Justin Hemmes wants to turn new metro station into entertainment precinct
Justin Hemmes has put his hand up to build two skyscrapers above the planned Sydney CBD metro station.
Hemmes is working with a pack of high-profile developers including Lendlease, Mirvac and landowner Coombes Property Group, looking to secure the construction rights.
The consortium, known as the Metropolis Consortium, is competing against Canadian giant Brookfield which is also bidding for the rights.
Brookfield has form in this space having developed the towers above Wynyard station. In an impressive bid, Brookfield has told the NSW government that it could undertake works on a series of stations along the planned metro lines. If allowed, it would then underwrite the works program to avoid cost-blowouts.
Brookfield’s bid is impressive, however Hemmes development would include an entertainment precinct with restaurants, bars and hospitality offerings at the Metro station doorstep.
A move like this would cement the billionaire’s place as Sydney’s entertainment king.
Brookfield and Hemmes’ consortium are shortlisted to tender.
“This is an exciting visionary project creating a seamless interchange for commuters travelling into George St with connections to light rail, train services at Wynyard and the new Sydney Metro City and Southwest station at Martin Place,” NSW Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said.
“There’s an opportunity with the new Hunter Street Station to create a world-class transport precinct which will become a gateway to jobs, business and tourism,” he said.
The two towers will stand just shy of 270 metres and the successful tender will consider the improvement of the local area.
“The short-listed consortia have already been through a competitive procurement process, and now will get to work on detailed proposals that maximise place making outcomes and show how they will integrate the precinct and the station,” Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan said.
The winning tender is expected to be awarded in 2024.
Jonathan Jackson - 15-11-22
