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The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) has expressed its sorrow after the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) knocked back a bid by the owners of The Star casino to build a colossal $529 million “six star” tower on Sydney’s waterfront.

The IPC ruled the enormous structure would be “overly obtrusive” on the city’s skyline. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in August: “Because the hotel is perched on 35 floors of apartments, the tower is eight times over the height controls for the area.”

The TTF sees it differently.

“This is a sad day for Australian tourism,” TTF chief executive Margy Osmond said yesterday, after the TTF issued a statement headlined: “A tragedy for tourism in Sydney”.

Key points stressed yesterday by the ABC, in its reports about the development, were:

  • The IPC said the tower would have had an unacceptable visual impact on the city skyline;
  • It said its enormous size would have cast a shadow over nearby private properties;
  • It rejected arguments the tower would boost the economy and was therefore in the public interest.

The apartment tower would have been more than three times the height of the existing complex in Pyrmont. Building it would have involved partially demolishing the structure for a new Ritz-Carlton hotel and more than 200 residential units.

Many Sydney residents have had enough of construction-related disruptions. Works connected with the new light rail have brought protracted chaos to inner-city suburbs. There is also public disquiet over perfectly serviceable buildings and structures, some built relatively recently, being demolished and replaced at enormous cost.

The IPC said the “six star” tower project’s excessive height, bulk and scale would have spoiled views along the harbour foreshore and created an unacceptable visual impact, “including a tower height which is overly obtrusive”.

It said the tower would “dominate views and vistas to and from public places, and will therefore reduce the visual amenity of the area”.

The TTF’s Osmond disagreed strongly, saying: “After four long years and millions of dollars invested on extensive consultation with the government, the community and stakeholders, for an unelected planning body to arrive at a decision like this is simply short sighted.

“The city is crying for out for more hotel accommodation and we can’t get enough luxury beds built.

“Today’s decision by the Independent Planning Commission sends a message to local and international investors that Sydney, the Gateway to Australia is closed for business.”