A free viewing platform on top of Crown Casino's new Southbank tower – approved by Premier Daniel Andrews despite smashing his government's skyscraper height and density rules – provides $35 million of the project's supposed community benefits.

The $1.75 billion tower, recently approved by Labor behind closed doors, was given the nod because of the $100 million in public benefits Crown promised it would bring.

Crown's proposed 90-storey tower (centre). Credit:FloodSlicer

"As part of this critically important development," Daniel Andrews said when he announced the project had been approved, "there is $100 million of community benefit. Whether it's the complete upgrade of Queensbridge Square, or the Sandridge rail bridge being completely re-imagined, there is enormous public benefit."

Mr Andrews did not mention that more than a third of the public benefit provided by Crown was the viewing platform.