Casino and hotel giant Crown Resorts can rest easy knowing its soon-to-be-built Barangaroo property will have views of Sydney Harbour after the NSW government retreated from further court action.
In December last year, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favour of Crown regarding its dispute with Infrastructure New South Wales (INSW) – formerly the Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA) – in connection with the Crown Sydney Hotel Resort.
This was because the BDA had considered various bids to develop Central Barangaroo without first discussing and negotiating with Crown ways to retain the sight lines that company’s Barangaroo property “would otherwise enjoy to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House”, according to the court’s judgement summary.
On 15 February 2019, the BDA filed a summons seeking leave to appeal the judgment, but as a result of an out-of-court settlement announced today by Crown, INSW has agreed not to proceed with the appeal.
“Crown is satisfied with the outcome of the settlement and the retention of the sight lines across Central Barangaroo from the Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House,” the company said in a statement.
“Crown remains focused on the delivery of the Crown Sydney Hotel Resort and welcoming our first guests in early 2021.”
The news comes not long Crown’s rival, Star Casino, signalled its intention to push on with its plan to build a $530 million hotel in Pyrmont despite it having been rejected by the NSW Planning Department.
