It is, undeniably, big.
On Thursday, the Andrews government was keen to spruik its decision to rubber stamp Crown Casino's plan to build a 90-storey, 322-metre tower as a big win for the people of Victoria.
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Crown's 90-storey tower approved
Southbank site will expand to eight hectares, with a $1.75 billion tower topping out 25 metres higher than Eureka.
The project will be so big, Premier Daniel Andrews said, it would be of "state significance", creating 3000 jobs during construction and a further1000 once up and running and adding $2.1 billion to the state economy.
This may be true. But there is an awful lot we don't know about the new monolith, which as Andrews put it will involve a "bold transformation" of Melbourne's skyline.
![It is worth noting that in opposition Labor was critical of Matthew Guy's liberal use of the very clause it is now ...](/web/20170209100039im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/9/2/v/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu9iro.png/1486627859203.jpg)
In approving this project, the government relied on a special clause in the planning act allowing the planning minister to bypass key requirements (such as consultation) if "the interests of Victoria" make such an exemption appropriate.
In other words, normal planning rules need not apply. At this point it is worth noting that in opposition Labor was critical of Matthew Guy's liberal use of the very clause it is now relying on. So why the apparent special treatment for Crown?
It is also worth noting the following points.
First, in the lead-up to the 2014 election, Crown founder Lloyd Williams was recorded appearing to offer Andrews the Packer family's backing for the Labor campaign.
"I'm very pleased that, you should probably know I am the executive of the Packer estate, and James is going to kick every goal he can for you," Williams is recorded as saying, his hand on Andrews' back.
Second, Crown struck a controversial deal with the Andrews government immediately before the 2014 state election, in which Labor promised to support a lucrative 17-year extension to Crown's gaming licence in exchange for a promise from the Casino to retrain 500 retrenched workers.
As revealed by Fairfax Media last year, almost two years after the multibillion-dollar licence extension was granted, just six redundant workers had completed training under the scheme.
Third, in 2015, the Department of Planning said it had identified a "range of concerns" relating to an earlier version of the project that was in fact smaller, rising to 82 levels. Those concerns included the height and the over-provision of parking.
Although the latest version has been set further back from surrounding buildings, it is even higher, and with similar parking arrangements. Exactly what might have changed since 2015 to allay those concerns is unclear.
The simple way to clear some of this up would have been to following the normal planning processes. As Greens leader Greg Barber put it, the public perception is that "what Crown Casino wants, Crown Casino gets".