Vision to Transform Darling Harbour Gets Closer

The New Darling Harbour

The vision to transform Darling Harbour into a world-class major events precinct with better public spaces and a new vibrant city neighbourhood moved another step closer today with the release of development planning applications.

Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said it was the second major project milestone in less than a week after the Government signed contracts with Darling Harbour Live and Lend Lease on Friday.

The NSW Government is partnering with Darling Harbour Live – a consortium including global companies Lend Lease, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless – to redevelop a 20-hectare precinct at Darling Harbour stretching from Cockle Bay to Haymarket and Ultimo.

“The development is the biggest and most exciting transformation of Darling Harbour in 25 years, and will deliver an estimated $5 billion in economic benefit for NSW,” Mr Stoner said.
“In that sense, this project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the people of NSW to create one of the world’s best places to live, meet and be entertained.

“The redevelopment of this critical precinct will provide a massive boost to the NSW economy, creating 3,700 jobs during construction and providing ongoing employment for 4,000 people across the precinct.”

“The Government established strong urban design principles to make sure the proposed master plan combined modern facilities, improved public spaces and far better pedestrian connections to build Darling Harbour back into the fabric of the city,” Mr Stoner said.

“The site is just 450m from Central and 700m from Town Hall stations yet the precinct has always felt as though it is disconnected from its Haymarket, and Ultimo and Pyrmont neighbours.

“The master plan creates strong pedestrian links with a north-south boulevard and five new east-west pedestrian connections through the precinct; it better aligns the light rail stops with the entrances to the new facilities to improve pedestrian flow; and offers a cycle hub,” he said.

Darling Harbour Live were announced as the Government’s preferred partners last December. At the time, the NSW Government released the preferred master plan for the precinct following a highly-competitive tender process.

The plan includes Australia’s largest fully integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities; a new hotel of up to 900 rooms; and the development of Haymarket into a cosmopolitan neighbourhood with a mix of shops, cafes and high-tech industry and start-up businesses.

Mr Stoner said Infrastructure NSW, which is managing the project on behalf of the Government, and Darling Harbour Live had consulted prior to the lodgement of the planning applications to inform the master planning.

The proposals and all accompanying documents will be on public display from 27 March to 10 May 2013. They can be viewed online at majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au