International Convention Centre Hotel

The proposed changes at Darling Harbour seem to take away an extremely important thoroughfare for the residents and guests of the Goldsborough. From the plans it looks like the current overhead pedestrian walkway next to the Convention monorail station is being removed. Currently it is the easiest and best walkway to enter the Darling Harbour precinct from the Western side.

If this is removed not only will the Goldsbrough be affected but It will also affect all regular users from the public carparks on the Western side of Darling Harbour, the commercial building at 135 Pyrmont St as well as all the residential buildings on Harris in Pyrmont.
If this entry to Darling harbour is removed it will be a total disaster for many of the pedestrians who regularly use it as well as visitors to the area. Currently it is estimated that there are around 7000 pedestrian traffic movements across this walkway, as the only safe way to cross the light rail tracks and Darling Drive. This walkway is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with continuous public access. The alternative link from the Western Distributor is not a convenient alternative to what is currently there. How are pedestrians as well as ones with prams and children meant to cross to Darling Harbour in a safe way at all hours ?

The alternative proposal means that families have to cross across 2 sets of tram tracks and a road crossing in elements instead of using an existing safe covered walkway.

Darling Drive already heavy with traffic at peak times will be even further backed up with the crossings in full use. The road crossing is already a dangerous one and I have witnessed many near accidents in my time there with pedestrians and cars!

The new Hotel will have no parking for hundreds of rooms and will therefore use the parking across Darling Drive under the Novotel. This wlll accentuate the need for a more sensible way to cross darling drive and the tram tracks and put existing pedestrian pressure on the crossing.

The removal of this walkway is ridiculous considering there is already one there that works very well and is safe for pedestrians ! Removing it without proper replacement is a huge step backwards for residents and users in the area.

For an aesthetic view, more attention needs to be placed on the Western faces of the convention centre and hotel.

If such huge buildings are to tower over and overlook the existing residential buildings in Pyrmont on their western face then more appropriate facade materials should be used.

These days there are so many options such as green walls, glass facades etc that are much better to look at than a grey metal wall.

It seems the current proposal only pays attention to the Darling Harbour facing elements with the West face as a cheap afterthought !

The 2 points above show that the developers are not really interested in what the existing community cares about or wants. If they do really care as promoted in all the public material then they would look seriously into amending those 2 main points.

I strongly object to the ICC Hotel proposal - on the grounds of excessive height - theft of visual amenity value - lack of viable transportation to and from the hotel - shadowing onto Darling Harbour fountain and leisure areas - glare and reflection from the Western face of hotel to nearby residents.

It is suggested this ICC Hotel would be 'an iconic landmark'. I live in a complex of 206 apartments (The Darlington) where our view of the iconic Sydney Tower would be lost to this ICC Hotel. All our apartments and Common Areas will also lose the fireworks displays that are such an exciting part of living where we do. This ICC Hotel has nothing iconic about it - it has zero 'smile factor'. Even the UTS Students Lobby called it 'uninspiring'.

Without carparking at the hotel - the loss of the Monorail - coupled with minimal taxi access - I guess guests will be queuing to use the 'people mover train' in Darling Harbour.

Pyrmont is the most densely populated suburb in Australia and it feels like this ICC Hotel is being forced onto our community. Why is it very few people who are deeply affected by this proposal don't even know about it? No canvassing was done in our area and we are HUGELY impacted by this proposal. Hotel visitors have no allegiance to Sydney - but we LIVE here.

What also concerns me - it is said in the proposal that 'the height is consistent with the urban topography of the CBD' - this ICC Hotel is NOT in the CBD it is in Darling Harbour Pyrmont. Granting permission to build to this overwhelming height opens the door for further development at this height in what is a medium height precinct.

Walking from the 'tunnel effect' of the CBD into Darling Harbour gives huge visual relief by way of the horizontal plane - this ICC Hotel would loom over the relaxed ambience of Darling Harbour like some hideous ogre!

On behalf of the residents of Strata Plan 51360 & Strata Plan 53188,I strongly object to the ICC Hotel proposal on the following grounds;
1. The excessive height of the proposed building. The proposal says" the height is consistent with the urban topography of the CBD",this building is not within the CBD but is in the Darling Harbour precint which is made up of low to medium height buildings only.
A building of this height would not only have an adverse visual impact on the area but will have an overshadowing effect on the area just south of the Harbourside shopping precinct,an area which is used not only by residents of Pyrmont but by thousands of visitors as well.
2.It is suggested that the building will be an "iconic landmark",at present we have a view of the city skyline from the common areas of our building and we have a view of a truly "iconic landmark",the Sydney Tower,this view will be obliterated should this proposal for this hideous tower go ahead.
3. There are 206 residential units in our building and our residents currently enjoy a spectacular view of New Years Eve fireworks and the regular fireworks put on by the businesses in Darling Harbour,the view of these displays will be largely diminished.
4.Pyrmont is among the most densely populated suburbs in Australia,this proposal will only add to the frustrating process of travelling around Pyrmont either on foot or by private vehicles and taxis.
5. This proposed development will only be of benefit to the developers and the privileged few able to afford to stay there,it has no benefit for the residents of Pyrmont and the many thousands of ordinary visitors who come to enjoy the Darling Harbour precinct and spend money at the businesses within the area.
6.Furthermore,this proposal was not widely advertised within the Pyrmont area,there may have been a few buildings in very close proximity which were advised but buildings such as The Darlington with a residential population of approximately 800 people were not given any written information on this proposal even though it clearly effects not only our building but many of the buildings close to us.
Was this an oversight or is there some other explanation as to why more people weren't made aware of this odious proposal?

