Glenorchy City Council decision to dispose of part of Berriedale foreshore reserve appealed by two residents

The Glenorchy City Council’s decision to try to dispose of public land next door to Mona has been appealed to the state’s planning tribunal. Find out why >>

TWO greater Hobart residents have appealed a council decision to dispose of part of a public foreshore reserve, which has been flagged as a potential site for Mona to expand its carparking facilities.

Glenorchy City Council aldermen voted in late April to take the initial steps towards disposing of some of the council-owned land at 671 Main Rd, Berriedale which forms part of the Berriedale Foreshore Reserve.

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The land is bordered by Moorilla Estate, the Cameron Bay Sewerage Treatment Plant and the Glenorchy City Tennis Club and is also home to a BMX park, which the council said would be relocated.

Council documents stated Mona had lodged a development application seeking to expand its existing carpark area to a multistorey facility, with alternative options being explored which require additional land.

“The proposed multistorey carpark on the existing gravel overflow car park is one

option that would satisfy the carparking requirements,” council documents stated.

“Given the long-term nature of the investment, Mona’s preference would be to own this parcel of land. This would assist Mona with securing the necessary finance for the project and provide it with long-term surety of tenure.”

An appeal of the decision to dispose of the public land has been lodged with the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal by Rosetta resident Kathryn Kirk and Penny Parrish from Sandy Bay.

The Berriedale Foreshore Reserve. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The appeal was lodged on the ground that “the community may suffer undue hardship due to loss of access to public land” and seeks to stop the process of selling it and keeping it as a public reserve.

“The land is recreation-zoned for public use and has been used as such even before the BMX track was there,” Ms Kirk wrote in the appeal documents.

“It should remain as such, regardless of whether the BMX club is happy to relocate. It does not remove the right of the public to use the space for recreation.

“The [Berriedale foreshore reserve] masterplan outlines Mona’s plans for the whole Berriedale foreshore reserve including taking over the current child care centre along with all the open spaces transferred into Mona’s private ownership whereby residents of Glenorchy could potentially be excluded at any time from their public reserve.”

Mona co-chief executive Mark Wilsdon told the Mercury the museum continued to work with the council on the development of the site.

“We hope to secure the best possible outcomes for all parties,” he said.

The appeal is listed for hearing on August 11.