Hobart City Council has ignored pleas for an expanded car park near a busy restaurant strip

A COUNCIL decision to delay an expressions of interest call for a new car park at North Hobart has been labelled “pathetic” and “stupid” by local business owners.

Roaring Grill owner Tony Kent is fuming, saying a lack of car parks is costing his business. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

A COUNCIL decision to delay a call for proposals to build a new car park at North Hobart has sparked anger from local business owners.

Frustrated North Hobart businesses and residents are angry that the Hobart City Council rejected calls for an expressions of interest for Condell Place car park to be transformed into a multi-level residential block and expanded car park lot to ease the traffic congestion around the area.

There have been two informal approaches to the council, from separate developers, seeking to submit proposals for development of the car park.

But the aldermen, at a closed council meeting last month, instead asked for another report and a parking plan for North Hobart.

State Cinema owner and North Hobart Traders Association president John Kelly said it was a “pathetic decision by the council”.

“I’m gobsmacked,” he said.

“This was a no-risk, non-binding expressions of interest.

“Council has bent over backwards to provide parking for the big end of town and North Hobart, 15 years later, we’re still waiting.”

North Hobart Traders Association president John Kelly at Condell Place carpark in North Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Roaring Grill owner Tony Kent said the lack of parking spaces was costing businesses and he could not see the harm in going to an EOI, given there was interest from developers.

“The council’s go-to position is ‘let’s do another study’,” he said.

“I have customers come in and continue to complain they can’t get a park.

“People drive around for about 30 minutes looking for a park and when they don’t find one they leave.”

Taste of Asia owner Daniel Ryan said the council’s decision was “stupid”.

Alderman Marti Zucco said the council had reviewed car parking and traffic movements in North Hobart.

“It’s a well-known fact that there has been lack of car parking in North Hobart,” he said.

“Not to proceed with an EOI and to seek further reports is procrastination at its worst and a total lack of understanding of a situation, which is adversely impacting on the community.

“Not only are the businesses and residents being let down but the greater Hobart community is not being listened to.”

Ald Zucco also took issue that the discussion at the July 23 meeting was moved from public to behind closed doors.

“There were no serious contractual or commercial-in-confidence matters that required the item to be in a closed session,” he said.

Council general manager Nick Heath said the aldermen voted to move the meeting to a closed session because the discussion may have contained confidential information that might “confer a commercial advantage or reveal a trade secret”.