The final Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy has been released and not surprisingly it endorses a six-star hotel tower on the Star Casino’s land despite previous planning processes confirming it will cause inappropriate impacts. Residential development on the land has at least been ruled out. Further master planning work is required before any development can proceed.

While the chief purpose of the exercise was clearly to rubber stamp the Star’s proposal, some good things have come out including a metro station in Pyrmont, return of the greyhound track at Wentworth Park to public open space and support for recreational use of water at Blackwattle Bay. While the strategy identifies that some social and affordable housing sites “are capable of change”, it does not endorse redevelopment and states that the Land and Housing Corporation would need to do further work and consult on any changes. The Land and Housing Corporation says there is no intention to investigate redevelopment of Pyrmont housing at this time and I’ve submitted questions to the minister about any sale of social housing in the inner city: > HERE.

We will need to monitor plans for the Powerhouse given the report indicates that both the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and Create NSW identified development opportunities on the site. Information: > HERE.