The community and Council have asked for a proper planning process where the planning process should proceed the approval of developments such as Baileys and cruise ship terminal.

The worst possible outcome for both White Bay and Barangaroo is that they are lost to shipping forever.

Deep water harbours are incredibly rare, and with peak oil approaching (past?), the folly of trucking all out stuff back to Sydney from distant ports like Wollongong will become very clear.

Even though a lot of new cruise boats can’t fit under the Harbour Bridge, at least the Cruise Terminal proposal for White Bay, and the refuelling depot, keeps the harbour alive. And that part of Sydney’s harbour functional for the time when even the dills who are currently making these disastrous decisions, will have to rethink the way we move everything around.

But I bet Kristina Keneally doesn’t even put working harbour on her list of options she will “consult” us about. Certainly Leichhardt Council’s Mayor Jamie Parker has ruled that out, he wants all working class industry (and working class employment) out of Balmain.

Kristina will want to maximise the real estate value – Pyrmont style, and Jamie and his “eco warriors” will want parks and unimpeded water views for their mini Mac-mansions. Verity will just want to keep her seat.

And what will get? A dismal combination of all this, like Blackwattle Bay at Glebe. Where security cameras have to protect the trees from being poisoned and cyclists and walkers trade insults in the pages of the local press. And a waterfront as lifeless and sterile as Lake Burley Griffith.

Surely that’s not what City Hub has in mind too?