Aqualand has confirmed the final piece in the Barangaroo puzzle is one step closer, with plans for the Central Barangaroo harbour front precinct placed on public exhibition last week.

The new plans for Central Barangaroo will transform the currently vacant northern portion of the site into a vibrant cultural and entertainment destination that will include restaurants and bars, retail, cultural facilities, a luxury hotel, and apartments all surrounded by generous and lively public spaces.

The new plans project will include seven smaller buildings, all of which will have an active ground floor use of retail, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues, that will contribute to the city’s burgeoning night time economy.

Tim Robertson, Project Director for Central Barangaroo, said, “Aqualand is delighted to reveal our plans for the final piece of the Barangaroo precinct and look forward to delivering an exceptional lifestyle destination for everyone to enjoy.

“Our focus is on delivering an exceptional lifestyle destination for all Sydneysiders and visitors, with generous and lively public spaces punctuated by restaurants, cafes, and bars. Central Barangaroo will be the lively, beating heart of the precinct.”

Tim Robertson said that Aqualand had worked diligently to respond to issues raised during the public consultation process on the earlier scheme, “We’ve engaged earnestly with the community, we sat in their living rooms through winter, listened intently to their views, and modified the proposal materially in response. We acknowledge that a small number of people will not be satisfied with our approach, but this project will deliver a tremendously positive outcome for the city and we’re immensely proud of that.”
“The clarity of direction from the Government over the last nine months in particular has provided a much greater focus on the public dividend from the project. That’s led to improved view sharing, more generous public spaces, greater connectivity through the precinct, and an enhanced outcome overall.”

“We’re eager to move forward and start construction as soon as possible. The project has suffered from delays and inconsistent direction over the last few years – which we feel confident is now behind us,” added Tim. The scale of the development has been reduced by around 30 per cent from Aqualand’s previous proposal that was on public exhibition in August 2022, with the rework focusing on increasing the amount of public space throughout the development and removing a small tower in the northern part of the site.

Detailed architectural design for the individual buildings will commence soon and is likely to include a mix of international and Australian architects. Following their appointment, construction is expected to start on the precinct by the end of 2024 with completion targeted by approximately 2029.

The Modification Application will be on public exhibition for 28 days from 11 January to 7 February 2024. Aqualand is targeting approval before Easter.