The metro station opened months ago. The $2 billion development above is stuck

The City of Sydney has objected to construction designed to pave the way for the final piece of the Barangaroo foreshore, as pressure mounts on the NSW government to lock in plans for the site with a proposed $2 billion-plus development still in limbo months after its metro station opened.

The government is assessing the revised application from its development partner, Aqualand, to build 150 luxury apartments, a hotel, shops and offices in seven blocks of up to 10 storeys at Central Barangaroo.

The state government is still mulling plans for the final piece of the Barangaroo urban renewal project.Credit: Rhett Wyman

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has also been appraising separate plans for early works on a small section of the 5.2-hectare site. Those plans were this month referred to the Independent Planning Commission after the City of Sydney Council refused to support them, citing “little clarity over what the future development of Central Barangaroo would look like or how it will be used”.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore told the Herald the site linking the office district and headland was “the final piece of public land to be redeveloped at Barangaroo and the last opportunity to get it right”.

“The story of Barangaroo has largely been one of secrecy and rapacious development on precious public foreshore. We are still hopeful this final chapter can achieve better scale and public benefit,” she said.

The mega-project to redevelop the former industrial waterfront at Barangaroo has suffered from years of setbacks due to revised proposals, backlash against building heights, and legal battles over harbour views.

The linchpin precinct will be developed above the government’s $21.6 billion metro rail line. The Barangaroo metro station opened in August; Central Barangaroo probably won’t be finished until 2029.

The site is temporarily being used for an outdoor cinema and a pickleball court.

The early works proposal seeks permission for a new retaining wall and other minor works that will facilitate the future construction of Central Barangaroo and other upgrades along Hickson Road.

Recommending the early works for approval, the department said the project was separate from the Central Barangaroo application and did not “depend on, or pre-empt the changes” in that plan.

Infrastructure NSW and Aqualand are proposing to develop seven buildings up to 10 storeys at the site. Half the precinct will be transformed into a waterfront park.

But a City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council had refused to support the plans “until further clarity and consultation was provided on future development of Central Barangaroo”.

Aqualand, which is delivering Central Barangaroo on behalf of Infrastructure NSW, lodged revised plans, known as “Modification 9”, for the precinct a year ago after public backlash prompted the former Coalition government to sensationally dump the developer’s proposed 20-storey tower.

The council said it opposed the revised plans as the development would encroach on views to and from Millers Point and Observatory Hill, overshadow Hickson Park, include an excessive amount of parking, create a “monoculture of harbourside buildings”, and provide insufficient public benefit.

“The proposal will result in a significant increase in luxury residential floor space and, unlike other residential development, provides no affordable housing. The reference scheme provides for only oversized luxury apartments and will do little to increase housing stock,” its spokeswoman said.

Despite hopes construction would begin last year, Central Barangaroo’s future remains up in the air.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Moore wants the plan referred to the Independent Planning Commission, but Planning Minister Paul Scully will decide the proposal.

Aqualand previously hoped the plans would be approved and construction could begin in 2024.

The company’s head of development, Ian Devereux, would not be drawn on time frames, saying that was a matter for the state government, but said Aqualand was “looking forward to completing this final piece of Barangaroo, creating a vibrant living and lifestyle precinct at Central Barangaroo”.

A planning department spokesman said staff were undertaking a detailed assessment of the proposal, and the referral of the early works application to the commission would “not affect the timing of the finalisation” of those plans.

The revised designs for Central Barangaroo include fewer offices and more apartments.Credit: NSW government

Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said it was “embarrassing” the government had to open the metro station before the surrounding site had been completed.

He was positive about the construction of luxury apartments because “that means rich people aren’t buying other stuff. It’s all housing supply, and this is particularly well-located housing”.

Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow said passengers who caught the metro to Barangaroo arrived at “nothing”, and the station would be disconnected until the precinct was completed.

“I think it’s disappointing for Sydney that we’re in this position,” Farlow said.

Separately, the NSW Ombudsman has declined to investigate a complaint accusing Infrastructure NSW of providing the public with “deceptive” information to shore up support for the Central Barangaroo proposal lodged by a group of inner Sydney residents, architects and the owners of a luxury hotel last year. Infrastructure NSW denied it misled the public.

The Ombudsman acknowledged the project was subject to a high level of scrutiny and said anyone could seek a judicial review of the government’s determination within three months of the decision.

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