Darling Harbour residents’ opposition to development absurd

It is difficult to have much sympathy for Darling Harbour apartment owners in their opposition to a proposed entertainment venue for their inner-city suburb.

Hospitality group Doltone House has lodged a planning application with the City of Sydney to open a new 1250-person indoor function and wedding centre within a 4200-square-metre section of the new Harbourside development currently under construction near Pyrmont Bridge. If approved, it is expected to be completed by mid-2027.

Property owners have called on the council to reject the development, citing potential noise impacts, especially as guests leave, antisocial behaviour and traffic congestion on surrounding streets. One resident even told the Herald she feared noise from the reception centre would stop here sleeping or force her to leave air-conditioning on because the noise would make it impossible to keep widows or doors open.

Darling Harbour is not exactly party central, but it is vibrant and residents would surely be aware that their precinct is cheek by jowl with the CBD and of the immutable reality that city centres have always attracted large crowds.

In Darling Harbour’s case, the area has been supercharged since the day in 1984 when then-premier Neville Wran announced plans to redevelop the old maritime and industrial centre in time for Australia’s 1988 bicentennial celebrations. It has become Sydney’s central entertainment district with a wide variety of bars, restaurants and cultural experiences, including Madame Tussauds Sydney, The Chinese Garden of Friendship, The Goods Line, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and IMAX Sydney, and a brace of hotels including W Sydney, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Novotel Sydney and the International Convention Centre.

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NIMBY complaints have become an increasing fact of Sydney life as existing suburbs form the cornerstones of the Minns government housing policy, with some locals complaining that the rush of high-density proposals threatens the character of their leafy suburbs. What is forgotten is that the cost of preserving leafy suburbs around train stations is borne by renters and first home buyers forced to move further out into sprawling suburbs with limited services and access to jobs.

Darling Harbour is not going to solve housing problems, but objectors face a government also intent on boosting the state’s night-time economy through reforms that include making it easier for venues to operate with extended trading hours and greater protection from noise complaints.

The function and wedding centre proposal also comes amid debate about the future of Darling Harbour, which is expected to see a surge in development in coming years, including a new 40-storey tower planned at Cockle Bay Wharf, which will create further noise.