Developer Lendlease, which is building high-rise apartments in the same area as Crown, has also launched legal action seeking an injunction to stop the BDA releasing a revised plan for the site. Lendlease said legal proceedings were "never our preferred course of action and we remain hopeful of reaching an agreement with the Barangaroo Delivery Authority". Loading "However, we need to act in the best interests of our customers, our investors and our people," a spokesman said, "and in this case, that required us to seek an injunction". The lawsuits, which come after more than two years of negotiations with authorities, will be an unwelcome distraction for the Berejiklian government in the lead-up to the March 2019 state election.

The government is already embroiled in a politically damaging $1.1 billion lawsuit with Spanish building company Acciona over Sydney's troubled light rail project. That case is due to return to the NSW Supreme Court in September. News of the Barangaroo dispute puts the government under pressure to intervene, with a group of property developers calling for assurances that the Barangaroo Central project will be protected from potentially costly delays. "Barangaroo has been an incredible success with an amazing bustling character along the waterfront and thousands of office workers and residents," said Chris Johnson, of Urban Taskforce. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "It would be a very backward move if the central section redevelopment grinds to a halt for the next few years while legal battles occur. The NSW government must provide leadership to ensure the parties can agree on a way forward."

The roots of the dispute trace to 2015, when the then Baird government said it would build a metro rail station at Barangaroo Central. In committing to a station at the site, the Baird government also signalled it would allow a trebling of the amount of floor space that could be developed in the area. "Clearly the announcement of a new metro station on the site has changed the planning rules to the disadvantage of Lendlease and Crown Resorts as the Barangaroo Delivery Authority has sought more height and floor space," Mr Johnson said. "There must be a way to balance the impact on existing planning approved envelopes with achieving appropriate development on the central section, but this will need high-level government intervention." NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she had "full confidence" in the authority to continue to negotiate on behalf of the NSW government and to "protect the public interest". Credit: Jessica Hromas Both Labor and the Liberal Party supported Mr Packer's plans to build Crown Barangaroo.

Ms Berejiklian said she had "full confidence" in the authority to continue to negotiate on behalf of the NSW government and to "protect the public interest". The BDA said it had been negotiating with Crown and Lendlease about their sight lines for 28 months. "At all times the authority has acted in good faith and in accordance with its contractual obligations," a spokesman said. "The authority will defend its position in court." The legal manoeuvring on Thursday came as ASX-listed Crown reported its profits jumped more than 12 per cent in the past financial year to nearly $387 million. At all times the authority has acted in good faith and in accordance with its contractual obligations. Barangaroo Delivery Authority spokesman

The result was boosted by a massive leap in revenue from wealthy foreign high-roller gamblers returning in large numbers to Crown's venues after a sharp decline in the previous financial year following the Chinese government's gambling crackdown and arrests of Crown's staff for illegal marketing activities on the China mainland. At Crown's flagship casino in Melbourne, revenue from the so-called "VIP program" surged nearly 74 per cent to $591 million from gambling turnover of $43 billion. Wealthy foreign high-rollers, mainly from Asia, are an important focus of Crown's new casino at its complex in Sydney and are considered crucial to its success. The development approvals struck with the BDA state Crown and Lendlease must be consulted "should there be any changes to Barangaroo Central that could affect sight lines to iconic views". Barangaroo Central will combine public open space with "community, civic and cultural spaces and attractions with residential, retail and commercial uses".