Premier Gives New Sydney Fish Market Green Light for Development Application

19 September 2019

Sydney Fish Market (SFM) has welcomed today’s announcement by Premier Gladys Berejiklian that funding is secured for the new Sydney Fish Market and that DA lodgement is imminent.

SFM’s CEO Greg Dyer says, “It has taken more than five years of intensive consultation, research and detailed planning to achieve this important milestone. Government has been meticulous in their preparation and we applaud the Premier and her team for paving the way for the development to now proceed as planned.”

Economic modelling from Deloitte Access Economics shows the redeveloped Sydney Fish Market (SFM) will drive increased tourism to NSW, lifting Gross State Product by more than $0.6B in its first 10 years of operation. The redevelopment will support an extra 242 jobs and boost the seafood industry in regional NSW and nationally.

Dyer says the doubling of retail floor space to more than 12,000 square metres will allow for increased patronage, an expanded food service offering, more seating and an improved visitor experience.

“Sydney Fish Market is one of Sydney’s major attractions, with 20% of all international tourists to Sydney visiting the market during their stay,” says Dyer.

Modelling from Stafford Strategy shows retail expenditure is expected to increase by more than 100% to almost $350 million a year, attributable to the uplift in visitation as well as an increase in individual spend.

SFM sources seafood from over 300 communities around Australia with approximately 52% of its supply coming from NSW, 36% from around Australia and 12% from overseas – predominantly from New Zealand. The existing SFM supports 222 jobs in regional fishing and tourism supply chains.

The NSW Catchers Trust Executive Secretary David Saul says, “Sydney Fish Market is the Australian fishing industry’s masthead. The new market will be a fitting showcase for our sustainable practices and the exceptional quality seafood our industry provides to the community.”

Visitors will also be able to enjoy new public spaces including an amphitheatre, waterfront promenade and recreational wharves.

Dyer says, “Guided tours will continue to attract thousands of people each year to experience the authenticity of an operating market place and more than 12,000 people will come to our brilliant relocated seafood school to learn how to cook fantastic seafood.”

The redevelopment will boost industry productivity, with improved despatch areas and new storage and handling systems.

The new SFM will have undercover car parking and ample bike spaces, and the market will be well served by ferry, bus and light rail.

The 2019 Deloitte Access Economics Report on the wider social and economic impact of a redeveloped Sydney Fish Market is available to download here.

Video footage featuring comments from regional fishermen is available to download here.

No sound file footage is available to download here.

Images of the new fish market design are available to download here.