Why Clarence Council won’t meet with Chambroad for Premier’s meeting
The Premier extended the invitation to hold a meeting about Kangaroo Bay, but it’s one party the council won’t be attending. WHY COUNCIL REPS WON’T BE THERE >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he’s disappointed the Clarence Council isn’t playing ball after the mayor said the council would only meet with the Premier and his ministers about the future of Kangaroo Bay, refusing to sit down with developer Chambroad and other stakeholders.
Mr Rockliff requested the meeting to attempt to find a solution for the land after the Clarence Council voted in favour of buying back the prime land, knocking back plans for a hotel.
On Thursday Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said the council would not meet with Chambroad.
“Late yesterday I received a letter from the Premier requesting a meeting with him to
discuss the Kangaroo Bay Hotel project,” Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said.
“Today I have responded to accept that invitation on the basis that the proponents and other
industry bodies are not in attendance.”
Mr Blomeley said it would not be appropriate to meet with Chambroad, in light of recent comments from project director Greg Hudson, indicating the company would proceed with legal options.
“We are well aware of their respective positions,” Mr Blomeley said.
“Chambroad has also indicated they will challenge our decision … Based on legal advice I do not believe it is appropriate to meet with them at this time and in this setting.”
Mr Rockliff said it was disappointing the council would not take part in discussions with Chambroad or stakeholders.
“The best way to resolve this situation and move forward with development at the site is for all the stakeholders involved to come together and work it through,” he said.
“As I’ve said we cannot miss the opportunity and allow this site to be left a wasteland for years, which benefits no one.
“That is not what Tasmanians want and should the council change its mind, the offer still stands to convene a meeting in the future to find a way forward for this important project.”
Kangaroo Bay intervention will stop land being locked up, minister says
UPDATE THURSDAY: There’s been a mixed reaction to the Premier’s decision to intervene in another Clarence Council planning matter, after the Kangaroo Bay Hotel was knocked back on Monday.
Developer Chambroad was denied the opportunity to undertake further consultation, lodge a plan for preapproval and submit a development application when the council voted in favour of buying back the land.
Since then, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has urged the council to reconsider and plans to convene a meeting with stakeholders.
It’s the second time in recent weeks the state government has chosen to intervene; after Planning Minister Michael Ferguson earlier this month announced he would intervene so the Skylands proposal could be assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Clarence Councillor Tony Mulder said the state government was changing its own rules.
“The Premier’s intervention in Kangaroo Bay is another example of the government riding roughshod over local government and its own planning laws,” Mr Mulder said.
“Does this and the Skyland’s intervention herald new legislation to override its own planning laws and local government responding to its community?
“Just because they don’t get the result they want, that is no reason to change the rules after the event.”
Meanwhile Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson welcomed the announcement, after flagging on Tuesday the company would not accept the council’s buyback offer, and would likely take the matter to court.
“Chambroad looks forward to working with the State Government, Clarence City Council and other stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome,” Mr Hudson said.
“A protracted legal process will leave the site vacant with a chain-lined fence for an indefinite period.”
On Wednesday, Planning Minister Michael Ferguson said he was concerned the property would sit idle if parties didn’t work collaboratively to find a solution.
“I’m very concerned we’ll see that property chained up, locked up and held up in years of court arbitration,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Chambroad own the property, we will foresee if this isn’t resolved in a different way that property will be tied up in court disputes probably for years as the spokesperson has indicated.
“We do want to see progress at Kangaroo Bay in a way that’s appropriate for the local community.”
Labor’s local government spokesman Luke Edmunds, who is a former Clarence councillor, said the government’s intervention would not bring development to the site.
“If the Premier does intervene, he will soon learn that the best pathway towards development is to move on from Chambroad – just as Clarence Council plans to do,” Mr Edmunds said.
“Chambroad has had every break in the book over nearly a decade.”
UPDATE, Wednesday
Knocked backed by the Clarence Council, there could be another twist in the plans for a boutique hotel at Kangaroo Bay with Premier Jeremy Rockliff looking to intervene to save the project.
The council voted in favour of buying back the land at Kangaroo Bay, denying developer Chambroad the opportunity to undertake further consultation, lodge the plan for preapproval and submit a development application.
Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson said he was disappointed by the council’s decision to proceed with the buyback, with the company now weighing up legal options.
“We’ve spent more than $12m over six years to try and get a result,” Mr Hudson said.
“We’re in a position where council is seeking to buy it back … we will reject that approach as it happens, we expect that to happen today or tomorrow.”
“They will have to take legal action to try to buy back the land.”
Mr Hudson said it could be a lengthy process to get a development on the land.
“It’s a massive lost opportunity for the community, that will now be nothing more than a vacant block of land behind a chain-link fence for years to come,” he said.
“We have acted in good faith to progress the project.
“The council will need to prove we have not taken substantial endeavours to commence development.”
But similar to the recent intervention when the council knocked back the Skylands the development, the state government looks set to step in.
Mr Rockliff is urging the council to reconsider its decision and will convene a meeting with stakeholders.
“I understand there are a variety of views on the project, but the bottom line is it would be a lost opportunity for the site to be left a wasteland for years as the council and developer fight over a buyback,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We’ve seen it with the Droughty Point project, and now we’re seeing it with the Kangaroo Bay project.
“I know Tasmanians want to make sure our state isn’t being left behind.”
Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said the site was of significant community interest.
“This is an outcome council decided was in the best interest of our community,” Mr Blomeley said.
Mr Blomeley said Chambroad had been given enough chances.
