An alternative view of the conceptual design included in the documents supporting a proposed amendment for Central Barangaroo. Credit: Planning Department portal
Government development partner Aqualand unveiled plans for the 5.2-hectare site in April, which include a two-hectare waterfront park, campus-style offices and a new cultural space, as well as mid-rise buildings and a building 73 meters above the metro station. .
National Trust NSW conservation director David Burdon said the changes were so significant they should require a new proposal rather than an amendment.
“If I was designing my own house, when you make a modification to your design it’s for a minor amendment, it’s for a small change. And this is much more than small change,” he said.
Although the residential building is only a quarter of the height of the adjacent Crown Tower, Burdon said it was almost as tall as the much-maligned Blues Point Tower across the harbor and would block views of the Observatory Hill from Pyrmont and Balmain.
Developer Aqualand’s rendering of the visual impact of the proposed buildings at Central Barangaroo, included in documents submitted to the Planning Department. Credit: Portal of the Planning Department
He argued that the building would not contribute to the community or the area’s amenities because its apartments would likely be bought by wealthy foreign buyers. “They are the pads of people overseas, not ordinary people who will populate the street,” he told the Herald.
In a lengthy statement, project manager Rod McCoy said Aqualand’s Central Barangaroo proposal responded to government policy to increase the intensity of land use around new public transport infrastructure , which was generally considered best practice.
He said Barangaroo’s scale and mixed use made it “one of the most vibrant public places and one of the most connected and successful urban renewal projects in the world”.
Mr McCoy said Aqualand was “aware of the feelings of Millers Point residents about the perception of sight loss”, but the building heights originally approved for Central Barangaroo in 2007 would have obscured some views anyway.
Residents’ groups, the City of Sydney and other stakeholders have complained the building would block views from Millers Point and Observatory Hill. Credit: Planning Department portal
“We recognize that there is some sensitivity to the height of the proposed building at the northern end of the site by some local residents and we are listening to their concerns,” he said.
“That said, we see this building as an opportunity to deliver world-class design that responds to the unique and special environment, and we believe that many of the concerns can be addressed once the site concepts are revealed.”
The amendment plans were submitted by government body Infrastructure NSW, which manages Barangaroo, and will therefore be determined by Roberts as planning minister, or his delegate.
Roberts referred questions to Infrastructure NSW. A spokesman said the body had engaged with stakeholders such as the National Trust and welcomed their feedback.
“Infrastructure NSW respects the planning process and the role it plays in ensuring the community has the opportunity to have its say before any final decision is made,” they said.
The Langham, a luxury boutique hotel on Kent Street, wants Roberts to refer the decision to the Independent Planning Commission. Manager Shane Jolly said the hotel was concerned about the heritage values of Millers Point, the loss of views and “a loss of visitors to this iconic area”.
Friends of Sydney Harbor and the Millers Point Community Residents Action Group are raising similar objections. The group’s chairman, Bernard Kelly, said the fact that the application would be decided by the minister was “a clear indication [the government] is determined to push through this huge project before the state elections”.
The City of Sydney is finalizing a submission. Mayor Clover Moore told a public meeting last weekend that the council would object to the bulk and scale of the proposal, as well as “the lack of any public benefits such as affordable housing”.
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