‘Apartments for rich people’: Labor’s Macquarie Point jibe

The state government has launched the $100m next stage of Macquarie Point. But Labor isn’t impressed, dismissing the development as “apartments for rich people”. LATEST >>

THE latest development at Macquarie Point has been dismissed as “apartments for rich people” by Labor.

The state government on Tuesday officially unveiled the cornerstone $100m development for the redevelopment site with 81 apartments, short stay accommodation, retail, and hospitality by Melbourne developers Milieu Group.

But Labor’s Josh Willie said after years of waiting, the result was underwhelming.

“Macquarie Point is a tragedy. We had the boldness and vision of Mona and what we’ve ended up with is an apartment block for rich people,” he said.

“It’s very disappointing, the lack of action that is happening at Macquarie Point. It’s very disappointing that a strategic site has been left in this disrepair by this government for so long.

Residential apartments, retail space and hospitality venues are part of the $100m vision for The Escarpment at Macquarie Point. The plans also feature a green roof with public open space. Source: Supplied.

“Tasmanians have been waiting for too long when it comes to Macquarie Point. It’s farcical. We’ve had nothing going on there apart from a car park and veggie patch and a gym for eight years.

Mr Willie said it wasn’t a shock to him that no affordable housing was included in the announcement.

“We have a housing crisis and here we have an exclusive apartment residence where they’ve excluded people who are doing it tough — I’m not surprised.

“This Liberal government does not care about people who are struggling to put a roof over their head.”

MAC Point - Minister and Mary

Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing Michael Ferguson said the slow progress at the site was due to the complexity of the redevelopment process.

“Being a disused industrial site, there’s a lot of site contamination together with the site planning that’s had to be done, a number of law changes have been affected and we’re now able to take this to market,: he said.

“And we’ve now sold our first block of land, with a $100mn development, which means jobs but importantly as well, a very, very exciting day for southern Tasmania and the whole state to see the urban reuse of something that’s from our valued historical heritage and our transport heritage being converted again into a new life where people can create community and enjoy each other’s company, do work and have a place to stay and eat and enjoy this incredible place.”

“The government is currently implementing an unprecedented investment in public housing however Macquarie Point is not, and never has been, part of that program and would not provide the type and size of social housing that we need.

“Labor is trying to undermine a very good development that will benefit the whole community.”

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