Crown hotel plans 'a shot in the arm' for Sydney

There has been a rare show of bipartisan support for new plans to build a 350 room hotel at the south end of Sydney's Barangaroo site.

James Packer's reportedly struck an optional agreement that could see him go into partnership with rights holder Lend Lease to build the billion-dollar hotel at the harbour-side development.

New plans have been drawn up showing it would include high roller gaming salons and a VIP gaming room.

The Acting Premier Andrew Stoner says the hotel would be a shot in the arm for Sydney, but a number of hurdles would have to be cleared first, inclduing the state's current one casino policy.

"Any proposal would have to be assessed by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, which would make a recommendation to the government," he said.

"I think its a pretty exciting prospect to have, what Mr Packer termed as the 'world's best hotel' located in Sydney I think it would certainly give our city a real shot in the arm."

The Acting Opposition Leader Linda Burney says the plan is much better than Mr Packer's previous proposal to build the hotel in the middle of public land at Barangaroo central.

"It is now appropriately located at the southern end of Barangaroo which is where it always should have been," she said.

She says it will bring investment and jobs to Sydney.

Source: ABC News, 3 August 2012