Residents speak out against Cockle Bay Wharf redevelopment
A $649 million proposal to redevelop Cockle Bay Wharf has been slammed by residents, including experienced town planners, who say its ‘excessive scale’ would be a detriment to Darling Harbour.
Plans for a 182m redevelopment of Cockle Bay Wharf that would tower over Darling Harbour have been lashed as “excessive” and “ugly” at a public hearing on Tuesday.
The $649 million proposal, listed as State Significant Development, seeks the demolition of the existing Cockle Bay Wharf structures and construction of a 42-storey office tower.
In an assessment of the proposal released in January, the Department of Planning ruled it had strategic merit and would provide a significant increase to employment opportunities at Darling Harbour, arguing it was “compatible” with the character of the area.
The opposite message came from residents who addressed the Independent Planning Commission at the ICC Sydney this week — directly across from the development site — who said they were prepared to march in protest over the plans.
One Darling Harbour resident Neil Ingham, a former town planner with 40 years’ experience, called the concept a “very fat goalpost”, which would decrease the heritage value of Darling Harbour because of its height and proximity to the water.
His view was echoed by John McFadden from State Planning Services, speaking on behalf of the nearby Astoria tower, which he said would lose solar access and view corridors to the “excessive scale” of the redevelopment.
“By virtue of spending $649 million on a development doesn’t equate to a licence to create significant adverse impacts on the surrounding environment, and destroy the amenity of the Cockle Bay Wharf,” he said.
The project’s height, causing a loss of views, and potential to create overshadowing, wind tunnels and impact on traffic were common concerns among opponents. Many argued current setback plans - only eight metres from the water - positioned it too close to the foreshore.
Dianna McAuliffe, speaking on behalf of the Millennium Towers Committee, said it would add to a “more enclosed feel” caused by the recent development of the Darling Harbour precinct.
“Decreasing the actual visual amount of water in an already enclosed harbour doesn’t make any sense,” she said.
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“We would prefer not to have this tower built at all, but we certainly agree it needs to be set further back. The height is still atrocious, and in regards to our building moving it south does nothing.
“I personally have spoken to residents who are prepared to march in protest.”
City of Sydney Council has also opposed the plans, sparked by fears it would overshadow a future public plaza at Town Hall Square.
The Independent Planning Commission will rule on the proposal.
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