Star Casino and Ritz-Carlton have launched a controversial advertising campaign to whip up public support for Star’s proposed enormous apartment and hotel development at Pyrmont, which Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore says is eight times over the height limit for the area.
Moore took issue with the Star and Ritz-Carlton’s double-page advertisement in weekend newspapers. She told the Sydney Morning Herald the ad misrepresented the Star Casino’s proposed tower as a hotel.
The proposed development is actually a 35-storey luxury residential apartment tower with a 22-storey hotel on top, Moore said.
”Because the hotel is perched on 35 floors of apartments, the tower is eight times over the height controls for the area.”
The Star and Ritz-Carlton took out a double-page advertisement in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday.
It was signed by leading business and tourism lobbyists and others, namely:
Matt Bekier, chief executive of the Star Entertainment Group; Mel Gatfield, NSW Secretary, United Voice; Christine Forster, councillor, City of Sydney; Chris Johnson, chief executive Urban Taskforce and former NSW Government Architect; Katherine O’Regan, executive director, Sydney Business Chamber; Margy Osmond, chief executive, Tourism and Transport Forum; David Miles, businessman and long-term Pyrmont resident; Scott Barlow, Sydney FC; David Trodden, chief executive, NSW Rugby League; Paul Signorella, executive chairman, Doltone House Group; Peter V’landys, chief executive, Racing NSW and Australian Rugby League Commissioner; Geoff Jones, chief executive, TEG.
“Now Sydneysiders from all walks of life are rallying together to get behind this,” the ad reads. “So here’s your chance to join them. Doesn’t a city like ours deserve such a world class hotel as The Ritz-Carlton?”
Supporters are directed to the Star website and urged to “Rally for the Ritz” and submit their name in support of the development.
Moore told the Herald that if the Star were serious about contributing to Sydney’s tourism industry, it should “go back to the drawing board, scrap the residential tower and submit a proposal for a six-star hotel of a more reasonable scale”.
The online site describes the Ritz proposal as “A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US”.
The proposed tower is shown in the hero shot below.
“Tourists won’t be the only ones to benefit!” the ad continues.
The ad goes on to claim:
- The overall AUD 500 million-plus development (subject to all approvals) would create over 1000 jobs.
- It would add AUD 800 million to Gross State Product by 2030.
- Retailers, taxi drivers, labourers and hospitality workers would all benefit from the economic stimulus.
- It would add an extra 220 hotel beds to our city, which it says is in desperate need of extra tourism infrastructure.
- All Sydneysiders would get access to a spectacular Sky Lobby, bars and restaurants.
Written by Peter Needham
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