I strongly object to the ICC Hotel proposal on the grounds of excessive height, theft of visual amenity, lack of viable transportation to and from the hotel, shadowing onto Darling Harbour fountain and leisure areas, glare and reflection from the western face of the hotel to nearby residents.

It is suggested this ICC Hotel would be an 'iconic landmark'. I live in a complex of 206 apartments (The Darlington) where our view of the iconic Sydney Tower would be lost to this ICC Hotel. All our apartments and common areas will also lose the fireworks displays that are such an exciting part of living where we do. This ICC hotel has nothing iconic about it. It has zero 'smile factor'. Even the UTS Students Lobby called it uninspiring.

Without car parking at the hotel, and the loss of the Monorail coupled with minimal taxi access, I guess guests will be queuing to use the people mover train in Darling Harbour.

Pyrmont is the most densely populated suburb in Australia and it feels like this ICC Hotel is being forced onto our community. Why is it that very few people who are deeply affected by this proposal don't even know about it? No canvassing was done in our area. We are HUGELY impacted by this proposal. Hotel visitors have no allegiance to Sydney, but we LIVE here.

What also concerns me - it is said in the proposal the 'the height is consistent with the urban topography of the CBD' - this ICC Hotel is NOT in the CBD - it is in Darling Harbour Pyrmont. Granting permission to build this overwhelming height opens the door to further development at this height in what is a medium height precinct.

Walking from the 'tunnel effect' of the CBD into Darling Harbour gives huge visual relief by way of the horizontal plane. This ICC Hotel would loom over the relaxed ambience of Darling Harbour like some hideous ogre.

I fiercely oppose the ICC hotel.

It is a high rise structure with in a medium rise location. It is not a fit within our community.

This structure that has been designed will block out all of my apartments views into Cockle Bay and also of Sydney Tower. I will now look directly into the back of a hotel. I currently have beautiful water and skyline views - the whole reason for buying my apartment which has a 70 square metre balcony around the outside from which to enjoy this outlook. I have not had 'view reduction' nor have I now got 'appropriate view sharing' as outlined in documentation. My view has been eradicated pure and simple.

From my master bedroom, bathroom, balcony, living room - I currently see the Sydney Tower - now I will have not only my view of the tower taken from me - I will also have the outlook into Darling harbour taken also.

This development will cost me financially - as I will have a fall in my property's value.

Whoever designed this..... Would you build this in front of your apartment? Highly unlikely.

In Allen street coming off the Anzac bridge off ramp you will no longer see the tower - just the backside of this humongous structure

Personally I preferred the two tower structure - as at least I still salvaged some of the iconic parts of sydneys skyline.

My apartment gets full sun from first thing in the morning. This monumental structure will cure that though. The sun diagrams you have are not for each month of the year and are not a true reflection of reality. I have taken photos of this myself. I ask you to come around and check these diagrams at my apartment - they are NOT accurate.

Looking at the exhibit on display it shows that there are many options for where this hotel could have been built...
Maybe:
- another 3/4 levels on top of convention centre?
- on top of the harbourside shopping mall - which is apparently for sale and in desperate need of a makeover

there are other options - however the designers are clearly looking for a showpiece - hence they want to put a 'lantern' on the top of the building.

It is my view that the International Convention Centre Hotel is too large for its planned site. This building is very tall and will stand over Pyrmont, an area as valuable and rich in history, in my opinion, as the Rocks. The Pyrmont/Ultimo area can be cared for and would flourish, or it could be turned into a slum area, decaying in the shadows of massive glass towers. The ICC will contribute greatly to this decay. Hotels in the area are competing fiercely for business and the ICC is capable of crushing many of these operations. The ICC exceeds many of the City of Sydney's construction limitations, which have been developed over many years to preserve the city's "liveability". The loophole of course, that the State Government of NSW does not have to abide by the city's planning requirements is an abuse of its position. Foreshore development should be minimised, be low impact and the foreshore area should be public space. The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority should prevent the building of the ICC. Protection of the foreshore is the Authority's reason for its creation. Please build the ICC among the high rise buildings of the central business district.

