The New South Wales government has reached a settlement with Lendlease and Crown Resorts over the Barangaroo sight lines dispute, in a move that ensures uninterrupted harbor views for their billion-dollar waterfront developments.
The parties agreed not to pursue any further legal action in relation to the matter, with the state government withdrawing its appeal of the December 2018 NSW Supreme Court decision, which was delivered in favor of Crown and Lendlease.
The ruling had found the NSW government’s Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA) had breached its development agreement by negotiating with bidders for the final stage of Barangaroo Central without consulting with Crown and Lendlease, as per contract, over developments that could potentially block the harbor views of the Crown and Lendlease towers.
But in February 2019, the BDA filed to appeal the judgment.
“The terms of the settlement are confidential,” Crown said in a statement. “Crown is satisfied with the outcome of the settlement and the retention of the sight lines across Central Barangaroo from the Harbor Bridge to the Sydney Opera House.”
“The parties agreed not to pursue any further legal action in relation to the matter.”
Crown said the AU$2.2 billion (US$1.49 billion) hotel resort, which was given final approval by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission in 2016, remains on track to be completed in early 2021.
Infrastructure NSW has been leading negotiations on behalf of the NSW Government since the former BDA was abolished in July.
“This resolution between groups clears the path for the government to work with all parties to complete the final buildings in Barangaroo South and deliver Central Barangaroo, the final stage in the Barangaroo development,” a spokesperson from Infrastructure NSW said.
Final plans for Central Barangaroo, expected to be completed in 2024, have not yet been released.
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