As reported in The Saturday Paper, Deputy Mayor Sylvie Ellsmore – Sydney has explained that NSW Government has used the planning system to deliver millions – if not billions – of wealth to the Star this year alone – and more is planned. The Liberals have blatantly done this despite the inquiry that saw the Star fined $100 million dollars, and its casino licence suspended.
The planning ‘gifts’ include:
❌ spot rezoning approved to create a new luxury tower hotel at the Star’s Pyrmont complex, at the same time as the corruption inquiry was hearing evidence of how Star’s existing luxury hotel was being used to enable money laundering,
❌ buying land from the Star to build a public Metro stop in front of the Star’s complex, and
❌ launching ‘precinct plans’ which outline how the public harbour foreshore will be reshaped to direct more people traffic to the Star’s complex.
This week Deputy Mayor Ellsmore successfully moved for the City of Sydney to revisit its involvement with one of the special entities set up to enable businesses – including the Star – more control over the development of the harbour. Read more of her quotes in the article below.
We need an immediate moratorium on planning decisions and land sales relating to The Star. Barangaroo is held out as a cautionary tale – but the NSW Liberal Government is repeating much of the same pattern at Pyrmont.
Watch this space for more information on this important campaign soon.