Developer Shandong Chambroad waits for hospitality training providers to commit to Kangaroo Bay development

Kangaroo Bay’s multimillion-dollar hospitality training school and hotel development is on a knife’s edge as developers wait for education providers to commit to the project.

An artist’s impression from the development application for the Kangaroo Bay hotel and hospitality training school. Image: CIRCA MORRIS-NUNN

DOUBTS have been cast over Kangaroo Bay’s multimillion-dollar hospitality training school and hotel development due to the wait for educational providers to commit to the project.

The Mercury understands developer Shandong Chambroad, a multibillion-dollar Chinese petrochemical company, needed two hospitality training service providers to confirm their involvement before they could proceed.

It’s understood the University of Tasmania has expressed interest in being part of the $50 million facility, with others being interstate educational providers.

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An international standard hospitality training facility has been an integral part of the development since day one and it’s understood it wouldn’t proceed without the commitment from the service providers.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The Tasmanian Co-ordinator-General and Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman arrived in China on Saturday where they will meet with the Chambroad chairman to get a clear picture of the reasons for the delay.

Questions have been raised over the benefit of the trip by Alderman Chipman’s colleagues given it appeared the project had been stalled by delays in securing service providers and not problems with the developer.

The Clarence City Council last month threatened to buy back the valuable waterfront land if progress was not made within six months.

Ald Richard James said the development hadn’t stalled.

Clarence City Council alderman Richard James. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“It’s my view the trip to China won’t achieve anything because it’s all dependent on the service providers,” he said.

“I don’t think one service provider is enough for the hotel development and hospitality training facility to proceed.

“Should any of the remaining two service providers decide to pull out or withdraw, it’s my understanding the development would not proceed.”

Community group Kangaroo Bay Voice said they had also been told the project was waiting on decision from the hospitality providers.

An artist’s impression from the development application for the Kangaroo Bay hotel and hospitality training school. Image: CIRCA MORRIS-NUNN

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Councillor Tony Mulder also expressed concerns over the China mission.

Local firm Hunter Developments, who has been assisting Chambroad with the project after it was transferred from them to the Chinese-based company more than a year ago, said they remained “very optimistic” about the chances of the development going ahead.

A spokesman for the Office of the Co-ordinator General said the China trip would strengthen the relationship with Shandong Province and meetings would occur with the Government of Binzhou to discuss investment in agriculture, tourism and education in Tasmania.

The spokesman said realising the Kangaroo Bay development was also a “high priority”.

“The Office of the Co-ordinator-General is working closely with Chambroad and other key parties to progress the education components of the project,” he said.

“The opportunity will also be taken to meet with the chairman of Shandong Chambroad Holdings to emphasise the importance of the Kangaroo Bay development to Tasmania.”

Clarence has a friendship city agreement with the City of Binzhou. The pair will depart China on Thursday.

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