Hotelier Jerry Schwartz plans helipad atop Sofitel in Darling Harbour

Hotelier Jerry Schwartz says a helipad atop his Sofitel in Darling Harbour will help revive Sydney’s tourism sector.

Hotelier Jerry Schwartz. Picture: Jerad Williams

Hotelier Jerry Schwartz wants to develop a helipad atop his 38-level hotel in Darling Harbour, arguing its construction will help revive the Sydney CBD economy.

Dr Schwartz, who controls 15 hotels in NSW and Queensland, claims the permanent helipad atop his Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour will add prestige to his luxury hotel as well as the city’s struggling tourism sector.

It would involve building a new structure on the roof of the hotel, adjacent to the International Convention Centre, at a cost of around $1m.

“It will help us raise the profile of the hotel and the city,” Dr Schwartz told The Australian.

“As to a return on the cost, I don’t think it will pay for itself, but it will bring prestige.”

Dr Schwartz said if approved he would use the helicopter from Sydney Airport to the hotel himself, but he was yet to put a cost on what he would charge guests.

“Whatever the charge, it will not be enough to build it,” he said.

A heliport operated at Darling Harbour in the 1980s and since then tourism and business bodies have called for the restoration of a CBD helipad to service the city’s high-yielding convention and business sectors.

Sydney’s only major public helipad services are located at Bankstown and Mascot, but heavily congested roads make them impracticable solutions for fast transfers to the Sydney CBD.

“Given the devastation to Sydney’s tourism and business economy as a result of coronavirus, there is no better time to introduce the concept of a CBD helipad to help revive the city’s economic fortunes,” Dr Schwartz said.

“The world’s great cities — such as London, Paris and New York — have CBD helipads, and even Melbourne offers city helicopter transfers to the River Yarra helipad.

“We would envisage that world leaders could arrive at Sydney Airport and be flown direct to the Darling Harbour helipad to make a keynote address at the International Convention Centre.”

Dr Schwartz said the proposed rooftop helipad would be classified as an “aircraft facility” under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation (2000).

The EIS process will include extensive consultation with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders. The project team has already begun talking to relevant industry stakeholders about potential impacts. The proposed flight path will be finalised after consultation with regulatory and air traffic control authorities.