New development blow as second Tasmanian golf resort hits rough
TASMANIA’S construction and tourism industries are reeling after news that another major golf club development has hit a planning approval roadblock.
Tasmania
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TASMANIA’S construction and tourism industries are reeling after news that another major golf club development has hit a planning approval roadblock - the second project to be halted in the past week.
The decision puts at risk investments totalling $100 million and more than 100 jobs, sparking calls for an urgent review of the state’s planning approval process.
The latest project to be stalled is the $85 million Claremont Golf Club redevelopment, which has been delayed by at least six months because of an impasse with the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
The derailment of the project, which includes a 90-room hotel complex, restaurant and residential units, came in the same week that Clarence City Council stymied Tasmanian golfer Mat Goggin’s proposed $15 million eco-resort at Seven Mile Beach.
In that case, aldermen voted 8-3 against rezoning the land. They cited concerns over coastal erosion and proximity to the airport.
The Liberals’ planning spokeswoman Elise Archer last night said the setbacks proved the entire planning system in Tasmania was broken, and she warned that potential investors would be turned away.
But Planning Minister Bryan Green said the Tasmanian Planning Commission was “in no way” responsible for the hold-up to these projects.
“If Ms Archer had bothered to check the facts, she would know that neither project has been delayed by Tasmania’s planning commission,’’ Mr Green said
“The Claremont project was approved and ready to go, but significant changes have since been made to the DA by the developers and the Tasmanian Planning Commission is now actively working with them.’’
A disappointed Claremont Golf Club president Brian Richardson said despite working closely with the Planning Commission to resolve what he called unintended limitations in its permit’s rezoning, a fresh development application would now be needed. This would set the project back at least another six months.
“If the experience of the Goggin and Claremont Golf Club developments are anything to go by, Tasmania has scant hope of getting any developments off the ground if a Labor/Green/PUP minority government gets into power,” Ms Archer said.
“Developers are lining up to build in Tasmania — but the only lines Labor and the Greens are interested in are unemployment lines.”
Ms Archer said a Liberal government would reform planning by introducing a single statewide planning scheme, cracking down on third-party appeals, and by using ministerial call-in powers to make sure developments such as the Seven Mile and Claremont golf courses did not get bogged down in bureaucracy.
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said with two of the best 25 courses in the world now located in Tasmania, it was essential the state capitalised on the current interest from golf lovers worldwide.
“We’ve got the drawcards — in Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm outside Bridport — that prove people will come to Tasmania for golf,” Mr Martin said.
“But we need another one or two world-class course in other parts of the state and my understanding is that the Seven Mile course fits the bill.
“While I found Clarence Council’s decision disappointing, I just hope developers will not be discouraged by it.”
Goggin Foundation spokesman Mike Craw said the Planning Commission’s final decision would not just affect a single resort but the entire state’s ability to develop a reputation as an international golf tourism mecca.
“Mike Clayton believes the courses are going to rate higher than Barnbougle, but the greater legacy is here is that of the Tasmanian Golf Trail,” Mr Craw said.
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“England, Wales and Scotland have a $1 billion golf economy. It’s early days here, but who knows where Tasmania could be in 50 or 100 years’ time.”
Mr Green said the residential component of the Seven Mile Beach project was not approved by the council after the community made representations over zoning issues and it would now be referred to the planning commission. The golf course is a permitted use in the recreation zone.
“Instead of criticism of the planning system, it’s about time the acid was put on the Liberals to explain how their so-called single planning scheme policy would work,” he said.
“Anyone who knows anything about planning knows it is a complete furphy.
“Centralising the planning bureaucracy in Hobart, as the Liberals plan to do, will create additional red tape, bypass council and community involvement, leave local government and developers in limbo for years and waste millions of dollars.’’
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