LIST: Tassie’s most controversial developments in the works
From a cricket legend’s home reno to an architect’s island mansion, heritage destroyed for townhouses to a decades-long debate about a cable car, here are the developments causing outrage across Tassie >>
Tasmania
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From an Australian cricketing legend’s residential renovation to an international architect’s island mansion, heritage destroyed for a set of townhouses to a decades-long argument about a cable car up kunanyia/ Mount Wellington.
They’re the developments that have ruffled feathers around Tasmania.
This Mercury investigation unpacks some of Tasmania’s highest profile and controversial developments currently in the works around the state.
BOONIE’S RENOS
Tasmanian icon and legendary Australian cricketer David Boon will fight the Hobart City Council over its refusal of an application to extend his Sandy Bay property due to concerns from neighbours, one of which labelled the plans “simply abhorrent.”
There were 18 representations lodged against the plans, mostly objecting to what they considered would be a negative impact on surrounding properties.
DARKO KRAJINOVIC’S TOWNHOUSES
A two and a half year saga of a developer who illegally demolished his 1800s heritage-listed home in Mount Stuart to make way for four modern townhouses continues in court.
On Monday February 2, Darko Krajinovic fronted Hobart Magistrates Court over five charges related to the alleged removal of stone footings at the site, which seemingly “disappeared” after October 2018.
Magistrate Jackie Hartnett is expected to hand down her decision on April 15.
ROSNY HILL HOTEL
The details for the permit for the highly controversial $50 million Rosny Hill hotel development have been finalised, with opponents vowing the fight against the project is not over.
The plan includes a 60-room visitor accommodation complex, two restaurants, a cafe and public viewing deck, with new public walking trails.
An appeal of Clarence City Council’s approval of the Robert Morris-Nunn Hunter Developments’ proposal was lodged by the Rosny Hill Friends Network, which wanted the application rejected.
“The fight to save Rosny Hill is not over — there are still many avenues that will be pursued by this group,” Rosny Hill Friends Network Beth Rees told the Mercury.
FLINDERS ISLAND MEGA MANSION
Flinders Island residents were left fuming after making a submission to a planning tribunal against a development only to find out the application had already been approved.
Flinders Island Mayor Annie Revie took the approval of a multimillion-dollar home more than double the local 8m height limit as a cautionary tale.
In July 2019, Belgian architect Johan Neerman lodged a development application for Potboil Rd, White Beach, on Flinders Island.
Atop the proposed 16.065m three-storey house would sit four wind-turbines about 7m tall.
The council was unable to afford the $100,000 legal bill to continue the appeal process after the developer challenged the decision at the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.
MOUNT WELLINGTON CABLE CAR
It’s a debate that has raged on in Tasmania for decades, to build a cable car up kunanyi/ Mount Wellington or not.
The company proposing to build a cable car on Mt Wellington has the Hobart City Council to the planning tribunal – claiming it has breached planning laws.
Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal will hear arguments over whether the council has the right to seek further information about the project’s potential impact on aboriginal heritage after a development application for the project was lodged with the Hobart City Council in June last year, with further information supplied in January.
A decision is expected to be made this week on the planning appeal launched by the proponents of the Mt Wellington cable car.
CAMBRIA GREEN
The controversial Chinese-backed Cambria Green mega resort development continues to inch closer to getting the green light following a Supreme Court of Tasmania late last year.
Justice Stephen Estcourt quashed a decision by the Tasmanian Planning Commission not to consider an application concerning the rezoning of land near Swansea, which would make way for the $138 million, 3000ha development.
Despite the progression through the courts, voices opposing the project remain as loud as ever drawing opposition from the Tasmanian Greens, residents and Tasmanian conservation groups.
The Cambria Green development plans at Dolphin Sands include a luxury hotel, 200 villas, a golf course, a conference centre, plus retirement facilities with a crematorium.
A public directions hearing will take place next month to discuss the draft planning scheme amendment aimed to facilitate the development.
MEANDER REHAB CENTRE
A Christian organisation that wants to establish a rehab centre in a tiny Tasmanian township says it won’t give up, despite a fresh roadblock hindering its plans.
Teen Challenge is an international religious organisation based in the United States, which runs a number of addiction centres across Australia and plans to establish a rehab centre named Home for Hope in the tiny North-West township of Meander.
In 2016, the Meander Valley Council voted in favour of giving Home for Hope a 15-year lease for the town’s primary school after it closed down in 2014.
Residents staunchly fought the decision – and won, thanks to a Supreme Court of Tasmania appeal.
The judge set aside a decision approving the permit by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.
He remitted the case back to the tribunal – to be presided over by different members – for reconsideration.
FRAGRANCE GROUP
Grand Premium Hotels, part of the Fragrance Group, which has already built hotels in Hobart and has others on the drawing board, revealed last year its planned to build a $50 million hotel which would transform a heritage precinct in central Launceston.
Fragrance Group was also named as the investor in a $40 million hotel on Devonport’s waterfront, as that city’s Living City project steams ahead.
Fragrance Group built the Ibis Styles hotel in Hobart and construction on another next door has begun.
The group also has lodged development applications for projects at 2 Collins St and 34 Davey St, but hit planning hurdles and ultimately failed to gain council approval
Another DA for a project in Sandy Bay Rd has been submitted but not yet publicly advertised.
The group’s proposed North Hobart Hotel and apartments in Elizabeth St is in mediation at the planning tribunal.
Another Fragrance Group project, located on the former site of the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music was for 55 apartments, plus a ground floor cafe, parking for 88 cars, a communal pool and gym.
The project was pulled at the last minute at the council meeting in May for further consultation and a smaller, scaled back version is currently being readvertised.
NEXUS HOSPITAL NEW TOWN
The developers behind a private hospital in Hobart’s northern suburbs have launched a third bid to get the $55M project greenlit – including a number of changes its plans.
Nexus Hospitals and Contact Group plan to build the approximate $55m Tasman Private Hospital at the site of the former WIN TV studios on New Town Road with its second development application including new artists’ impressions has been submitted to the Hobart City Council in mid-January 2021.
The project was originally knocked back in 2019 on grounds including that it did not contribute positively to the streetscape and would have an unreasonable impact on residential amenity.
The project has also drawn strong resistance from nearby residents, who oppose the size and scale or previous designs.
KANGAROO BAY DEVELOPMENT
Clarence City Council has granted a further permit to Chambroad’s highly contentious $80m proposed Kangaroo Bay hotel and hospitality school development.
Council will grant an unconditional 20-month extension for substantial commencement to begin by October 2022 and negotiate the conditions in place to allow the council to be updated on the project.
Last year, more than 2200 people signed a petition urging council to reject the extension and buy back the land.
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