Allan Virieux: St Helens school subject of new housing plan

A renowned Tasmanian businessman has revealed his plans to bulldoze a school which closed a decade ago. It comes as the local mayor says his municipality is not immune to the housing crisis.

The shuttered Seabrook Christian School building at 61a Tully St, St Helens. Picture: Shepherd & Heap Estate Agents

A top Tasmanian businessman has revealed his plans to bulldoze a shuttered school in the state’s northeast and turn it into a 38-lot residential subdivision.

Rosevears resident Allan Virieux, owner of the historic Rosevears Hotel and St Helens Concrete, lodged the development application with Break O’Day Council via his development company, Streetwise Developments Pty Ltd.

The application is to bulldoze buildings associated with the shuttered Seabrook Christian School at 61a Tully St, St Helens, and build a new road to service 38 residential lots.

Lots would range from 669 sqm to 3627 sqm and be constructed over four stages.

The site, which is zoned general residential, is “surrounded by residential building within the Residential Zone,” the application states.

“Further west is the Sports Complex zoned recreational.”

The school closed at the end of 2012, the Mercury understands. Other Seabrook schools at Launceston, Burnie and Hobart were purchased at the end of 2018 and became incorporated into the network of Australian Christian Colleges, administered by Christian Education Ministries.

Rosevears Hotel, St Helens Concrete and Streetwise Developments owner Allan Virieux. Picture: Supplied

Mr Virieux told the Mercury the site has largely been left vacant since the school’s closure, aside from a short-lived museum. A number of proposals by other developers have previously been mapped, including for a caravan park, but none have gotten off the ground.

Mr Virieux, who purchased the 4.58ha site in September last year for $1.55m, according to figures from Commercial Real Estate, said more residential development was “something the area needs”.

“Hopefully, it will add to the community, there seems to be a shortage of housing,” he said.

Mr Virieux, who employs about 15 workers at his St Helens Concrete business, said the subdivision will be handled in-house, while future lots will either be sold or developed himself.

Plans for the 38-lot residential subdivision at 61a Tully Rd, St Helens. Picture: Streetwise Developments/Break O'Day Council

He envisages a combination of three-bedroom homes and units on the site.

It’s been a busy year for Mr Virieux’s burgeoning development and building arms, with another subdivision currently under way at Wildmore Cres, Exeter.

Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker told the Mercury that, while his role meant he must be an impartial arbiter of all applications, said he was generally in favour of appropriate residential development.

“With the housing crisis we all seem to face no matter where we live, any good quality development that ticks all the boxes is a good thing,” he said.

“I’m of the very strong opinion that we need good-quality investment to help relieve the housing stress we find ourselves in right across Tasmania.”

The DA is currently being advertised on council’s website.