City calls for Darling Harbour Live to be scaled back

The City of Sydney Council has continued the push for amendments to the Darling Harbour Live project, which will see the area’s plenary and entertainment venues torn down and replaced with new ones, and apartments, hotels and student accommodation squeezed into the precinct.

In a submission to the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the City recommended elements of the project be scrapped or reworked to achieve a better outcome for inner city residents.

“The City of Sydney has called for a scaling back of residential development for the Darling Harbour exhibition, convention and entertainment centre site,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said this week.

“One of the four residential towers should be removed from the plans to reduce overshadowing of surrounding buildings, including the Powerhouse Museum, and preserve views to Ultimo/Pyrmont.”

The spokesperson said the three remaining apartment towers should have greater street setbacks to reduce ‘wind tunnel’ effects, and called for a height reduction to the planned student accommodation tower, to prevent overshadowing in winter.

The City also called for better public transport, pedestrian and cycling connections at the State Government-controlled site, and said more consideration should be given to community facilities.

“The development provides an opportunity for affordable housing and more community facilities including a library, child care facilities, public art and a public market.”

The submission by the Clover Moore-led Council was backed by Councillor Angela Vithoulkas of the Living Sydney Party.

“I’m broadly supportive of the submission,” said Ms Vithoulkas. “Public space and community space weren’t adequately addressed during the consultations.

“It was a very poor consultation process – going through the motions, not real consultation.”

Labor Councillor Linda Scott said the State Government should not just see Darling Harbour as a tourist trap.

“Darling Harbour should be conceptualised as the backyard of CBD residents. There should be ample open space, parks and playgrounds that are not overshadowed by apartment towers and hotels,” said Ms Scott.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure said: “The Department will give careful consideration to the City’s submission, and all others submissions, in its assessment of the project.”