Shock decision by Hobart City Council gives Vinnies fresh hope for Argyle St social housing project

Vinnies has had a significant win in its battle to build social housing on Argyle St after the Hobart City Council controversially voted down the proposal.

Artist's impression of St Vincent de Paul Society social housing building on Argyle St. Image: Maguire + Devine Architects.

The Hobart City Council has voted to support a social housing development on Argyle St after attracting public scorn for initially rejecting it – but the proponents must still clear another hurdle before starting construction.

The Mercury understands councillors made the decision to give the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) project the green light in a closed session of a recent meeting.

It comes after Vinnies and developer Amelie Housing committed to changing several aspects of the building’s design, which is now said to be slightly smaller and less bulky in appearance.

The five-storey building at 210-218 Argyle St would contain 38 studio apartments and house women over the age of 50.

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

When the development originally came before the council for a vote in May, it was rejected, despite the council’s own planning officers recommending it for approval, proposing that more than 20 conditions be included in the permit.

Councillors Marti Zucco, Louise Elliot, Louise Bloomfield, John Kelly, and Ben Lohberger voted against it, receiving significant public backlash.

Among the design issues the five councillors raised were the building’s height, potential overshadowing, and parking impacts, which were also mentioned by North Hobart residents who made deputations to the council’s Planning Committee.

Following the initial vote, Vinnies Tasmania CEO Heather Kent said her thoughts were with “those women that are in tents up on the Domain … that are going to hear the decision of council and what it means for them and their future”.

Heather Kent, 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

“There are many other women remaining in unsafe circumstances in their homes, simply because there is nowhere else to go,” she said at the time.

Amelie Housing manager Jonathon Armstrong said the development would be a crucial support for one of the community’s most vulnerable groups.

“Across Australia we look to restore … hope and there’s no disputing the fact that women over the age of 55 are the biggest at-risk cohort at the moment for homelessness, and what we’re doing is creating a safe space,” he told the council in May.

Vinnies and Amelie Housing subsequently appealed the decision in the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).

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

However, the council has now pulled out of this process after supporting the amended proposal.

The developers are understood to be in mediation with a number of residents neighbouring the Argyle St site and it’s unclear whether this will proceed to a planning appeal or if the opponents will be placated by changes to the design.

A Vinnies spokesman would not comment on the council decision but said the charity organisation continued to “work through the appeal process”.