Barangaroo development is all talk, no action

As the cut off date for submissions to the Barangaroo review draws to a close on June 20, complaints are have come forward stating the review process is a mere formality.

This month, the Barangaroo Development Authority and Lend Lease told a community forum that plans already approved by the previous State Labor Government would go ahead regardless of the review.

City of Sydney Greens Councilor Irene Doutney said it was “disturbing” that work on contentious plans such as the Keating Headland Park, and an underground carpark were continuing even while the development was under review. She said it signaled that no real change would come out of a review.

“The review is all about process and not at all about the merit of the development,” Cr Doutney said.

“It sounds like the whole point of it is to give the current government an excuse for political grandstanding. They’ll get the findings, tell us that everything that’s wrong with the development is the previous Labor government’s fault, and then do nothing about it.”

Cr Doutney was concerned that the BDA had requested the NSW Department of Planning to further remove the City of Sydney Council from the planning process by changing some previous approvals for stormwater and lighting in the headland park.

Cr Doutney said it is an important test of the O’Farrell Government to see if they approve these Part 3A-style amendments

”Taking away council power and vesting it in the hands of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats was at the heart of Part 3A,” Cr Doutney said.

The terms of reference of this review are limited to looking at compliance with the planning process, while the contentious issue of overdevelopment of the Harbour foreshore is not being addressed.

The National Trust’s public relations director Scott Woodcock told Alternative Media Group that an independent analysis of the decision-making and compliance with the planning process was a welcome move.

“This is the first time that there has been any scrutiny if the decisions made over the past couple of years,” Mr Woodcock said.

The National Trust has repeatedly lobbied for the maritime heritage of the Harbour to be respected in the final design for Barangaroo.

“Millers Point has a 200 year maritime history with shipping directed to East Darling Harbour by Governor Macquarie, and there’s been unbroken maritime history at Darling Harbour for that history,” Mr Woodcock said.

Leichhardt Council is also making a submission to the review panel expressing opposition to the overdevelopment of the harbour foreshore and relocation of the cruise terminal to White Bay.

Mayor of Leichhardt, Rochelle Porteous said the Council was concerned that the time period for submissions was too short and that residents and businesses around White Bay have not been informed of the review by the State Government.

Cr Porteous said the Barangaroo plan was a wasted opportunity to develop a world class harbour precinct and a quality foreshore space.

“But the Lend Lease plan is not about innovative and exciting use of our public foreshores. It is about large scale building development right on the harbour front,” Cr Porteous said.

Lend Lease has paid the NSW Government more than $100 million for the right to develop the site.

City of Sydney councilor and spokesperson for Australians for a Sustainable Future Marcelle Hoff said a design that fitted with the Council’s City Plan would place tall buildings along the ridge that runs down the CBD peninsula, away from the harbour.

Buildings of lesser height would then cascade down to the water’s edge.

“Barangaroo needs streets of normal width, it needs shorter and less bulky buildings,” Cr Hoff told City News.

“This is vital if the sun is to shine into the centre of the city. The current Lend Lease overdevelopment will throw enormous shadows over the city and the waterfront.”

BY LIZ CUSH