Louise Elliot says she’s faced attacks for voting against Hobart social housing project

Running on a campaign of pro-development, a Hobart councillor says she’s faced a barrage of personal attacks since voting against a social housing project for women. Why she voted no.

Heather Ken CEO Vinnies Tasmania with Siobhan Fernantzen project director Faction Consulting at the Argyle Street Vinnies in Hobart. Hobart City Council have knocked back a proposed development at the site by Vinnies Tasmania with the store already in the process of moving locations. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A pro-development Hobart councillor has hit back at critics over her decision not to support a much-needed social housing project for women aged over 50 saying she has had a “barrage of emotive, personal attacks”.

Louise Elliot was one of five Hobart City councillors and aldermen who voted against the proposal by the St Vincent de Paul Society and Amelie House for 38 studio apartments in Argyle St.

She said the rejection of the Vinnies’ application was “disappointing for everyone”.

“My vote against this application has led to a barrage of emotive, personal attacks. This isn’t fun to be on the receiving end of, but it’s also not surprising,” she said.

“We need housing, this was for older women desperate for a home, Vinnie’s is a beloved charity, and clock for funding the development is soon to run out.

“Importantly, none of these factors are relevant when assessing planning applications.”

City of Hobart councillor Louise Elliot will run as an independent in the seat of Clark at the 2024 Tasmanian state election. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The council’s own planning experts recommended the development be approved.

There has been shock and condemnation at the council’s decision with state housing minister Felix Ellis saying it was a “pure NIMBY-ism” and federal housing minister Julie Collins describing the rejection as “appalling”.

Ms Elliot said when considering planning applications “only planning rules are relevant and the overall need for housing, the applicant being a charity and the funding attached to the project are irrelevant”.

“I voted against the application with a very heavy heart but I knew it was the right decision for me based on the planning aspects of the proposal,” she said.

“In my opinion it’s a substandard design where the 500 plus traffic movements a day that was expected on a narrow right of way, the shortage of parking and the impact on residents, neighbours and businesses compounded.

“On top of that the planning rules require a transition in heights and that wasn’t there either.

“Attacking individuals for voting against the application just pushes our planning system further towards one being based on emotion and politics rather than fair and objective decisions.”

Ms Elliot accused Ms Collins of pulling on the “heartstrings”.

“Having the federal housing minister joining in on the attack is very unprofessional and shows she has no understanding of what’s legally in and out if scope when considering planning applications,” she said.

Artist's impression of a social housing building on Argyle St. Image: Maguire + Devine Architects.

“All of Minister Collins’ statements are irrelevant in the planning context and her statement encourages planning decisions based on irrelevant information, emotion and politics.

“It’s common for votes in applications to be split and common for the votes around the table to not match the officers’ recommendations.

“If the application wasn’t for social housing then this outrage would not exist.

“We all want housing but the rules apply regardless.”

Ms Elliot said the planning system needed to be fair but “the emotion must be removed, and people should not be attacked for doing their job”.

Vinnies says it may appeal the decision.