NSW govt orders review into Barangaroo

SYDNEY (AAP) - A "short, sharp" review will be held into the contentious Barangaroo development in Sydney after mediation talks between opponents and the developer resulted in a legal challenge being postponed.
The Australians for Sustainable Development (AfSD), Lend Lease and the government's Barangaroo Delivery Authority were locked in mediation talks for most of Thursday, leading to a "very positive" agreement between the parties, NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard said.
"Each of the parties have agreed that the court proceeding that was to have proceeded on Monday will now be adjourned," Mr Hazzard told reporters on Thursday.
"Instead there will be a short, sharp review undertaken by an independent person to be agreed upon and we will look at the various issues that have caused contention at Barangaroo.
"This is a major victory for commonsense. We had a bogged down, likely court proceeding occurring at great expense to taxpayers and possibly causing months of delay."
The AfSD was due to challenge the development in the Land and Environment Court next Monday, claiming the East Darling Harbour project had changed so drastically since the concept plan was approved that it is now invalid.
Mr Hazzard estimated the review should be finished in less than two months, and would not delay current work on the project.
Its terms of reference will be hammered by the various parties next week, he added.
AfSD spokeswoman Marcelle Hoff said she was "absolutely delighted" by the outcome of the mediation talks, adding "we feel very positive we will get a good outcome" from the review.
The group last week presented a petition of more than 11,000 signatures to NSW parliament last week, leading to debate in the lower house on Wednesday.
AfSD wants an overseas passenger terminal to be included in the development, for planned towers to be scaled back, and for the removal of a hotel to be built over the harbour.
"It means now that we can move forward, that a group of us who really want a common outcome, a common result that we all want is a really wonderful development down there on Barangaroo that we can all be proud of," she said.
"Those 12,000 people who signed our petition are now going to truly believe that they're being heard, and we're able to move forward in a positive way."
Independent MP and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who presented the petition to parliament, welcomed the review and said the council would provide any material it needs.
"Barangaroo provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said in a statement.
"It is Sydney's opportunity to lead the world in design excellence and in creating a sustainable, low carbon community."