Brighton Council urges Planning Minister not to declare Kangaroo Bay Hotel major project

Another Tasmanian council says the proposed Kangaroo Bay Hotel is not worthy of major project status. Their reasons for recommending the request be denied.

Kangaroo Bay Hotel. Picture: Supplied

Brighton Council has discouraged the Planning Minister from declaring the proposed Kangaroo Bay Hotel as a major project, after a vote on a Tuesday, with councillors disagreeing the build was worthy of the special status.

Last month, developer Chambroad applied for its 155 hotel development to be assessed under the Major Projects process, meaning it would bypass the Clarence Council’s rejection of the project and instead be assessed by an independent panel.

The project lies outside of its municipality, but the Brighton Council had been asked to provide its two cents on whether itt should be declared a major project.

Brighton’s planning officers recommended the council urge the Minister not to declare it a major project, a position supported at Tuesday’s council meeting.

In a letter to Planning Minister Michael Ferguson, Brighton Council general manager James Dryburgh said the council did not believe Chambroad had provided detail on how the build would be significant.

“The Brighton Council agrees that the project would likely assist in filling demand for high end accommodation and diningoptions in the Clarence Municipality,” he said.

Brighton Council general manager James Dryburgh. Picture Chris Kidd

“However, it is considered that the proponent’s key argument that the project will have a ‘significant impact on, or make a significant contribution to, a region’s economy’ is overstated and not backed by economic analysis such as a cost-benefitanalysis or an economic impact study.

“It is Council’s view that the project has not demonstrated that it will have a significant impact on, or make a significantcontribution to, a region’s economy.”

The Clarence Council has previously slammed Chambroad’s push for major project status as “sneaky”, and last week made a submissionto the minister that the hotel was not big or complex enough for the declaration.

Clarence’s appeal to minister over ‘sneaky’ Kangaroo Bay process

September 15, 2:24pm

There’s no way the Kangaroo Bay hotel is big or complex enough to be declared major project, Clarence City Council says.

Council has made its formal submission to Planning Minister Michael Ferguson as he considers Chinese-owned developer Chambroad’s request for its $50m hotel be assessed under the state government’s major projects legislation.

If declared a major project, the hotel will bypass the Clarence Council and be examined by an independent panel assembled by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

But Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the development did not pass the hurdles required

“We’re talking about a 155 room hotel here. There’s nothing complex, there’s nothing overly impactful or of the scale that would qualify to be a major project. There’s nothing significant in terms of southern Tasmania,” Mr Blomeley said.

“Sadly, this is a sneaky way to seek to get the development approved.”

The newest designs inside the proposed Kangaroo Bay Hotel. Pic: Chambroad.

Council has also warned it will take legal action if Chambroad attempts “deal with the land in a manner inconsistent with the Council’s asserted right to ownership”.

In March council voted to buy back the land for $2.4m plus stamp duty, after Chambroad failed to substantially commence development despite receiving several extensions.

“Chambroad has had six years and four extensions and they’ve delivered zip,” Mr Blomeley said.

Mr Blomeley said despite the continued legal and political wrangling over Kangaroo Bay, Council was looking forward to developing the site for the community.

“We are in the process now with our city heart project of engaging with our community as to how they would like to see Kangaroo Bay developed. From our perspective we are 100 per cent committed to buying that land back for the community and delivering something we can all be proud of,” he said.

Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson said he believed Chambroad had a good case for being considered a major project.

“We strongly believe that our application for our $50 million, 155 room boutique hotel to be declared a major project meets the necessary criteria contained in the Act,” he said.

“This will ensure that our Kangaroo Bay Hotel can be assessed fairly and independently. We look forward to the Minister’s determination.”

Mr Hudson has previously said it was “inconceivable” the project could receive an impartial assessment from Clarence City Council through the ­development application process, given the majority of councillors voted to buy back the land.