Developer Errol Stewart backs council’s call for stormwater infrastructure funding from fed govt
Prominent Tasmanian developer Errol Stewart is backing a call for the next federal government to stump up millions — that would assist in his CBD project.
Tasmania
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Well-known Tasmanian developer Errol Stewart has backed the Hobart City Council’s call for the next federal government to pump $26m into upgrading Hobart’s stormwater infrastructure, saying crucial medium-density housing developments in the inner-city will be almost impossible to bring to fruition unless improvements are made.
Mr Stewart has purchased a property at 175 Campbell St, opposite a car dealership he also owns, with the intention of building an apartment complex there.
However, he says he has been taken aback by the costs associated with meeting stormwater requirements in order to develop the land.
“Stormwater is just a problem these days because there are more rain events. And … if you shift back 100 years, we probably didn’t design storm water outfall [well enough in Hobart],” Mr Stewart said.
“Really, wherever anybody wants to go on the eastern side of Campbell St, that’s the path that goes through to the ocean and there’s simply not enough coverage of stormwater to be able to physically get it in a pipe and get it out without some major upgrades.
“You either ask the developer to pay or the council has got to fix it. And essentially, I think the council’s view – and my view, as well – is that we need the Commonwealth and/or the state to pick up some infrastructure costs if they really want to get some of this development going.”
Mr Stewart’s comments come as the council seeks a $26m grant under the Commonwealth’s $1.5bn Housing Support Program – funding it would use to upgrade 1.6km of stormwater infrastructure from Providence Rivulet in North Hobart to the Hobart Rivulet tunnel on Collins St, via Burnett, Argyle, Brisbane, and Campbell streets.
The council has identified more than 150 under-utilised locations where housing could be built in the city’s Innovation Precinct, mostly on Argyle and Campbell streets, and including parts of Brisbane, Melville, and Patrick streets.
The planned upgrade would help reduce flooding during periods of heavy rain and therefore eliminate extra expenses for developers looking to get projects off the ground.
Mr Stewart said he wanted to build a mixed-use, medium density development at the Campbell St site, which he hoped would include up to 50 apartments, as well as commercial tenancies.
But the property mogul stated that it would cost him about $150,000 to incorporate stormwater detention measures into the project as it currently stands.
He lamented a perceived lack of federal election promises for the Greater Hobart area, noting that because it was in a safe seat occupied by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, the major parties felt they didn’t have much to gain from investing in the Clark electorate.
“With nearly half the [Tasmanian] population living in Greater Hobart … I think there needs to be more funding for the city of Hobart, irrespective of whether it’s in a [safe] seat or not,” Mr Stewart said.
Acting Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock said the council’s plan to improve stormwater infrastructure involved advanced drainage systems designed to manage water flow effectively, which would make the area “viable for future housing projects”.
“The area holds significant potential for housing development, yielding benefits for individual developers. However, we require government support to future proof the CBD, and we hope the major parties will help realise this precinct’s potential through an election commitment,” she said.
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