 August she was meeting with Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE) to discuss the SHHL project. As Ms Wilson has had no involvement with the project since the submission of the SHHL Committee’s Report in December 2018, we were concerned that she did not include the Association in that meeting.

On 3 August we wrote to Howard Collins requesting representation at this meeting.

  • August 2022: We met with David Bennett and Daniel Page of Transport Heritage, NSW.

Transport Heritage is funded by Transport for NSW and has responsibilities to operate and maintain assets from the NSW Heritage Fleet. Responsibility for engineering decisions, infrastructure standards etc rests with Sydney Trains/Transport NSW and not Transport Heritage. Nonetheless Transport Heritage is an interested stakeholder in the project, and we wished to obtain their views.

Issues discussed included:

  • After cessation of use of the line by Sydney Trains, Transport Heritage intends to continue use of the line.
  • The line is suitable for vintage electric trains.
  • Possibly once/month or more regularly in peak tourism seasons.
  • The walkway to be closed when Heritage Trains are operating.
  • The design concept for Lavender Bay comprised two lines and an island platform.
  • Post cessation of operational use, who would be responsible for maintaining the track.
  • Maintenance requirements of a siding differ to those of a main line.
  • Fencing requirements of a siding differ to those of a main line.
  • SHHL was keen to retain transport memorabilia.
  • The potential of a Heritage Fleet presence in Lavender Bay and Berrys Bay.
  • Nathan Rees had recently been appointed Chair of Transport Heritage.
  • 2022 – 2023: Legal structure – ongoing discussions

Discussions with Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer, Transport for NSW and Matt Longland, Chief Executive, Sydney Trains are continuing re options for the legal and operational structure of the project whilst Sydney Trains is operating in the corridor and after cessation of Sydney Trains use of the corridor.

A critical issue for the HighLine to progress is the ownership and control of the land that will be taken up by the HighLine. The land is presently “owned” by the State Government.

The options readily available include the:

  • Transfer of the land to an entity that undertakes to maintain and operate the HighLine – that entity could be:
    • North Sydney Council;
    • A trust to hold the land and maintain and operate the HighLine for the benefit of the people of Sydney.

  • An expansion of the lease of Wendy’s Secret Garden to include the HighLine. North Sydney Council would continue to be the lessee.

  • The appointment of North Sydney Council as a Crown Land Manager making it responsible for the care, control, and management of the land.

Present thinking is the appointment of Council as Crown Land Manager is the to be preferred because it can the archived without delay.

Evidence of the Government’s commitment to the HighLine will be best shown by it dealing with the land issue without delay by a statement of intention followed by the implementation of that implementation.

  • October 2022: Mr Longland advised that he had appointed Louisa Dear, Director, Office of the Chief Executive, Sydney Trains to the project as the person with whom the Association would liaise on a regular basis.

We provided Ms Dear with a copy of the 2018 Final Committee Report and advised we were re-assessing the design and re-costing that design.

  • 4 December 2022: We provided Ms Dear with background to the assumptions the SHHL made in the 2018 Final Committee Report. Joint use of the corridor determined that:
  • There was a need for a fence to separate pedestrians from train operations. The setback required from the centre line of the tracks to the security fence is 3.5 meters.
  • The project would be carried out in two stages. Stage 1 being Union Street (near Waverton Station) to Wendy’s Secret Garden; and Stage 2 being Wendy’s Secret Garden to the present northern boundary of Luna Park. Stage 2 will be constructed once the use of the line by Sydney Trains comes to an end or Sydney Trains’ use of the line may continue over the line(s) allocated to Transport Heritage.
  • However, whilst now reassessing the design of the project and re-costing that design, it is advisable to review some of the parameters as they may either now not be required or may be varied. We requested Ms Dear to review and advise on the following:
  • As the line is a shunting line with no passing trains and the trains are operating at low speed, might a dispensation be agreed to for the ‘normal’ 3.5 metre setback of the fence from the midline?
  • If the new stanchions remain in place, can they be secured from the public?
  • 20 January 2023: We requested feedback from Louisa Dear of Sydney Trains on two issues:
  1. Could an exemption from the normal 3.5m setback of the fence from the mid rail line be obtained? and
  2. Could the stanchions be secured from the public?

In response Ms Dear advised she had referred the two questions to the EMB team and would advise of their response.

  • 11 February 2023: Dominic Perrottet, NSW Premier and Rob Stokes, Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport issued a joint Media Release “SYDNEY SET FOR STUNNING CITY HIGH LINE” which stated … “The Lavender Bay high line project would start with a 300 square metre expansion of Wendy’s Secret Garden, followed by a strategic business case to canvas options for converting the 3.3-kilometre-long disused rail corridor along the Milsons Point foreshore.”

This announcement was welcomed. The suggestion of a strategic business case may suggest a mechanism for funding is being considered. In 2017 the then Premier set up a Committee, chaired by Felicity Wilson M.P. and comprising relevant State Government Departments together with community representatives, to investigate creating the scenic walkway. The Committee submitted its unanimous Final Report in December 2018 detailing the design and costing for the walkway. Since then, we have consistently pressed the Government to move ahead with the HighLine project .

  • 16 February 2023: We wrote to the Premier providing a clear statement of the facts over the past 5 years, we have advised the project is “shovel ready” and requested the government to provide more substance prior to the election.
  • 21 February 2023: We exchanged emails with Michael Hassett, Founder and Managing Director, TDC seeking a software supplier to develop a presentation concept for the tunnel and produce a schematic to exemplify the concept.
  • 6 March 2023: We met with Felicity Wilson M.P. Ms Wilson confirmed the Premier’s commitment to the project and, perhaps more importantly, clarified the Premier’s reference to a “business case” was a reference to the documentation that would form part of the funding application to cabinet.
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