Crown’s Barangaroo project to open ahead of schedule, James Packer says

Crown’s Barangaroo project to open ahead of schedule, James Packer says
By Christian Fleetwood


Originally set to open in early 2021, Crown Resorts’ $2.4 billion Barangaroo project will finish more than three months ahead of schedule, according to owner James Packer.

One Barangaroo is set to house 82 of “Australia’s first fully-integrated”, hotel-branded residences with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.

But maintaining its uninterrupted views has been a challenge for Crown. Last year, Crown settled an appeal from Infrastructure New South Wales (INSW) out of court, over the development authority’s challenge to a NSW Supreme Court ruling in favour of the property developer.

This stemmed from INSW’s consideration of various bids to develop Central Barangaroo without first discussing and negotiating with Crown ways to retain the sightlines of Crown’s Barangaroo property.

Packer revealed that better weather and a smarter “top-down build” approach meant fit-out of the controversial site are well underway, with intentions to open to the public by December, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.

Star considering its options after IPC rejected Ritz-Carlton proposal

A Star Entertainment Group spokesman advised Travel Weekly that it is currently considering its options after the Independent Planning Commission rejected its Ritz-Carlton proposal, late last year.

The property developer had plans for its $530 million 220-room Ritz-Carlton build at Pyrmont – set across the water from One Barangaroo – rejected by the NSW Planning Department, and put on hold indefinitely in July.

Star Casino’s proposed build for a Ritz-Carlton, at far right, across the water from Crown’s One Barangaroo (The Star Sydney).

In an online statement, Star maintains the development would create more than 1000 jobs, subject to all approvals; add $800 million to Gross State Product by 2030; and add an extra 220 hotel beds to Sydney, which it says is “in desperate need of extra tourism infrastructure”.

“The proposal meets all relevant environmental and heritage requirements, and local community, business leaders and tourism experts have already voiced their support,” Star says in an online statement, titled ‘Rally for the Ritz’.

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