New Barangaroo proposal shuffles public space to make way for James Packer's casino A smaller south cove and parkland shifted from the harbour is the price Sydneysiders will pay to bring Barangaroo's landmark hotel back on dry land. The Barangaroo Delivery Authority's latest proposals for Sydney's biggest CBD development show how buildings and public space will be reshuffled to fit James Packer's proposed hotel and casino complex. The plans also reveal new ambition for Central Barangaroo, including a grand civic staircase between the development site and Millers Point, a new plaza, 30-metre-wide foreshore walk and sites for a future cultural venue. The Central Barangaroo master plan also proposes to double the floor area within current approved building heights and footprints to 120,000 square metres to support a "greater diversity" of residential, commercial, cultural and educational uses. "Central Barangaroo will be a new place for Sydney to celebrate by the harbour," authority chief executive John Tabart said. Its built area will be characterised by laneways where you will be able to walk or cycle along the streets, active with shops, cafes and restaurants. Mr Tabart also announced the authority's support for Lend Lease's preferred site for an "iconic" hotel on Barangaroo South, central to Mr Packer's bid for a harbourside casino. Lend Lease had previously won approval for a hotel in the middle of the harbour, but a 2011 review recommended it be moved onshore. The shift means the southern cove would shrink by about 2000 square metres. Also gone would be 7500 square metres of prime harbourside parkland to make way for the hotel. Instead, a 9000-square-metre park is proposed for behind the hotel, framed by Hickson Road to its east and relocated residential towers to its south. Mr Tabart said the changes ensured some Barangaroo parkland was sheltered from the south-westerly winds "that at certain times of the day and the year make it very difficult to use the waterfront" while giving a hotel the "most iconic site that we can offer." You need a great [hotel] site. You also need a complementary use such as residential within it, which can occur here - it couldn't occur on the harbour," he said. And also you need other uses, potentially of course a casino, should that be successful. But City of Sydney councillor and planning lawyer John Mant said it was unrealistic for all of the inland park to remain public space. "You had harbourside park space which is now tucked in behind buildings, and looking at the three residential towers ... even if some of it is public recreation space, some of it will be taken by the buildings as forecourt to the buildings," Cr Mant said. The master plan for Central Barangaroo will be available for public viewing on Monday, before it is lodged with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Changes to South Barangaroo, including the new site proposed for the hotel, are yet to be submitted to the department for approval.