Watermans Cove, Barangaroo: New central Sydney boardwalk open to the public

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unveiled a new public space in the Sydney CBD to “take in the sights of our beautiful city”.

A new harbourside boardwalk has opened in Barangaroo in Sydney’s central business district.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian hailed the new public space at Watermans Cove as an “incredible place for residents, workers and tourists to relax and take in the sights of our beautiful city”.

Most of those tourists will have to wait to see the new pier, cove and boardwalk due to the coronavirus pandemic but the Premier said she was hopeful it would be a popular spot for Sydney visitors.

“It’s a wonderful outcome for the people of our great state but also for people in the future. Once international travel is resumed and we welcome international travellers back to Sydney, this will be one of the spots that will showcase (these) efforts”, the Premier told reporters on Thursday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian greets a dog walker at Watermans Cove in Barangaroo. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Crown Resorts chairwoman Helen Coonan says the boardwalk is a ‘must-visit’ destination. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

One of the companies involved in developing the space was Crown Resorts, whose chairman Helen Coonan touted the spot as a must-visit destination.

Crown Resorts is the subject of a state inquiry, with the high roller licence for its nearby casino on the line.

The Premier dodged questions on the company’s plan to open the casino in December despite the pending probe by the Independent Gaming and Liquor Authority.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Helen Coonan from Crown, Minister Rob Stokes and Lend Lease CEO Steve McCann tour the new boardwalk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

“I don’t want to pre-empt anything that might occur in the next few months, and the Government will take the appropriate advice when we need to,” the Premier said.

Ms Coonan, a former federal Liberal Party senator, said she was confident the new casino tower would make sense financially, even though high roller gamblers from overseas would be unable to visit for quite some time.

“There are other parts of the business, obviously you don’t open a facility if you don’t think it’s financially viable,” she told reporters.

Originally published as Watermans Cove, Barangaroo: New central Sydney boardwalk open to the public