Former NSW premier Mike Baird agrees to give evidence to Barangaroo inquiry
Former NSW premier Mike Baird will give evidence to an inquiry into the state’s handling of the redevelopment of the waterfront Barangaroo precinct.
Former NSW premier Mike Baird has agreed to front an inquiry into the state’s handling of the redevelopment of the waterfront Barangaroo precinct, which remains incomplete amid lengthy planning delays.
The NSW Legislative Council’s select committee on Barangaroo Sight Lines is seeking to examine “any actual or perceived biases” around decision making around the harbourside area.
This includes looking at the decision making of the Office of the NSW Premier amid the redevelopment of Barangaroo, and rights handed to Crown and Lendlease to block the placement of other buildings in the area if they were to block views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
The committee has raised questions about a 2015 meeting between Mr Baird and former Crown Casino boss James Packer prior to the announcement of a major expansion in proposed developments in Central Barangaroo.
Select committee chair Mark Latham previously told parliament the meeting was “set up like a Henry Kissinger détente summit”.
Documents previously released by the NSW parliament show Mr Baird was called on to sign off on the deal between Crown and Lendlease and the NSW government over views in Barangaroo just days before Mr Packer travelled to Sydney to meet with the premier.
The documents show that in the days leading up to Mr Packer’s visit to Australia, Mr Baird’s chief of staff Bay Warburton was called on to assist in getting sign off on the sight lines.
An email from NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet executive director of cities branch David Tow to Mr Warburton advises Mr Packer “may ask” Mr Baird for “unimpeded views” across Central Barangaroo.
“But (Mr Packer) also understands that a metro station that activates the precinct is very good for Crown,” Mr Tow told Mr Warburton.
“He will probably note that the project is 12 months behind schedule and will need co-operation across government, led by DPC, to make up as much of this as possible.”
Mr Warburton told Mr Tow he would approve the proposed sight lines protections for Crown on behalf of Mr Baird.
“I am confident that these words would be approved by him, having reviewed them myself,” he said.
Construction on the Crown Barangaroo Tower kicked off in October 2016, rising to 272m from its earlier agreed 170m limit.
But Central Barangaroo remains incomplete, with projects proposed by Melbourne-based developer Grocon failing, while Chinese developer Aqualand has also met resistance.
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts recently ordered Aqualand back to the drawing board over its proposed Central Barangaroo project, expressing concern it would impinge on Hickson Park and overshadow large areas of the waterfront and Millers Point.
The inquiry is seeking to understand how Central Barangaroo remains so far behind schedule.
However, several key figures have so far declined to appear.
These include Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, former prime minister Paul Keating, former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, broadcaster Alan Jones and Mr Packer.
Mr O’Farrell, Mr Jones and Mr Packer all met in 2012 over a lunch at Mr Jones’ apartment to discuss Crown’s unsolicited bid to build the harbourside luxury casino and hotel skyscraper.
The select committee will reconvene on November 11.
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