Mainland developer Hugh Walker plans to build new home at McGill Rise subdivision in Claremont
A mainland developer admits he was anxious after learning houses in a notorious subdivision in Hobart’s northern suburbs had to be vacated, but he is upbeat about his project to build a new home there. HIS STORY >>>
Tasmania
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A DEVELOPER planning to build a new home within the notorious McGill Rise is both undeterred and upbeat despite the bad name the Claremont subdivision has acquired, promising to “polish this rough diamond”.
Hugh Walker, the director of the award-winning BDD Building Designers, bought a block of land at 36 McGill Rise earlier this year, months before the Mercury revealed major issues with the subdivision.
Eight out of 22 homes in the development were vacated when Glenorchy City Council said an audit deemed them uninhabitable, with residents told their lives were at risk in high rainfall.
Mr Walker’s block is near to the homes that had to be evacuated, and he has long-term plans to potentially move to Tasmania and live in the three-bedroom residence.
Mr Walker, who is based in Newcastle in NSW, was not involved in the development of any homes previously built on the street.
“When buying the land originally, there wasn’t really a lot of information or talk about some of the issues that have recently popped up,’’ he said.
“When I read the story, I felt empathy as I didn’t realise that the people around it had those dramas with some of the other houses there.
“It did give me a little bit of anxiety, but I’m quite confident.”
But despite the issues with the site, which have also prompted disciplinary action by the state’s building regulator against those involved in the project, Mr Walker is upbeat.
Mr Walker said when he was looking to buy land, there was little supply and much of it was unaffordable, but he was drawn to McGill Rise partly by its impressive views overlooking Hobart’s northern suburbs.
“I think the positive thing about the site is it’s got a fantastic outlook — it’s second to none really up there,’’ he said.
“I think with the experience I’ve got, I’ve dealt with a lot of different projects and sites ... I feel confident that it’s going to probably in the long-term help the development.
“Some of those homes around it may need to disappear and be rebuilt, so having the best house in the worst street might be a little daunting, but I think it will sort of offer opportunity to positively contribute back to the area.
“It’s a risk but it’s also an adventure and hopefully it creates a positive statement to the environment.”
Mr Walker’s proposal, lodged with Glenorchy City Council, is for a three-bedroom shipping container-style home which he said would be built on “very rigid, strong structures”.
The home, with 120 square metres of living space, would sit on four concrete piers, Mr Walker said.
“They would bore down into the bedrock and into the solid ground and the steelwork will sit on top of those,’’ he said.
“It will be very strong but with minimal impact on the fill and stuff like that. Rather than putting a whole hand on the site, we are digging fingers in instead.
“We are trying to be efficient in the design, having a smaller footprint to reduce issues on surrounding properties.”
Mr Walker said the home would have solar power, and would be well sealed and insulated.
He said the council had been helpful regarding his application and had communicated well with him about issues at the site.
Mr Walker, whose business has been operating since 2009, said if council approved the development, he would hope to begin preliminary on-site works within six months.
The proposal was open for public comment until Tuesday.
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