To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to object to the construction of a 30+ storey hotel at Darling Harbour. I object to the height and scale of the building, and in particular, the overshadowing the hotel will cause to buildings and residents in Pyrmont. I am a resident of the Goldsbrough Building on Pyrmont Street; my apartment, on level two, faces east and has only one main window; the hotel will cause overshadowing to my apartment, and I object to this. My main window is the only source of natural light into my apartment, and I strongly object to it being taken away. Secondly, the height of the hotel is completely out of character with other buildings on Darling Harbour. Finally, it's an eyesore. The Darling Harbour constructed in the 1980s was rushed and dated rapidly; it's our city -- let's not get it wrong all over again. Thank you for your time.
Best wishes,
Monica Crouch,
Pyrmont.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am the managing agent for 903 & 506 / 50 Murray St, Pyrmont NSW 2009 (Darling One). On behalf the owners, please see their comments for the ICC Hotel project:

903/50 Murray St., Pyrmont owner - David Lawrence.

Comment: from owner -

My name is David Lawrence, I strongly oppose to build the ICC Hotel bldg. in Darling Harbour. I am residing at Thailand, I bought this property 5 years ago at top price nearly 1m for the priceless Darling Harbour water views with my hard earned money and devastated to find out that there will be a 39 storey high wise built right in front of my building. I currently rented this property out and planning to return to Sydney to retire and move back to this apartment. If this proposal materialised then I am sure my property price will dramatically reduce by 40%, I definitely can't afford to lose this sort of money.

Pyrmont is already highly densely populated at the moment, having such a big complex will definitely create chaos for the traffic and all sort of problems. In addition to it, I think the high wise will stifle the atmosphere and ambience of the relaxing leisure feel of the Darling Harbours - the iconic land mark in Sydney.

Your kind consideration and assistance upon this matter would be highly appreciated.

Thanks once again.

David Lawrence
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506/50 Murray St., Pyrmont owner - Rana AI Mekarry, Mohamed AI Mekarry, Ghina Makari, Salama Makari & Mohamad M

Comment from owners:

We strongly oppose the idea of building the 39 storey ICC Hotel bldg. in Darling Harbour. We are residing in Canberra and bought this property about 3 years ago as an investment property. We admired the location and believed that we were fortunate to secure such prestige property. We have just learnt this news and are very upset of such proposal
as if it go ahead then our property value will be affected terribly say by possibly 30%. This is not the loss we could afford.

We imagine it could have very negative visual impact and affect livelihood for the neighbouring residence for example traffic chaos, insufficient public transport and other amenities..............etc.

We sincere hope that our voice are heard and opinion respected.

Thanks.

Regards,

Rana AI Mekarry, Mohamed AI Mekarry, Ghina Makari, Salama Makari & Mohamad M

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Many thanks.

I object strongly to the 38 storey hotel for the following reasons:
1. It seriously restricts access to Darling Harbour for anyone who wishes to approach it from the West and puts that access at road level making it more risky for pedestrians.
2. It is naive to think that this hotel will be the only 30-plus storey construction on the West side of Darling Harbour. In time, the West side will be a mass of multi-storey buildings, just like the East side but 50% higher. All natural light will be severely restricted and the charm and human scale of the existing Darling Harbour will be ruined.
3. 25 years ago, Darling Harbour was conceived as a celebration of Australia's bicentenary with buildings that received major international acclaim. It appears that it's "Good-bye to all that".
4. The Australia that we know today is a comparatively young country but it won't always be so. Why are we making no attempt to conserve the best of what we have?
5. The new Darling Harbour with its new Convention Centre and Hotel will not be something that future generations will view or visit with any feeling of pride or satisfaction. When they consider what they have lost, it will be with a feeling of regret.
6. Why is this development even being considered?

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I object to this proposal. Please see the attached document.

We object to the proposal Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) - International Convention Centre Hotel (ICC Hotel) for the following reasons:

1- Award Winning public buildings being removed;
2- New multi-storey buildings in the area would make the area unusable for locals and visitors;
3- Safety;
4- Impact on local residential area;
5- the Goldsbrough being an iconic and heritage part of Darling Harbour will be obscured from the public view;
6- the height and scale of the new International Convention Centre (ICC) and Hotel in relation to residential neighbours;
7- overshadowing of the Goldsbrough from the proposed ICC and Hotel and loss of winter morning sunlight;
8- removal of current convention centre walkway without a viable alternative public access;
9- the new over-developed ICC and new hotel accommodations on Darling Harbour relatively small site would pollute the area to the point making it unusable for locals and visitors.

Please see attached document for details of our objection.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We write on behalf of the owner of the Novotel Hotel Pyrmont.

Please refer to the preliminary letter attached. We will provide a detailed submission by 15 November 2013.

Kind Regards,

Jane Freeman
Associate, Architectus

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