Union, locals oppose Sydney’s new CBD hotel tower plan
A $186 million, 60-storey hotel planned for Pitt Street in Sydney’s CBD is under fire from local groups, despite receiving support from the City of Sydney.
The proposed development by Singapore’s Well Smart Investment would deliver 509 hotel rooms and ground-floor retail space, with plans to retain heritage façades of existing terrace buildings. City planners see it as a tourism boost and a job creator—estimated to support 570 construction jobs and 400 ongoing roles.
But local stakeholders are pushing back. The NSW Electrical Trades Union, whose headquarters adjoin the site, raised concerns over the tower casting shadows, blocking natural light, and the privatization of a nearby laneway crucial for access. The Sydney Masonic Centre, also neighboring the site, fears construction noise and vibrations will disrupt its events and has requested compensation for potential losses.
The City of Sydney maintains the plan complies with zoning rules, but the project’s future now hinges on how planning authorities respond to the growing opposition.
Australian Hospitality Directory, 19th May 2025
