A tradition lost on Sydney Harbour

by Dugald Jellie, The Sydney Morning Herald

"AT NOON today a pilot launch will ease from the grey-weathered wharf at Watsons Bay and round the Heads for the last time, to bring in the final blunt-bowed car carrier to Sydney. It will be the end of a nautical history that is as old as the city itself.
Harbour pilots are stopping operations at Watsons Bay, ending an association they have had, in fair weather or foul, since before even 1813, when this little nook was named after one of their own. Robert Watson was the Watson of Watsons Bay, appointed by Governor Macquarie as the colony's first harbourmaster and pilot.
"It's a sad day," says Ross Janssen, a cutter-master, as he ferries a pilot from the jetty, five nautical miles out to sea to board an incoming vessel.
"It's a tradition lost. We've had pilotage running out of here since when they rowed them off the beach in whale boats. But with the downturn in shipping, it's no longer viable."
Sydney Ports said the service would move to Millers Point, and probably next year to a new centre at Botany Bay. The last car ship is to leave Glebe Island tonight. ..."

Read the full article from The Sydney Morning Herald here.

Revealed: Sydney's Open secret

by Cameron Houston, Jason Dowling and Sherrill Nixon, The Sydney Morning Herald

"SYDNEY has launched a secret bid to pinch the jewel in Melbourne's major events calendar - the Australian Open.
Its audacious pitch for the Grand Slam tennis tournament includes a plan to build a multi-million-dollar stadium at Glebe Island when the harbour site - now filled with cars - is closed to stevedores.
But it will be up against stiff competition from overseas, with Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi all mounting campaigns to host a Grand Slam event when Melbourne's contract expires in 2016.
The Australian Open is one of several major events NSW hopes to steal as it reinvigorates its focus on tourism, after a series of damning reports found it was losing visitors and attractions to other states.
The State Government has poured millions of dollars into rebuilding "Brand Sydney" - including the formation of the $85 million Events NSW body - after it was blasted for becoming complacent after the Olympics.
Events NSW's chief executive, Geoff Parmenter, confirmed Sydney's interest in the event, which is worth more than $100 million to Victoria's economy. ..."

Read the full article from The Sydney Morning Herald here.

Jobs boost tipped as car imports move from Sydney

"New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has unveiled the new car handling terminal at Port Kembla, beginning a new era in the state's shipping industry.
Giant car carriers have been a regular sight in Sydney Harbour but they will today start unloading the bulk of their cargo at Port Kembla's inner harbour instead.
The new terminal, south of Sydney, will handle all car imports from next year, when the city's terminals at Glebe Island and White Bay close. ..."

Read the full article from ABC News here.

Iemma relocates car imports to Port Kembla

"New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has announced details of a plan to relocate car imports from Glebe Island in Sydney to Port Kembla by 2008.
The move will generate jobs and economic opportunities for the Illawarra.
Mr Iemma says Glebe Island has 5,000 car spaces while opening a new birth at Port Kembla will provide 14,000 car spaces, securing future expansion for the next 40 years.
"Glebe Island just simply doesn't have the space and it makes good economic sense to invest in the future of the Illawarra by transferring that service and that facility to the Illawarra," he said. The move is expected to generate 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in Wollongong, with the Government investing $140 million to upgrade the port. ..."

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Carr flags end of Sydney Harbour as port

"Sydney Harbour will no longer operate as a container terminal, under a major overhaul of the New South Wales State port system.
Premier Bob Carr used his address to the state Labor Party conference to announce that stevedoring leases at Darling Harbour East, Glebe Island and White Bay, would not be renewed when they expire over the coming years.
But he says the plan is good news for Newcastle and Port Kembla, with both regions expected to pick up a greater share of trade.
Mr Carr says the decision to stop using Sydney Harbour as a container terminal would free up 33 hectares of unbroken foreshore.
"[It's] land for open space, housing employment and waterside entertainment," he said.
He says there will also be an expansion of Port Botany, but says a commission of inquiry will be set to examine the plans before any approval is given."

Read the article from ABC News here.