Multiplex has been appointed by the New South Wales (NSW) state government to build the long-awaited Sydney Fish Market redevelopment in Blackwattle Bay, intended to create a new “foodie” waterfront destination for the city.

Designed by Danish architect 3XN along with BVN and Aspect Studios, and located adjacent to the existing Fish Market in Pyrmont, the new Sydney Fish Market will have some 6,000 sq m of new public space in a four-storey market hall setting with restaurants, fishmongers and specialty food retailers.

It will have upgraded technology to keep seafood fresher and allow for easier trade.The NSW government allocated US$516m to the scheme in October 2019.UK-headquartered consultancy Turner & Townsend was picked to provide project management, superintendent and tenancy coordination services for the scheme last month.Multiplex said its experience building submersed infrastructure would be relevant on the project.“The redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Market is set to have a huge and positive impact on the local community as well as the fishing, construction and tourism industries and we couldn’t be more proud to help deliver this world-class development,” said David Ghannoum, Multiplex Regional Managing Director NSW.Construction is set to commence in 2021 with completion due in 2024.

The existing market is largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and trades over 13,500 tonnes of seafood a year (Florian Cassayre/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The project is expected to create around 700 jobs during construction and more than 700 on-going jobs once it opens.The existing Sydney Fish Market will continue to operate during construction.Multiplex is currently delivering 3XN’s and BVN’s designs on Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower.

The redevelopment is set to provide all new open public spaces that will allow shared pedestrian and cycle paths and waterfront access from Sydney Fish Market all the way to Woolloomooloo and improve access to nearby public transport links.Multiplex is aiming to achieve a 5-Star Green Star rating and is consulting with Australia’s leading marine habitat restoration specialists to identify ways to remove floating waste, improve water quality and enhance the recovery of marine life.The existing Sydney Fish Market is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest seafood market, in terms of variety, in the world. It trades over 13,500 tonnes of seafood a year.