Macquarie Point Development Corporation lodges application to extend the key site’s carpark

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation has lodged a development application with the Hobart City council for the prime waterfront site.

The Macquarie Point carpark could soon be extended. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

AS the Macquarie Point Development Corporation awaits a decision on planning scheme amendments, it has lodged a planning application with council to extend its carpark on the prime waterfront land.

Development at the central Hobart site, touted as having an estimated $1 billion potential, has been stunted by planning rules preventing projects such as hotels and restaurants being built near a sewerage treatment plant.

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The Tourism Industry Council Tasmania and the Labor Opposition recently queried progress on the 9ha precinct, site of the former railyards on Hobart’s waterfront.

A development application has been lodged with Hobart City Council for “extension and alterations to carparking and access”.

The existing carpark, accessed off Evans St, has 262 spaces, including 46 permit spaces and 216 voucher spaces.

The proposal is to extend the carpark by 150 spaces to create a total of 83 permit spaces and 329 voucher spaces.

A new exit would be created onto Port Road.

Development application documents say the proposed extension would assist in addressing a shortfall in short-term and commuter parking generally within the city and Sullivans Cove in particular.

Macquarie Point Development Corporation chief executive Mary Massina said the corporation always had plans for “stage three of the carpark and we require a discretionary DA for this work”.

Opposition infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne said it was disappointing the only development happening at Macquarie Point after seven years was for “a few pop ups” and an extension to the “best-placed carpark in the state”.

“The Government stands condemned for allowing this sore to fester,” he said.

Planning scheme amendments to support the latest redevelopment vision for the site are before the Tasmanian Planning Commission after being supported by council in June.

In May, an “edible” precinct, which grows native bush foods alongside European species, was unveiled as the latest addition to the site.

Macquarie Point is home to the Hobart Brewing Co, a hair salon, food trucks, an architecture firm’s office, a boutique gym and a goods shed used for functions and events.

Representations to council on the carpark extension plans can be made until August 21.