Launceston’s Gorge Hotel proposal given green light after planning tribunal appeal fails

The fate of a controversial hotel development proposed for Launceston has been revealed. LATEST >

Render of JAC Group's proposed 12-storey Gorge Hotel on Paterson St, Launceston. Picture: Commercial Project Delivery

A controversial hotel development proposed for Launceston has been given the green light, after the state’s planning tribunal dismissed an appeal against it.

JAC Group’s nine-storey Gorge Hotel will be built on adjoining lots of land at 123 Paterson Street, 125-133 Paterson Street and 270 Brisbane Street. It will have 145 rooms for guests and include a basement parking area with 154 spaces, wellness centre, day spa and gym, as well as a restaurant, bars and conference and function facilities.

A sky bar and lounge will also be built on the ninth floor.

Render of JAC Group's proposed 12-storey Gorge Hotel on Paterson St, Launceston. Picture: Commercial Project Delivery

The Gorge Hotel is described on JAC Group’s website as offering “magnificent waterfront views” and would be located near the city’s two most popular tourist attractions: Penny Royal and Cataract Gorge.

The Launceston City Council (LCC) first approved the development in 2019 but it was subsequently knocked back by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT), following an appeal lodged by Susan Cai.

The council then prepared a planning scheme amendment specifying a building envelope that would allow for a greater maximum height for the development and enable the proponent to reapply to build the hotel.

The second development application was approved by the LCC in September last year.

Ms Cai again appealed the decision but this time the tribunal ruled in the council and the developer’s favour, saying the hotel met the conditions of the Gorge Hotel Specific Area Plan.

The appellant argued that the development should be refused on the grounds that it did not comply with the Launceston Interim Planning Scheme 2015 because it was not compatible with the streetscape and character of the surrounding area.

Render of JAC Group's proposed 12-storey Gorge Hotel on Paterson St, Launceston. Picture: Commercial Project Delivery

But TASCAT dismissed this appeal, declaring that none of the grounds could be made out and that the development met the requirements regarding height, noise, parking, and impact on traffic.

“Each of the ancillary uses will be connected with and serve, contribute to or promote the visitor accommodation use. Accordingly, they will all be directly associated with, and a subservient part of the use of visitor accommodation,” the decision read.

The development site currently contains the TRC Hotel and bottle shop, plus a service station and public car park. The service station will ultimately be demolished to make way for a two-storey building with retail space on the ground floor and two conference rooms on the first floor.