Tasman Private Hospital in New Town recommended for refusal for a second time by Hobart City Council staff

Proponents of a new private hospital are pushing ahead with plans despite a significant Hobart City Council setback.

An artists impression of the proposed Tasman Private Hospital in New Town. Picture: SUPPLIED

A NEW private hospital proposed for Hobart’s northern suburbs looks set to be refused by council after the proponents decided to not make a new application as advised by planning staff.

Last month, the Hobart City Council planning committee voted to defer the application for the proposed $50 million Tasman Private Hospital at the old Win TV site at 48-52 New Town Rd, New Town.

The deferral was to give the applicants time to consider further consultation with council staff and the community for a potential redesign.

A planning officer had said a significant redesign and readvertising would likely be needed to make the building compliant with the planning scheme.

The design for the boutique four-storey medical centre included six operating theatres and a 24-bed overnight ward as well as a pharmacy, radiology, conference facilities, doctors’ rooms and health support services.

NEW PRIVATE HOSPITAL PROPOSED FOR NEW TOWN

The project is a joint-venture between national short-stay hospital specialist Nexus Hospitals and Contact Group, a Tasmanian-based family construction business.

The application drew widespread opposition from the New Town community and it was standing room only with residents packing out the meeting last month.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Tasman Private Hospital in New Town. Picture: SUPPLIED

The application was recommended for refusal by council staff on six grounds, including that it did not contribute positively to the streetscape and would have an unreasonable impact on residential amenity.

Since the deferral, a meeting was held between the proponents and some members of the local community about potential changes that could be made to the proposal.

Some of the potential changes included increasing some setbacks, additional landscaping and privacy screening and relocating a fire tank to offset the loss of car parks.

Following the meeting, those against have told council staff the changes did not go far enough to address their concerns.

With the application due to expire on December 3, the proponents have asked to have the council consider approving the application subject to conditions that would achieve the suggestion changes.

“If the council is of a mind to issue such an approval, it is recommended other standard conditions associated with servicing and the like be included,” the planning committee agenda reads.

“The officer view, however, is that any approval that included conditions to achieve those changes would require the proposal applied for to be changed to such an extent the validity of such an approval would be questionable in the event of a third party appeal, exposing council to potential costs.”

The proposal is recommended for refusal at Monday night’s planning committee meeting, with the proponents “encouraged to submit a new application responding to the concerns outlined.”

Nexus Hospitals chief executive officer Andrew Petering was contacted for comment.