After a year since the New South Wales planning authorities disallowed The Star Entertainment Group’s proposed construction of a 237-meter tower adjoining its existing casino complex in Sydney, the company has now put forward a new proposed expansion project for the property.
The Star now intends to build two new towers at its The Star Sydney Casino, however, the proposed height of one of them is over twice what is permitted by draft planning rules for the suburb of Pyrmont where The Star’s complex is located.
The casino operator tabled its amended expansion plan two months after the NSW government published a draft strategy to restructure Pyrmont.
Ritz-Carlton hotel tower at Sydney casino rejected by NSW planning authorities
The Star intends to erect a 110-meter tower at the northern tip of its The Star Sydney site and a 180-meter tower at the southern end of the complex on Union Street.
The proposed 110-meter northern tower would be almost twice the government’s proposed height limit of 60 meters for that area. The tower would feature a 250-room hotel and a signature restaurant.
In its submission, The Star said that the proposed tower and its height “would be required to ensure a hotel of six-star standard.” The company also wanted it noted that the new proposed construction is under half of the height of its original, rejected proposal.
The original plan was rejected in 2018. It proposed the construction of a 237-meter, 66-story tower intended to house 220 Ritz-Carlton hotel rooms and 200 luxury residences, a rooftop pool area with Sydney Harbour views, and a selection of food and beverage facilities.
New proposal jitters
The new proposal has drawn its fair share of opposition. The NSW Labour party spokesman, Adam Searle contended that the plan for the northern tower was “significantly out of keeping” with the government’s planning strategy for Pyrmont.
He went on to add that the government and planning authorities should employ a “sensitive and balanced approach to planning” and that they “would be concerned” if The Star’s proposal “went beyond what the government is currently envisaging for Pyrmont.”
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes advised that the casino operator’s proposal was one of 130 plans submitted on the draft for reshaping Pyrmont and that these submissions do not constitute “a development application before the government.”
Minister Stokes further explained that the plan for the redevelopment of the Pyrmont suburb in the next few weeks would be based on all the received submissions.
The Star’s proposal would see its southern tower housing shops, a restaurant, bars, a hotel, and apartments. The company advised that its plan would create 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and an equal number once the two towers are completed and operational.
