Premier Jeremy Rockliff announces legislation to enable rejected Stony Rise Village to go ahead
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has announced plans to bring on legislation that would enable a rejected retail development to go ahead, sparking concerns that a “terrible precedent” may be set.
Tasmania
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The Tasmanian government will introduce legislation to ensure that a rejected $40m retail centre proposed for Devonport can go ahead, after the developer publicly called for the state parliament to intervene in the matter.
The Stony Rise Village project south of Devonport was dismissed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission in August after being approved by the local council.
The developer behind the proposal, Tipalea Partners, took the significant step this week of publicly imploring the government to develop legislation that would enable the development to proceed.
CEO Scott Spanton said the project would have created more than 1200 jobs and “probably” increased home values in the area by $25,000.
“We have done the numbers and the crazy thing is that this retail centre at Stony Rise / Devonport is needed far more desperately, and will trade far stronger, than either of our Howrah or Kingston centres,” he wrote in an open letter published in the Mercury on Tuesday.
It comes after Premier Jeremy Rockliff expressed his support for the development in the wake of the TPC’s decision, describing it as “not good enough” and a barrier to economic growth in the North-West.
Now he has announced that legislation to facilitate the project has been “drafted and finalised” and would be introduced in parliament next week.
“This legislation is more than just a development approval; it’s a message to investors that Tasmania is open for business,” he said.
“The people of Stony Rise deserve no less.”
Labor leader Dean Winter also backed calls on Wednesday for the approval of Stony Rise Village, telling Premier Jeremy Rockliff to “drop the weasel words” and take action on the matter.
“Today, only hours after I had made the commitment to the Devonport business community to support the project with legislation in parliament, the Premier followed my lead,” he said.
“The Premier’s inability to get the job done by himself is just another sign that he is struggling.”
Meanwhile, Greens planning spokeswoman Helen Burnet said bringing on special legislation to assist a specific private developer was a “reckless idea”.
“We have planning rules and a planning tribunal for a reason – to make sure there’s a proper process that delivers the best outcomes for the community. That process must not be cast aside by politicians,” she said.
“If [Planning] Minister [Felix Ellis] agrees to special legislation to give this developer what they want he will set a terrible precedent. The queue of future developers lining up to get special consideration will no doubt be long,” she said.
Parliament urged to resurrect doomed retail centre proposal
The developer behind a doomed proposal for a $40m retail precinct in Devonport is calling on state government to pass legislation that would allow the project to go ahead.
The Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) rejected the Stony Rise Village development in August after it was approved by the Devonport City Council.
The commission said the precinct would “diminish the integrity and vitality of several towns and commercial centres”, prompting backlash from Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who argued the decision was “not good enough” and was a barrier to “economic growth” in the region.
In an open letter published in the Mercury on Tuesday, Tipalea Partners CEO Scott Spanton said Tasmania’s lawmakers needed to intervene in the matter.
“I am respectfully calling on the Tasmanian state government to introduce a single piece of legislation that is very specific in approving the Stony Rise Village application – not something that can be used in future to approve other projects, but for Stony Rise Village only,” he wrote.
“Given the support shown to date by both sides of parliament I would hope that legislation would have the full support of all Liberal, Labor and independent members of parliament – which would allow us to start building next year.”
Tipalea has previously developed the successful Glebe Hill Village shopping centre at Howrah and was recently given the green light by the Kingborough Council to build the $45m Spring Farm Village at Kingston.
Mr Spanton said Stony Rise would have created more than 1200 jobs and “probably” increased home values in the local area by $25,000.
“We have done the numbers and the crazy thing is that this retail centre at Stony Rise/Devonport is needed far more desperately, and will trade far stronger, than either of our Howrah or Kingston centres,” he wrote.
Mr Spanton claimed that the only parties who were opposed to the development were the TPC and the “only competing shopping centre in Devonport”.
Planning Minister Felix Ellis said the government would “continue to work with the developer and the council to ensure this project commences” and a legislative solution was a possibility.
“We are working hard with the council on the necessary changes to their planning rules, and the state’s Regional Land Use Strategies,” he said.
“We have also made it clear we will consider all avenues, including legislative changes – if necessary – as soon as practicable.”
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