Balmain Wins: Ferry Returns, Callan Park Expansion, and Cleaner Air

MP Kobi Shetty Reports on Community Victories (including the Callan Park Expansion) and Ongoing Campaigns in Balmain

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Dear 2041 Locals,

I’m Kobi Shetty, your local Greens MP for Balmain. Living in this vibrant, caring community with my family is a privilege, and I’m committed to being a strong voice for the issues that matter most to you. Over the first half of this year, we’ve achieved some fantastic wins together, and we’ve also faced challenges that require ongoing community action. From protecting essential health services to securing better public transport and tackling air pollution, or community has shown, once again, that when we stand together, we can achieve real change. 

In a huge win for our community, we’ve secured the return of the Balmain West Ferry service which began running again from mid-August. This result was years in the making, driven by persistent community pressure including petitions, letters, community meetings, and the tireless work of residents who refused to accept losing such an important service. I was proud to stand alongside you and push the government to act, and it is proof that our collective advocacy works. The reinstated ferry will mean quicker, more reliable, more affordable, and more sustainable trips to the city. It will also help reduce congestion on the peninsula. Thank you to everyone who was part of this win. I’ll keep working alongside you to ensure the ferry timetables truly meet the needs of our community. 

Community pressure has also secured a $4.8 million dollar boost for the Callan Park expansion in Balmain. This much-needed funding will be used to knock down several buildings in the centre of the park, to deliver an additional 1.6 hectares of green space. Wins like this don’t just happen, this funding is the result of years of sustained advocacy from our community, and pressure from the Greens to hold the government to account.  

While this is a big win, we know there’s still more to do. A Labor-Led Parliamentary Inquiry recommended commercialising parts of Callan Park. While Callan Park needs investment and a clear plan for the future, giving public land to private operators isn’t the answer.  We have some fantastic community groups and social enterprises who have the skills and the drive to step in and ensure Callan Park is a thriving place for our community. I’ll be working with these groups and local residents as consultation for the Callan Park Masterplan progresses this year.  

In August, work commenced on the installation of shore-to-ship power at White Bay Cruise Terminal, a long-overdue step in tackling the toxic cruise ship fumes that have impacted residents for over a decade. This is a huge win for public health and air quality, and it’s the direct result of years of campaigning by residents, local advocacy groups like Stop Cruise Ship Pollution, and The Greens. While we welcome this progress, the work isn’t finished. We now need to hold the government to account to ensure they make it mandatory for all cruise ships to plug into the grid and use shore power while in port. We cannot allow old vessels to continue running their polluting diesel engines in White Bay. 

Meanwhile, I’m continuing to work with Inner West families, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and local healthcare workers to stop the proposed cuts to midwife positions at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital. Thanks to strong advocacy from health workers, unions, parents, and thousands of community members who signed our petition and spoke out, we’ve secured a pause on these dangerous cuts while a review is undertaken. Now we need to keep the pressure on. The Minister for Health needs to intervene and ensure these dangerous cuts are stopped for good.  Because Inner West families deserve world-class healthcare, and our incredible midwives deserve job security. 

It’s been a pleasure to work alongside many of you to deliver better outcomes for our community. Remember, my team and I are always here to help. Please contact us via email on kobi@kobishetty.org.au or call (02) 9660 7586. I look forward to seeing you out and about!

Yours sincerely,

Kobi Shetty, Member for Balmain