12 June 2025
The Greens have slammed the State Planning Commission’s approval today of a second Walker Tower on the Festival Plaza and will move for the State Government to intervene to halt the development when Parliament returns next week.
"There's only one thing worse than a skyscraper towering over Parliament House and that's two skyscrapers," said Robert Simms MLC.
“It’s outrageous that the Walker Corporation were granted exclusive use of this Park Lands site in the first place. A second tower would further diminish North Terrace, undermine the heritage values of our historic Parliament House and further privatise our public space” he said.
“The State Government must now take urgent action to stop this development from going ahead. Next week, I will be introducing a motion into the Upper House calling for the State Government to intervene to prevent the construction of this 38-storey skyscraper. They cannot wash their hands of this by claiming that they are powerless to intervene in the planning system when just last year we saw them pass legislation to save the Crown & Anchor Hotel from its proposed demolition."
“It's very saddening that once again, Labor’s planning regime is serving the interests of developers rather than the community. This decision is another reminder of the urgent need to reform this failed system to give communities more of a say in the city they want to live in.”