The Sydney Business Chamber says the outdated and cumbersome planning process is stifling growth across the city and the current review into the Independent Planning Commission should spell its demise as the arbiter of important projects like the Ritz- Carlton tower.
“The IPC’s outright rejection of the Star’s hotel in Pyrmont shows that it’s sadly out of touch with Sydney’s place as the nation’s global city and its time to rethink the slow and inefficient planning process in NSW,” said Katherine O’Regan, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber.
“The Premier and Treasurer have been saying that Pyrmont is open for business, but this decision flies in the face of that sentiment, so it’s encouraging that the Government is today signalling that the IPC’s decision isn’t final and there is a way around it.”
“The Ritz-Carlton hotel with its local community amenity and huge jobs and economic benefits to the city, would have heralded in the much vaunted rebirth of the Pyrmont peninsula as the western gateway to the CBD.”
“The rejection of the project also sends a damaging signal to international investors, at a time we desperately need investment capital to keep Sydney growing at the pace it needs to in order to compete with other cities in our region.”
“The western harbour precinct has been labelled the new frontier for Sydney’s growth as a competitive global destination and it urgently needs a definitive plan in order to capitalise on its potential as a dynamic hub for dining, retail and innovation jobs. It could and should provide a huge boon for tourism and the local community alike – with the right development plan in place.”
