NSW Government Seizes Approval Power for Town Hall Square
Planning Minister Paul Scully declared the City of Sydney's Town Hall Square project a State Significant Development, removing approval authority from the local council.
New South Wales Planning Minister Paul Scully has declared the City of Sydney's proposed Town Hall Square project a State Significant Development, shifting the approval process from the local council to the state government. The project aims to create a 4,500-square-metre civic plaza by demolishing several buildings. While the estimated cost is $94 million, the city has allocated $150 million to account for potential overruns.
The decision follows a recommendation from the Independent Planning Commission, which highlighted the project's potential for economic and public benefits. Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed confidence in the proposal's merits and noted that the city saved the necessary funds over 40 years to ensure the project remains debt-free. However, Moore described the state's intervention as unusual, noting that the government typically removes planning authority to accelerate development rather than slow it down.
Opposition to the project remains significant. Premier Chris Minns has criticized the plan as too expensive and disruptive for the city. Additionally, Woolworths Group opposes the development because the plans require the demolition of one of its retail locations. The Independent Planning Commission will now be responsible for determining any development application submitted by the council.
