by Duncan Leys, May 2026, from Bulletin 03/2026

As I’m sure members appreciate, The Glebe Society is an outstanding example of a long-running, effective and highly credible community organisation. We can all be proud of The Society’s contribution to our Glebe today. The Society’s work is undertaken by volunteers and I want to thank the many members who organise our Walks and Talks programs and other events. Participation in these programs illustrates how much they are appreciated. In two recent talks, one on Glebe’s Pubs and the other on the Glebe Town Hall (the People’s Place) we set out to encourage non-Glebe Society Members to attend and we were successful.

Here’s my call to you today – we need more volunteers. We have in mind another 3 to 5 talks which we want to put on in the same format, encouraging non-members and members to meet in a social setting and to entice new people to join the Society. Ultimately we might find a few who want to volunteer to help run the Society.

We share many challenges in Glebe and Forest Lodge in common with our neighbours in Pyrmont and Ultimo, along with other City of Sydney suburbs and council areas across The Inner West generally. These issues include: greater housing density; more affordable and public housing; better and more accessible public transport access; and provision of more green space to meet projected population growth. Addressing these issues involves greater collaboration between various groups and with the NSW Government and the City Council.

Help is needed to undertake research and write submissions to put our community’s interests to government, argue proposals and protest when we are being ignored or our views are not being taken seriously.

Artist’s impression of the Bays West Pricinct site (Source: NSW Government Cabinet Office’s March 2026 summary document, Bays West Redevelopment Overview)

Of interest to the Inner West and a pointer to relevant issues is the report commissioned and published by the NSW Government on the future of the Bays West Precinct. There is the full report which provides a comprehensive overview and a summary report, shorter and to the point, which contains details such as a tentative commitment to restoration of the old Glebe Island Bridge, made possible by exporting commercial enterprise to White Bay, though how the New Fish Market ferry will be handled is not explained.

An artist’s impression of the Bays West Precinct site shows many of the main features. Absent from the impression would appear to be substantial public access to the foreshore & very limited greenspace on the foreshore.

If you can volunteer in any way, please contact me. I would be very grateful for some new faces to help our team continue the good work.

Best regards

Duncan Leys