Planned Argyle St whisky distillery hits snag as residents launch appeal

Two Hobart developments are being fought by nearby residents, including a $2 million whisky distillery. See the plans + why neighbours are objecting >>

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A BOUTIQUE distillery set for North Hobart has hit a snag.

Hobart City Council approved the proposal for the $2 million whisky distillery development for Argyle St on September 21.

But residents living across from the proposed site have lodged an appeal against the project.

The development was slated for the site of a former small appliance sales and service centre at 284 Argyle St.

The VSC Distillery would be open for cellar door tastings, bar snacks and would have seating for up to 47 people.

The distillery would be allowed to operate from 7am to 7pm and the tasting room from midday until 10.30pm.

Argyle St residents Phillip and Meredith Littlejohn and Noeline and Stephen Foster lodged the appeal, represented by Ireneinc Planning and Urban Design.

The residents’ two main issues were that the development was allegedly inadequately described in its notification, and that the proposal did not demonstrate that the proposed hours of operation did not have an unreasonable impact on public amenity.

In the grounds of appeal, they said the public notice on site advertised the general class of resource processing, food services, and general retail and hire, rather than its specific purpose.

“The description was not one which would alert any reasonable person to the nature of the use which what was being proposed for the site,” they wrote.

They believed noise emissions and car movements would also impact nearby residents.

“Operation after 8pm will cause an unreasonable impact on residential amenity particularly in relation to noise from patrons arriving and parking in surrounding streets, outdoor tables, music from the site,” the appellants said.

The parking survey was undertaken during COVID restrictions, they said, which was not representative of normal street use.

“On street parking in the vicinity is restricted, forcing patrons to park in the limited residential parking zones on surrounding residential streets,” they wrote.

The development’s planning report said the anticipated target market for the distillery was tourists and residents who would be able to access the site through active transport modes such as walking and cycling.

“Staff will also be encouraged to use such transport modes, with dedicated bicycle parking facilities provided at the rear of the building,” they said.

The Old Conservatory of Music at 5-7 Sandy Bay Road. Development Application (DA) artists impressions showing the reduction in height by approximately 6.2m, from 33.2m to approximately 27m. The red dotted line shows the previously proposed height. Design: IRENEINC PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN

On Monday a preliminary hearing took place for an appeal against a proposed large-scale unit development for Sandy Bay Road.

Fragrance Group’s contentious 45-unit complex set for the former Conservatorium of Music site was approved by the Hobart City Council on September 7 following months of debate over building heights and suitability.

Hampden Rd resident Julie McConaghy lodged an appeal against the development, saying it failed to acknowledge the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal decision in 2017 against the Tribe Hotel planned for 9 Sandy Bay Rd, which found a 10m height restriction was relevant.

The appeal has been listed for hearing on November 19 and 20, with mediation under consideration.

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