Bicheno Investments and East Coast Tasmania want the Bicheno ambulance station in another location

It’s considered a prime parcel of retail space, but 60a Burgess St is set to become home to an ambulance station. Now there are calls to consider another location. LATEST.

The state government's plan for an ambulance station in Bicheno.

An East Coast developer had grand plans for a prime lot of land in Bicheno, but it was displaced when the state government compulsorily acquired it for an ambulance station. Now there are calls for the government to reconsider.

Last week, the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council approved a development application, submitted by the state government, for the station at 60a Burgess Street.

Councillors were unhappy with building a station on what they believed to be prime retail land.

They said they were forced to approve it to avoid an appeal, which would ultimately favour the proponent, leaving the council liable for legal costs.

Councillors aren’t the only ones unhappy with the site.

Until July this year, 60a Burgess St was part of a larger lot, owned by Bicheno Investments, which had intended to build a mixed use development at the site.

Bicheno Investments CEO Christine Proctor said the group was very supportive of an ambulance station in Bicheno, but it should be at a different location.

“[The state government] has taken under half of it, they’ve taken the prime corner and the main street frontage,” Ms Proctor said.

“Our DA was to create a new retail premises on the ground floor and importantly build about 14 affordable apartment to be used for local residents and seasonal staff.

“It incorporated 60 carparks on site.”

Bicheno Investment's plans for the main street of Bicheno.

Bicheno Investment's plans for the main street of Bicheno.

She said it was designed to meet several community needs.

“Geographically Bicheno is constrained by a considerable coastline, and commercial land’s really precious,” she said. “It’s really hard for people to find anywhere to live that’s affordable and hard for people to find premises to trade from.”

“We’ve lost a really valuable portion of the land, it is what it is. It’s an incredibly disappointing situation when the broader context and strategic planning isn’t taken into account despite widespread community input.

She said alternative plans were being considered, but for now the development was in limbo.

CEO of tourism body, East Coast Tasmania, Grace Keath hoped the state government would reconsider.

“We’re full supportive of Bicheno getting an ambulance station … We feel there are other suitable sites,” she said.

“The [Bicheno Investments] development would have been more beneficial for the main street in terms of parking, retail options and workers accommodation and guest accommodation as well. “Because Bicheno is such a seasonal tourist town, especially in summer, there’s not a lot accommodation.

“Bicheno is also in dire need for more parking in the summer.”

On Friday Labor Leader Rebecca White urged the state government to choose another site.

“It is clear the State Government has not consulted widely enough and have disregarded the concerns of almost all key stakeholders,” she said.

Last week a Department of Health spokesperson told the Mercury further consultation with stakeholders would take place over the next four weeks, particularly on landscaping.

They said the site was chosen after significant consultation with the community and asserted it was the best location to minimise response times.

‘Poor choice from day one’: Ambo station site slammed

October 27, 5am

Councillors on the East Coast say they’ve had no choice but to approve the build of an ambulance station in Bicheno, despite unanimously agreeing the prime retail site was the wrong place for the development.

On Tuesday the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council “reluctantly” voted to approve the Department of Health’s application for the station at 60a Burgess Street.

Deputy Mayor Michael Symons said like many, he supported the build of an ambulance station in Bicheno, just not at the Burgess St site.

”As a councillor, as a long time local resident, as a person who’s lived in Bicheno, I know the proposed site at 60a Burgess Street is a poor choice,” he said.

“It’s been a poor choice from day one, it’s a poor choice that’s been compounded by the department and the state government’s lack of proper consultation, a total lack of understanding of Bicheno’s town centre.”

Mr Symons said the current site would have negative impacts on the future of Bicheno.

Mayor Cheryl Arnol said members of the community had asked the matter be deferred to allow for community consultation, but the council received a firm ‘no’.

“Our staff tried very hard to get this developer to agree to an extension of time, so there could be further community consultation.” Ms Arnol said.

“I personally don’t like this proposal, it’s my firm belief it’s in the wrong site, the style and bulk of the build is, in my view, inappropriate.”

Glamorgan Spring Bay mayor Cheryl Arnol. Image taken in 2018 before Ms Arnol was mayor. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Councillors felt their hands were tied because the DA was technically compliant with Tasmania’s planning requirements.

Some councillors were concerned should they refuse, it would simply be appealed and the council would be liable for legal costs.

“The planning scheme is being used against community on this occasion,” councillor Rob Churchill said.

“I feel for the people of Bicheno, I feel for the loss of potential amenity there as a great commercial development.”

Mr Symons said there were previous plans for the site, which would have been welcomed by the community.

“The owners of 60 Burgess St, before it was compulsorily acquired, had submitted a DA for a substantial retail and affordable housing development across the whole of the site, a development which would have run into the millions of dollars,” he said.

“As it stands now, the remaining portion of 60 Burgess St, as the Crown only took half of the title, now seems to have been rendered commercially unviable to develop due to access issues and size constraints.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said the site was selected and acquired after community consultation.

“The Department of Health will now conduct further consultation with key stakeholders over the next four weeks, including, and in particular to receive feedback on enhancing the streetscape and landscaping for this critical piece of community health infrastructure,” they said.

“The selected site at 60A Burgess Street is vacant commercial-zoned land and meets Ambulance Tasmania’s requirements for size, access and local road and traffic conditions. “Importantly, the site is the best location to minimise response times for ambulance services to call-outs, which data shows are primarily within the township.”

Originally published as Bicheno Investments and East Coast Tasmania want the Bicheno ambulance station in another location