"A win for the community and the integrity of the planning system."
The Lord Mayor has today welcomed the Independent Planning Commission's decision to reject The Star Casino's proposed apartment and hotel tower.
"Approving this development would have required the most significant departure from planning controls in NSW history, so the decision is a win for the integrity of the planning system, for the community and for fairness," Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said.
"By standing up to a disingenuous campaign from The Star and its allies in the media, the IPC has reinforced the principle that planning rules should be applied fairly to all.
"The casino proposed a tower eight times the height allowed by the planning controls, which would have included 35 storeys of luxury residential apartments on a site zoned for commercial activity as well as overshadowing public spaces and parkland."
The Lord Mayor said the people of NSW deserve a planning system that is certain and grounded in fairness.
"When planning is done well, councils talk honestly with the community about how their suburbs should grow and develop, balancing their interests with the need to support our growing economy, then set rules for everyone to follow.
"It's the only way to manage development in a manner that is sustainable and fair.
The Lord Mayor said the City stood ready to work with the NSW Government on a holistic, place-based approach to Pyrmont and planning across the City.
"Pyrmont's transformation has been guided by strategic policies and Local Environment Plans, which have been developed in consultation with the community. These controls should not be overridden to accommodate ad hoc proposals and the vested interests of the powerful.
"Over the past 10 years the City of Sydney has approved over $25 billion of development that respects the character of our city centre and surrounding villages.
"There is a strong pipeline of investment still to come with 2.3 million square meters of development lodged, approved or under construction.
"We understand the urgent need for hotels, and have prioritised hotel developments, approving over 5,700 hotel rooms and other visitor accommodation in the past five years.
"We are completing application assessments efficiently, and working with developers to create striking and sustainable buildings in the right locations – work that relies upon controls that have been developed in consultation with all parties and applied consistently."
