Plans for the empty block at Barangaroo have been approved. But the wait’s not over yet
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said the redevelopment was “a great win for Sydney”.
“The Barangaroo metro will no longer sit on the edge of a vacant field. Sydney will have a fantastic mixed-use development delivering permanent jobs and much-needed economic activity.”
Construction was supposed to start last year. The site is currently being used for a pickleball court.Credit: Rhett Wyman
A previous proposal for a 21-storey tower at the northern end of the site was dumped after The National Trust, Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, the City of Sydney, and Millers Point residents objected to the proposal, which they argued would destroy views of Observatory Hill and Millers Point.
The government on Monday said the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure had “carefully assessed” the impacts of the most recent proposal on historic views, particularly between Observatory Hill and Sydney Harbour.
Under the consent conditions, the northern edge of the building that will face Nawi Cove has been reduced from eight storeys to five stories to preserve some views to and from Observatory Hill.
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A 1.85-hectare foreshore park, named Harbour Park, will make up half of the Central Barangaroo site, which was intended to bridge the naturalistic headland park and the commercial district at Barangaroo South.
The mega-project to redevelop the former industrial waterfront on the western side of Sydney’s central business district was first flagged in 2003.
Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said the site had been a “blight on the harbour for many years” and the long-awaited approval would enable authorities to “get on with the job of delivering the final piece of the Barangaroo puzzle”.
“With the Barangaroo metro station now open, the Pier Pavilion and the Cutaway nearing completion, Barangaroo Reserve, Marrinawi and Nawi Cove open, it will be fantastic to see the full vision for Barangaroo finally realised for locals and visitors to enjoy.”
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