Kangaroo Bay Voice disappointed by push the have hotel assessed as major project

The push for the Kangaroo Bay Hotel to be assessed as a major project has left some disappointed, but the developer says it’s the only way it will be considered fairly. Latest.

The Kangaroo Bay $50m hotel proposal by developer Chambroad.

Community members on Hobart’s Eastern Shore are disappointed the developer of the proposed Kangaroo Bay Hotel wants the build to be considered a ‘major project’, but the project manager says it’s the only way it can be judged fairly and without bias.

Last week, Chambroad lodged an application with Planning Minister Michael Ferguson for the Kangaroo Bay Hotel to be assessed as a major project, hoping to overrule the Clarence Council’s decision to refuse the most recent iteration of the project.

The Chinese owned company had previously received approval for a hotel and hospitality school, but it did not substantially commence the project on time, despite receiving extensions.

It’s now locked in mediation after the council voted to buy back the waterfront land at Kangaroo Bay.

“We are desperately keen to get on with the job and build the hotel, we’ve spent nearly $14m to date trying to get up the proposal,” project manager Greg Hudson said.

Kangaroo Bay Hotel, Project Director Greg Hudson. Picture: Chris Kidd

“There is common view both by the state and Chambroad that this needs to be developed … we believe within 12 months, under the major projects process, we would be in a position to be considered to obtain approval to proceed.

“Council, through it’s action, by commencing litigation, has effectively demonstrated we need a process that can be unbiased and independent … The major projects proposal process does exactly that.”

Mr Hudson said he was confident the project had merit to be considered a major project.

“The major projects proposal process actually has criteria around impact, not just in economic terms but social and environmental,” Mr Hudson said.

Organiser of resident’s group Kangaroo Bay Voice, Anne Geard, said Chambroad’s latest move was disappointing.

“They haven’t got what they wanted, they have a contract, now they’re saying ‘we don’t like the decision, and we’re going to ask someone else to fix it’,” Ms Geard said.

The council is considering the future of the site as part of its city heart project.

It’s currently seeking consultation with community members about what should be built there.

Ms Geard urged other community members to have their say.

“It’s up to the community to get involved and show how much they care about the area,” Ms Geard said.

“No one is against development, everyone wants something fantastic there … some people want parks, some people want a ferry terminal some people don’t want anything.”

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said it had been a “long and frustrating” process.

“There’s been three extensions to that contract over the past six years and nothing’s been delivered,” Mr Blomeley said.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Council’s position is clear … we’re buying that land back, we’re retuning it to public ownership.”

Mr Ferguson said it would undertake consultation, including with adjacent landowners and the council, as to whether the hotel should be assessed as a major project.

“It is important to remember that declaration as major project is just permission to enter the process, for the assessment to commence,” he said.

“The planning assessment would be comprehensive and transparent, and undertaken by an independent expert panel in conjunction with our statutory regulators.”

‘It’s about fairness’: Chambroad hotel move to bypass council

August 15, 7am

Developer Chambroad is seeking to bypass a hostile Clarence Council by submitting plans for its $50m Kangaroo Bay hotel development to be assessed under the state government’s Major Projects process.

The Chinese-owned company lodged an application with Planning Minister Michael Ferguson on Friday seeking that the 155-room hotel be declared a “major project” – the first such development to be assessed under the process.

If successful the project would bypass the Clarence Council and be examined by an independent panel assembled by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

The Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson said Major Projects assessment would ensure the plans would receive fair consideration.

“It’s about fairness of process,” he said.

The Kangaroo Bay $50m hotel proposed by Chambroad will feature 155 rooms.

“Chambroad remains 100 per cent committed to this hotel, and this application is the most

practical way to advance the project given Clarence Council’s decision earlier this year.

“At that time, 10 out of 12 councillors voted against our project, and have started legal

proceedings to try to buy the land back from us.

“In these circumstances, it is inconceivable that our project could receive a fair and impartial

assessment from Clarence City Council through the development application process.”

Clarence Council closed the door on the Kangaroo Bay project after assessing that Chambroad had not met minimum commencement milestones on the hotel, which was first proposed back in 2017 and involved a hotel and hospitality school. The company modified plans in 2019 when the University of Tasmania announced it’s involvement in the hospitality school but Covid led to delays and uncertainty about international student enrolments and UTAS pulled out.

Project director of the Kangaroo Bay Hotel Greg Hudson. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Chambroad sought an extension on its project in December 2022, but the council rejected the requestand is now locked in legal action with Chambroad to buy the Kangaroo Bay land back. The titles are still owned by Chambroad.

Earlier this month Premier Jeremy Rockliff sought to step in to “manage the relationship” between Chambroad and Clarence because he did not want the prime waterfront site to become “a wasteland”.

Mr Hudson says the Kangaroo Bay Hotel should be assessed as a “major project” because it met the criteria of having a wider impact on the whole South-East region, not just Clarence.

“The project will help to address the gap in premium 4.5 star accommodation, restaurants and meeting spaces in the greater Hobart area,” he said.

He said the southern region would benefit from extra spending in the Tasmanian economy with an estimated $42.7m visitor spend annually on services in and around Kangaroo Bay.

“Importantly, almost 500 new direct jobs will be created for people in the local community

and Greater Hobart during construction and once the hotel is operating,” Mr Hudson said.

Mr Hudson says the major projects process is expected to take a minimum of 11 months and would still allow proper assessment and the opportunity for public to have their say.

“The public will still be consulted and able to have their say, including through public

exhibition of draft socio economic assessment criteria by the Tasmanian Planning

Commission’s assessment panel,” Mr Hudson said.

Originally published as Kangaroo Bay Voice disappointed by push the have hotel assessed as major project