Parramatta plans tallest skyscraper with hotel and apartments

Parramatta could soon be home to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, with a plan for a 90 storey skyscraper being considered by the New South Wales Government.

The Lord Mayor of Parramatta John Chedid says he is confident the government will approve the 338 metre high project, which would put Parramatta ahead of the Gold Coast in terms of the tallest buildings in the country.

He says it will feature shops, apartments, bars and a hotel.

"Sydney's got the Opera House and that's iconic and Parramatta hopes it will have its own landmark with a spire tower so people can actually recognise it from anywhere," he said.

"It will have a viewing platform so we can have the magnificent view where you can see Sydney Harbour and also the Blue Mountains."

"It'll be an iconic development for us, it'll give us the landmark that Parramatta, western Sydney needs," he said.

"We've already got a plan already approved so this is an amendment, so hopefully within two three months we should have approval."

Parramatta City Council has admitted there has been no community consultation about the plan.

The proposed skyscraper will contain a hotel, hundreds of residential apartments and a rooftop platform allowing tourists to look at both Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Independent councillor Lorraine Wearne says she thinks the community will back the idea, but has admitted council has not asked the public.

"There's no been no community consultation on this specific proposal," she said.

Source: ABC News, 4 April 2013