‘Unusual’: Kingborough Council quietly approves Errol Stewart’s Taroona development without vote
Residents of a Hobart suburb are outraged after their local council gave the green light to a controversial development without elected members voting on the proposal first.
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Taroona residents have been left reeling after a controversial development was quietly approved by the Kingborough Council without it first coming before elected members for a vote, prompting outrage from locals over the “very unusual” turn of events.
Prominent developer Errol Stewart has proposed to demolish parts of the old Mary’s Grange aged care home on Grange Ave in order to build an apartment complex featuring 15 units.
The plan involves the refurbishment of the Mary Potter Building and Grange House, while the main Mary’s Grange building is set to be partly demolished and repurposed for residential living.
The 10,494 sq/m site – which has been vacant for the past four years – is zoned low density residential. Opponents of the development argue that this fact alone should preclude the project from going ahead, saying it would exceed the acceptable solutions for density and height.
The advertising period for the development application expired on March 7 and there were 42 public representations made, requiring the matter to go to a council meeting for determination.
However, it’s understood the assessment time frame did not align with the council meeting schedule, leading Kingborough Council to ask Mr Stewart for an extension, which he refused.
In accordance with the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act, the council then delegated the assessment to an external consultant, who approved the application without the input or influence of councillors.
The Mercury understands multiple planning appeals have since been launched against the decision.
Taroona Community Association spokeswoman Jill Hickie said locals were “quite shocked” by how the process had unfolded.
“We did not have the opportunity to even respond and speak to our elected representatives … about our representations,” she said.
“It leaves us in the position that if we want to be heard, we have to appeal, which is costly, and we feel that this is really deficient in transparency.
“The council was caught between a rock and a hard place. So I look at the applicant and say, ‘Why did you not give them an extension?’ It’s very unusual for an applicant to say no.”
The majority of apartments slated for the 10,494 sq/m site – which has been vacant for the past four years – would comprise four bedrooms. More than 50 carparking spaces for residents and guests would also be built.
Mr Stewart rejected the assertion that he had refused the council’s request for an extension because he didn’t want the application to come to a vote.
“We put the planning permit in in July last year and [the council] asked for an extension of time for two months – and I said no. That was three weeks ago. And I don’t think that’s being unreasonable,” he said.
“We probably would have gone to an appeal in any case … All we’ve said is, ‘We’re not going to give you any more time’. It’s been in the system for 10 months.”
Mr Stewart said he didn’t believe the development was “very dense” and noted that the total number of bedrooms was much reduced compared to the previous use of the site, and that there would be less parking and therefore less traffic.
“There’s no additional footprint at all. In fact, there’s quite significantly less. So I’m just not sure how you satisfy people,” he said.
Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt said it was “rare” for a developer to deny a request for an assessment time frame to be extended.
“On this occasion, council asked the applicant to reconsider their refusal and allow the matter to be brought before a council meeting,” she said.
“Council is disappointed that the assessment and approval process for this development did not come before a meeting, however we know that the assessment was made with a full and proper consideration against the planning scheme and the representations received.”
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