The NSW government's plan to create a Silicon-Valley in inner-Sydney "lies in a smoking ruin" after Google decided not to base it's new headquarters there, the state opposition leader says.
Luke Foley says the plans, originally proposed by former premier Mike Baird, to transform rundown areas in White Bay, Glebe Island and Rozelle into a tech hub were an "utter shambles".
"All the plans that have been touted by the government, today lie in a smoking ruin," he said on Wednesday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government was still working closely with Google to find a more appropriate location for the tech giant.
"They are actually looking at a number of sites ... certainly they are looking to increase the size of their workforce here which is welcome news to me," Ms Berejiklian said.
Google, currently based in Pyrmont, said the government's planned upgrades to the precinct wouldn't be completed in time to accommodate the company.
"Through the genuine and productive negotiations in the last few months we've come to realise that achieving that vision isn't possible within our time frame," a Google spokesman said.
Ms Berejiklian said she understood short-term solutions to public transport were necessary for a prospective tech company to base itself in the area and her government had plans to solve the transport issues. She refused to give specific details.
Mr Foley said overall he supported the move to transform the areas but it needed better short-term plans for increasing accessibility, such as reopening a pedestrian bridge at Glebe Island.
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