The Australian Government: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Leasing.

Harbour Trust: Leasing

The Leasing Process

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has a range of buildings, facilities and other former industrial or military sites that are being restored and leased to the public.

Each site or precinct within the Harbour Trust portfolio of lands has, or will have, a detailed management plan produced. This plan will outline the types of appropriate uses for buildings and facilities.

All parties interested in leasing from the Harbour Trust should have reviewed the appropriate management plan.

The Trust will normally follow a three stage leasing process:

  1. Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)
  2. Request for Proposals (RFP)
  3. Lease negotiation with the successful applicant

Where the use of a building or precinct is clear, the Trust is permitted to move directly to the request for proposals stage.

If at the end of the formal leasing process a suitable tenant has not been selected for a building, the Trust may choose to identify a tenant on the open market (open leasing). Current open leasing opportunities are detailed in Available Now For Lease.

 
Stage One: Expressions of Interest

Bacino Kiosk recently took out a lease at Chowder Bay

The Trust will seek expressions of interest in order to:

  • establish the level of leasing interest in the site
  • understand how interested parties wish to use the site
  • create a database of interested parties in the site
  • receive comparable information from interested parties in order to fairly assess the suitability of leasing proposals

The Trust is seeking expressions of interest for information purposes only. There is no obligation on either the Trust or an interested party to enter into a lease agreement at a later date.

The Trust will call for non-binding Expressions of Interest. The Trust will assess all proposals received based on a range of criteria described in the Tenant Selection Criteria.

Prior to submitting an EoI, applicants should review each of the following documents and policies:

 

Title
Download
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Leasing Policy
Policy framework that guides the leasing process
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Community User Policy
Policy framework that guides community use applications
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Tenant Selection Criteria
Policy framework that guides the selection of successful tenderers
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Agency Guidelines
Policy framework that guides the involvement of agents

 

An expression of interest to the Trust must be submitted in writing to the Trust and should contain the following information:

  • an expression of interest cover sheet (this is compulsory and available online)

 

Document Download
Expressions of Interest Cover Sheet
Compulsory 		PDF 96kb

 

  • the nature and description of the proposed use, including:
    • nature of business or use
    • amount of space required
    • property(ies) proposed for use
    • use of or impact on any other site assets (e.g. open spaces, jetties etc.)
    • anticipated number of occupants
    • anticipated business hours
    • anticipated transport and parking needs
    • off-site requirements
    • any possible building alterations
    • any special requirements or conditions relating to the proposed use
  • an explanation of how the proposed use conforms to the criteria for adaptive re-use of the building(s) as laid out in the relevant management plan
  • track record of proposed lessee in the area of business proposed
  • proposed lease term and preferred start date
  • evidence of the financial capacity of the proposed lessee to pay rent in accordance with the Trust’s leasing policy for the duration of the proposed lease
  • whether the proposed lessee will be seeking a leasing subsidy from the Trust as a community user in accordance with the Trust’s Draft Community User Policy; and
  • whether the interested party has or intends to submit expressions of interest in other Trust sites or precincts and if so, which sites or precincts.

The Trust understands that some interested parties may wish to submit a less detailed expression of interest where space requirements are modest.

 

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Stage Two: Requests for Proposal

 

Following the EoI stage the Trust will then call for detailed and binding proposals for buildings. Timing of these stages will depend on the size of the precinct or buildings in question, and the number of EoIs received.

The Trust has complete discretion as to which, if any, proposals it accepts.

 

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Stage Three: Lease Agreement

 

Parties submitting leasing proposals which are accepted and approved by the Trust will enter into lease agreements wth the Trust.

 

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