The skyline of Sydney's second CBD looks set to become even higher with what could be Parramatta's tallest building passing a major planning hurdle.
The Parramatta Local Planning Panel has recommended that a maximum building height rule for land at 2 O'Connell Street be changed from 35 to 217 meters.
The move still needs to be given the green light by the Parramatta Council and the NSW Department of Planning.
Concept designs for a development, which could be built on the land, show a 69-storey skyscraper — a mix of both residential apartments and commercial floor space.
A separate 11-storey tower could also be constructed on the site, with both buildings much taller than the existing three-storey brick complex.
Final tower designs need to be assessed during the development application process, which hasn't yet started.
If the current concepts were approved, they would be higher than developer Meriton's 67-storey "180 George", which is under construction.
In prior consultation on the planning changes, concerns were raised about how a skyscraper on O'Connell Street might impact on surrounding airports.
Sydney Metro Airports, which runs Bankstown Airport, said the proposed building and associated crane works would impact its airspace and, possibly, Sydney Airport too.
The Department of Infrastructure said any development would likely need to be assessed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia.
The development would also sit across the road from the St Johns Cemetery, which is listed on the State Heritage Register.
It is the oldest existing European burial ground in Australia — established in 1790, on what was the southern outskirts of the Rose Hill settlement.
A heritage report into the planning changes says there should be "no significant adverse impacts" on the cemetery.
