Aldermen convene secret meeting believed to relate to Kangaroo Bay development

Clarence City Council has called an urgent special meeting to be held just four days before Christmas, in a move that has angered some aldermen and community members. DETAILS >>>

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TWO Clarence aldermen will move for a hastily-convened secret meeting to be held in the open.

Clarence City Council will hold a special meeting tonight night, however the proceedings will be held in a closed session.

An agenda has been released containing no details.

The Mercury understands the matter relates to the proposed $80m five-star hotel and hospitality school development at Kangaroo Bay.

This comes as another contentious Eastern Shore development is green-lit.

In October, a vote on a recommendation to allow developer Chambroad two more years to progress the project was tied and lost 6-6, and the council had six months to consider the project’s future or pursue a buyback of the land.

Artists impressions of the proposed development at Kangaroo Bay on Hobart's Easters shore. Development / building / Bellerive / Robert Moris-Nunn / Chambroad Australia

At the time there was discussion around whether council could legally refuse the developer’s request for an extension.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman has said Monday’s meeting related to an “urgent legal matter” but would not say whether the matter related to the Kangaroo Bay project.

Holding a closed meeting gags elected members from speaking publicly about the matters discussed.

An absolute majority of council must agree before a meeting can be held in a closed session.

Alderman Richard James has already indicated he will boycott the meeting because he objects to the matter being discussed behind closed doors.

Aldermen Luke Edmunds and Tony Mulder will move for the meeting to be held in an open session.

“The council has got itself into a mess. But closing the doors to the public and deliberating in secret is not the way forward,” Ald Edmunds said.

Alderman Mulder said the procedural motion to move into closed meeting was based on a regulation that said an item could be listed in the closed part of a meeting if the associated report contained information provided to council on the condition it be kept confidential.

“But there is nothing in the confidential report that is not already on the public record,” Ald Mulder said.

“In the interests of transparency and communicating the issues underpinning Councils decision, this matter should be held in open meeting.”

EARLIER: CLARENCE City Council has called a special meeting to be held four days before Christmas to deal with an “urgent legal matter”, but ratepayers are being kept in the dark about its purpose.

The special meeting will be held in a closed session on Monday night and an agenda has been released but features next to no detail about the reason.

The Mercury understands the matter relates to the proposed $80 million five-star hotel and hospitality school development at Kangaroo Bay.

In October, a vote on a recommendation to allow the developers Chambroad two more years to progress the project was tied and lost 6-6, and council had six months to consider the project’s future or pursue a buy back of the land.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman confirmed the meeting was called late on Thursday after the council received legal advice.

“It’s an urgent legal matter that needs to be dealt with,’' he said.

“We wouldn’t be doing this just before Christmas unless it was a matter of urgency.”

Proposed hotel development for Kangaroo Bay at Bellerive. Artist impression of what development would look like. Picture supplied by: Hunter Developments

Ald Chipman said he “can’t say” whether the matter related to the Kangaroo Bay project.

“The officers’s report that would go with the agenda is confidential. It’s a confidential legal matter we need to deal with urgently,’’ he said.

Alderman Richard James said he would boycott Monday night’s meeting because he objects to it being closed and believes the public had a right to know.

“The fact it’s being held just before Christmas is not a good look for the Clarence City Council,’’ he said.

Alderman Beth Warren said the timing of the meeting was “very unfortunate”.

“It certainly flies in the face of everything I believe we should do in terms of local government,’’ she said.

Alderman Luke Edmunds criticised the way the council had handled the matter.

“I have told the GM and Mayor that the council needs to be telling people what is on the agenda,’’ he said.

“I respect that some issues have to be dealt with in closed meeting but the lack of details being circulated is appalling.

Kangaroo Bay hotel and hospitality school assistant general manager Finely Zhang (right) and Ganche Chua director circa at Kangaroo bay where the development should take place. Picture: Richard Jupe

“Our residents are completely in the dark.

“A lot of bad things get said about our council’s record on transparency — a closed meeting, on short notice, right before Christmas, on an important topic, is hardly changing that narrative.”

Kangaroo Bay Voice spokeswoman Anne Geard said she had not heard what the meeting was about, but feared it was about the project.

“To be doing this at Christmas time, it must be very urgent, which makes me concerned,’’ she said.

“If it’s not about Kangaroo Bay, what on earth is going on to get everyone back from Christmas holidays?”

Chambroad Australia director and general manager Finely Zhang said Chambroad remained committed to the project.

“We are waiting for the council’s decision and will work with council when that is delivered,’’ he said.

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