Plans for a new public square in Sydney are uncertain after the New South Wales planning minister declared the project "state significant," transferring approval authority from the City of Sydney to the state government. Premier Chris Minns has opposed the project, citing cost and disruption.
The intervention by the NSW government casts doubt on the future of a significant urban development project in Sydney, potentially impacting businesses in the area and highlighting a political clash over city planning and infrastructure spending.
Plans for a new public square in the center of Sydney are in doubt after the New South Wales planning minister declared the project "state significant," a move that transfers the approval process from the City of Sydney to the state government. Lord Mayor Clover Moore had released designs in August for the plaza opposite Sydney's town hall, which included a semi-circular clearing, a fountain, and native trees, with an expected completion by 2031.
The project has faced opposition from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who described it as "too expensive" and "majorly disruptive." It also became a point of contention in local media, with The Daily Telegraph publishing AI-generated images critical of the design.
In recent months, the City of Sydney had been finalizing discussions with owners of the seven buildings slated for acquisition and demolition, with an estimated demolition and construction cost of $150 million. However, on Friday, Planning Minister Paul Scully announced the state significant development declaration, following advice from the NSW Independent Planning Commission. This pathway allows for a "rigorous whole-of-government assessment" and provides an opportunity for public input.
Woolworths, whose town hall location is one of the buildings targeted for demolition, also opposes the plans. Under the state significant development pathway, the planning minister is the consent authority, unless the Independent Planning Commission is delegated the role.
In a surprising statement, Moore welcomed the decision, stating, "I could not agree more." She expressed confidence in the proposal's merits and noted that the City owns the buildings and has saved funds over 40 years to deliver the project debt-free. Moore also commented that the government typically fast-tracks developments, and this intervention occurred before a development application was even submitted.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.