The Star Sydney: Business groups mobilise in support of new Star proposal
Business groups - some of whom have long pushed for the redevelopment of the Pyrmont area - say they support a new Star Group plan for a two-tower, six-star hotel.
NSW
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A string of high-profile business groups have backed The Star Entertainment Group’s push for a new two-tower, six-star hotel development at Pyrmont.
It came as Planning Minister Rob Stokes publicly welcomed the harbour hotel proposal but stopped short of signalling the $1 billion development could be fast tracked.
Urban Taskforce chief Tom Forrest urged the NSW government to back the proposal.
“Investment like this is particularly important at a time where very few companies are talking about large scale investment and job creation — especially in the tourism and entertainment sectors that have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Forrest said.
The proposed project would feature a 110m-tall tower to the north of the current casino site and a 180m-tall tower to the south. Both buildings would feature six-star hotel facilities and world class restaurants and bars.
Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said the body had “consistently urged” the NSW government to support The Star and the development of a six-star hotel.
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The government came under pressure from these types of business industry groups a year ago when The Star’s proposal for a 237m tower and six-star hotel was knocked back by the trouble-prone independent planning commission.
This pressure prompted the review of the Pyrmont planning strategy.
Tourism and Transport forum chief Margy Osmond said: “The Star’s $1 billion investment proposal for Pyrmont and Sydney has arrived at the very moment that our city is reaching out for economic opportunity and hope”.
Asked if the development could be eligible for a COVID fast tracking, Mr Stokes said on Monday he was “excited about all the plans all sorts of different proponents have to invest in our economy in difficult times”.
He said The Star’s proposal had come via their engagement in the consultation process for the Pyrmont Place Plan but was not a “development application”.
Asked again if it had a chance of government support, Mr Stokes said “once again this is a consultation process”.
“Obviously we welcome those plans and it’s great we’re doing it in a strategic way that looks not just at an individual site but looks at the entirety of the whole place.”
Originally published as The Star Sydney: Business groups mobilise in support of new Star proposal