“Considering the number of extensions the council has provided Chambroad, it is extraordinarily disappointing that there’s been a lack of performance on the part of Chambroad
“We were quite clear in December, no more extensions.
Mr Blomeley said the future of the land would be discussed as part of the city heart project consultation process.
The council will pay $2.44m plus GST and stamp duty to reclaim the land.
Mr Rockliff will approach council representatives, tourism, construction and hospitality bodies as well as several ministers to meet.
‘Time’s up’: Council triggers Kangaroo Bay buyback
UPDATE, Tuesday 9am: Clarence City Council has triggered the buyback of land at Kangaroo Bay, paving the way for the site to be returned to public hands.
At its meeting Monday night, Clarence City Council reaffirmed its decision of January 23 to request the Chief Executive Officer initiate the buyback of the Kangaroo Bay Wharf Site.
A council spokesperson said last night’s meeting was the last opportunity to consider a different path forward for the project prior to the expiry of the buyback clause in the current Sale and Development Agreement with Chambroad on 12 April 2023.
“During debate at the meeting council deemed that Chambroad had received ample time and a number of extensions to proceed with the development, and that the time was up,” the spokesperson said.
“Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the development of Kangaroo Bay was a project of strategic importance for the City and while it was disappointing it would lie empty for a while longer, council wasn’t prepared to keep giving Chambroad more time.”
Fate of Kangaroo Bay development in council hands
Friday, March 17: Clarence Council officers have recommended the council push back the date it will make a decision on whether it will reclaim the land at Kangaroo Bay.
The council will vote on Monday, after the developer, Chambroad, released its latest designs for a hotel on the waterfront land.
Chambroad purchased the land in 2017, and received the green light to build a hotel and hospitality school.
But as the company struggled to secure an educational provider, it was unable to push ahead with those plans and it now seeks to build a five-star, boutique hotel.
Because Chambroad did not substantially commence work, the council has the option to buy back the land.
It’s been recommended the council make a final decision on whether it will buy back the land on April 24.
If it chooses to take back the land, the council will need to pay Chambroad $2.4m plus GST and stamp duty.
“We are faced with a decision on Monday which will be effectively whether we can proceed or whether the project from a council perspective is halted,” Kangaroo Bay project director Greg Hudson said.
“We would expect and hope the council would allow us to go into the normal planning process, that is the full development application process subject to the public review and scrutiny and further consultation around the actual development.
“We are very focused on being able to go through the public process next with documents submitted by the end of march and then full DA by the end of June.”
After undertaking consultation, Chambroad again revised the design, which is smaller than the development originally proposed.
Mr Hudson said if all goes to plan, work at the site could begin this year.
“We would expect to be on that site, that gravel site on such a great location by Christmas,” he said.
The council will take into consideration the results of Chambroad’s community consultation on the plans, which found 51 per cent of surveyed respondents were supportive of the designs, 39 per cent were not and 10 per cent were neutral.
Meanwhile, the council conducted its own community consultation, which showed strong support for the council to buy back the land.
“This is an important site in our city, one that is important to get right, and I look forward to the debate on Monday night,” Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said.
Revealed: New designs for $50m Kangaroo Bay resort
Chambroad has released the full revised design for the Kangaroo Bay precinct as it prepares to present the results of its community consultation to the Clarence Council on Monday.
Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson said the boutique five star hotel was a completely new design to what has previously been submitted.
“On the ground floor there are restaurants, meeting areas and a walk through on the ground floor protected from weather,” Mr Hudson said.
“There is also a very wide boardwalk that has separated cycling and walking lanes.
“We’ve now set the hotel back so that the boardwalk also has setback areas so people can sit.”
The $50m build will contain between 125 and 150 rooms.
Mr Hudson said the hotel would have a focus on storytelling.
“It’s built around the themes that make up the Kangaroo Bay story,” he said.
“We have four themes, the focus of this hotel is creating a sense of Kangaroo Bay. The first floor is the Tasmanian Aboriginal story from Kangaroo Bay, the second floor is maritime, the third floor is the historical part about Kangaroo Bay being the connection,” Mr Hudson said.
“The top floor is all about the food and produce and beverage coming from regions such as Coal River Valley and Sorell, showcased in the restaurant on the top floor.”
Mr Hudson said the designs took community feedback into consideration.
“Overall in terms of its height and prominence, it’s visually smaller, it has this real sense of being open to the public and community for use of the restaurant and spaces,” he said.
“It’s not set back from Cambridge Road, there is a large area called Greenwood Plaza, it’s a public place for small gatherings and open to the public.
Mr Hudson said a survey showed 51 per cent of respondents found the design appealing, 39 per cent found it unappealing and 10 per cent were neutral on the design.
Mr Hudson said Chambroad understood community frustration around delays, which he said was exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Subject to council approvals, the company can now get on with building the new hotel,” Mr Hudson said.
“The Kangaroo Bay Hotel is a once in a generation opportunity for a world class hotel and restaurant on the Eastern Shore.”
Chambroad hopes to lodge a pre-assessment this month and a development application by the end of June.
Join the conversation
Metro ramps up recruitment, can’t say when services will be restored
Amid an ongoing driver shortage, Metro Tasmania has taken its recruitment efforts up a notch – but it still can’t commit to a timeline for the restoration of 180 suspended services.
Read more
Spirit of Tassie is a big, unholy mess
Trying to keep track of what’s happened with the Spirit of Tasmania saga? Political editor David Killick breaks down the key moments
Read more