Aran Eco-Development: Eastern Shore resort rejected

Tasmania’s planning commission has rejected plans for a three-precinct resort with visitor centre and hotel/cabins, partially on the basis it would blight the “distinctive and authentic” landscape.

Newtown, NSW developer Jetsada Sokuma, director of Aran Development Pty Ltd, the proponent of the refused Aran Eco Development at Risdon Vale. Picture: Facebook

Tasmania’s planning commission has rejected plans for a three-precinct “eco resort” featuring visitor centre, cabins and hotel accommodation on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, partially because the development would blight the “distinctive and authentic local landscape”.

The Aran Eco-Development, first proposed three years ago by Thai developer Aran Development Pty Ltd, was to feature a 150-room hotel with 120-seat restaurant, day spa, gym, indoor pool, sauna, and conference/function room, as well as 49 self-contained two and three bedroom cabins, a vineyard, recreation centre and cafe.

Aran Eco Development Risdon Vale masterplan. Picture: Xsquared Architects

It was to be located on Downhams Road, on the northeastern side of Sugarloaf Hill to the southeast of the established residential area of Risdon Vale, on land zoned Landscape Conservation.

However, it won’t be built in its current format after the Tasmanian Planning Commission decided late last month to reject a proposal by Clarence City Council to create a specific area plan (SAP) to facilitate the development.

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SAPs can be created for large developments but can only be approved when the proposal provides “significant... benefit to the state” or when the land is so unique it is not easily captured by local planning schemes.

The commission found neither requirement was fulfilled.

It concluded that it was “likely” that the development would “in places break and create a stark contrast to, the strip of native bushland that surrounds Risdon Vale”.

“The bushland strip of hills surrounding Risdon Vale, which includes the landscape from Sugarloaf Hill through to the Meehan Range, is a distinctive and authentic local landscape that has been given some level of protection,” the commission said.

“No evidence, such as a visual /landscape impact assessment, was provided to demonstrate the effect the use and development proposed by the SAP would have on the landscape character and values of the site and surrounding area.”

Another key concern, as voiced by the Department of State Growth, was the proximity of the proposed eco-resort to Flagstaff Gully quarry at 415 Flagstaff Gully Rd, Lindisfarne. The quarry is designated a “significant strategic resource to southern Tasmania,” as it’s “|one of the region’s three major long term suppliers of dolerite construction material”.

The Hanson-owned quarry, Tasmania’s fourth largest – third if a proposal to environment watchdog EPA to expand its production to 375,000 cubic metres is approved – uses blasting to extract material, the department previously noted.

Hanson’s Flagstaff Gully quarry. Picture: File

“Blast direction has the potential to detonate towards the subject site. Based on the development indicated on the masterplan, the hotel would be closest to the quarry operations, and most likely to be impacted by blasting,” it said.

The commission indicated that it accepted the department’s submissions.

“While a range of different views were expressed by participants at the hearing on the likelihood of noise and sound issues occurring, the commission accepts the advice of the department that the risk is real and could significantly affect the operations of the quarry,” the commission said.

Attempts were made to contact Aran’s management via the eco-resort’s accountant, architect, and a spokeswoman who has since left the company.