From Sydney Morning Hearld
Businessman David Murray is due to hand his final report on competing proposals from casino operators Crown and Echo Entertainment to Premier Barry O’Farrell on Wednesday, only a day before it is considered by cabinet.
Each company has produced expert assessments which argue its project is of greater benefit to the state, leaving Mr O’Farrell under pressure to explain his decision, due to be announced on Thursday, on which one to back.
On Tuesday a government spokesman said Mr Murray’s report would be released in full, but would not guarantee the same for supporting documents, saying that would be up to cabinet.
Crown wants to build a 60-storey tower at Barangaroo which would include a six-star hotel, apartments and a VIP-only casino at a cost of up to $1.5 billion.
cho wants to spend $1.1 billion expanding the Star casino at Pyrmont with two new hotels and $130 million spent on parklands and a bridge, for pedestrians and cyclists, which connects its base of Darling Island with Barangaroo.
The company is offering to pay the government $250 million for a 15-year extension of its monopoly casino licence, which would torpedo Crown’s project.
