Decision details

Moved by Councillor Chan, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         a Select Committee was established to inquire into the negotiations between the NSW Government, Lendlease and Crown in relation to sight lines at Barangaroo, including whether any biases influenced the final decision;

(ii)        on 23 September 2022, the Lord Mayor made a submission to the Select Committee raising significant concerns about the planning and delivery of development on public land at Barangaroo including Modification 9 for Central Barangaroo;

(iii)      on 17 February 2023, the Committee’s report was tabled;

(iv)      key findings from the Committee's report include that:

(a)       the Barangaroo sight lines have significant cultural and heritage value which must be preserved and protected; and

(b)       Modification 9 proposes an unacceptable increase in height and footprint at Central Barangaroo which adversely impacts on sight lines and amenity of the precinct;

(v)       key recommendations from the Committee's report include that the NSW Government:

(a)       engage in resolution processes for development disputes that seek transparent financial compensation rather than development bonuses;

(b)       review any guidelines governing post-separation employment for senior public servants to ensure that any conflicts of interest are managed appropriately;

(c)       develop a view management strategy in consultation with the Heritage Council of NSW, that identifies and preserves significant sight lines in Millers Point and Dawes Point and ensures that these views are considered in the context of any major redevelopment project; and

(d)       reject Modification 9 and ensure that the redevelopment of Central Barangaroo remains small in scope so as not to cause significant obstructions to the Barangaroo sight lines; and

(vi)      the NSW Government has three months to respond to the committee’s report; and

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Premier and Leader of the Opposition to seek their assurance that whoever forms government following the State Election will:

(i)         respond to the Committee's report by 17 May 2023; and

(ii)        implement all of the recommendations from the report including:

(a)       formally rejecting Modification 9 for Central Barangaroo; and

(b)       when developing a view management strategy in consultation with the Heritage Council of NSW, seek feedback from the City of Sydney Council.

Carried unanimously.

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