Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Star Casino at the heart of Greater Sydney Commission tourism plan

The Greater Sydney Commission has put The Star at the heart of its plan for a tourism hub in Darling Harbour even before it was asked to look at the area’s planning restrictions by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

• Councillors clash over $500 million hotel
• Planning minister ordered to act on $500m Ritz-Carlton

The Greater Sydney Commission has put The Star at the heart of its plan for a tourism hub in Darling Harbour, even before being asked to look at the area’s planning restrictions by Gladys Berejiklian.

The Premier has asked the Commission to urgently review planning regulations around Pyrmont to see if they remain “fit for purpose” after The Star’s proposed 230m Ritz-Carlton hotel tower was refused planning consent.

Concept image Images of the proposed Ritz-Carlton tower at The Star Sydney. Picture: Supplied

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But The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Commission’s Eastern City District Plan released in March last year has already placed The Star at the heart of Darling Harbour with other existing high-rise developments including The Sofitel and the International Convention Centre.

“It is clear the Commission already sees The Star as part of an entertainment and tourism precinct,” former NSW government architect Chris Johnson said.

“You can read into (it) that the Commission is highly likely to be supportive of a new building that picks up on the energy and dynamic of the ICC and pushes the area as a tourism hub.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian faces the media for the first time since her overseas trip to the UK. Picture: Toby Zerna

Planners rejected the new Ritz-Carlton tower after a lengthy planning process on the basis that it was “unduly prominent with its over-assertive built form unrelated to context”. But that decision did not take into account the Commission placing it alongside the Darling Harbour high-rises.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been a vocal opponent of the plan. Picture: Richard Dobson

The rejection was backed by Planning Minister Rob Stokes, who has now been slapped down by the Premier. On Sunday she jetted in from London and ordered him to write to the Greater Sydney Commission and request the review of Pyrmont’s planning rules.

“That area has not had a strategic look at it for some time,” Ms Berejiklian said.

She is pushing for development in Pyrmont that would support tourism and the building of a metro station, and said she wanted to send a clear message that NSW “is open for business”.

“This review sends a clear signal that our government believes the Pyrmont area has a bright and exciting future as a key part of the NSW visitor economy,” she said.

Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW chief executive Michael Johnson said Sydney needed “new six-star hotels to attract the high-end traveller and ensure it keeps its status as Australia’s gateway city”.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes. Picture: Peter Lorimer

However, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “You may as well tear up the rule book. It appears that the certainty that the City of Sydney’s earlier planning process gave to the residents for Pyrmont, which influenced their decision to live there, is under threat. It is an astounding betrayal of public trust.”

A spokesman for The Star said: “This development can deliver significant local community, tourism and economic benefits.”