Showground developer submits plans to Devonport City Council

A historic showground, which no longer hosts an annual agricultural event looks set to become a 200-house subdivision, complete with lake, medical precinct and park.

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A CONCRETE proposal to develop the Devonport Showgrounds into a 200-lot mixed housing subdivision complete with central park, lake and health precinct has gone to the Devonport City Council.

The $75 million redevelopment of the 10ha site is the brainchild of Melbourne developer Simon Want.

The land is currently owned by the Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society but Mr Want has entered into a contract of sale to buy what is one of the last pieces of undeveloped land in the city centre.

The Devonport Show was axed in 2017 after more than 108 years but harness and greyhound racing is still held at the grounds and community groups still use the built facilities.

Mr Want has been part of project teams which have delivered in-fill housing developments in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. He believes the Devonport proposal will be the largest private infill development in Tasmania’s history.

Photo of Devonport Showground and greyhound track. SUPPLIED

On Monday night, Mr Want presented the plans to the DCC at a closed workshop. A rezoning application will follow along with a six-week formal community consultation period.

“We have now had pre-application discussions and are locking in non-residential tenants such as doctors for the health precinct,” Mr Want said.

“We are also talking to the 22-user groups at the showground about having access to a purpose-built community facility as part of the development.”

He is also talking to government and housing providers to ensure the subdivision is a mix of private rentals, public housing and accommodation for those with special needs.

“The rezoning application will take about six months to finalise but if all goes to plan we should be starting construction in early 2010,” Mr Want said.

If the housing development is passed by council, TasRacing will need to find another place of its Devonport harness and greyhound race meetings.

In April last year, Tasmania’s racing industry said it was preparing to fight to retain use of the Devonport Showground for greyhound and harness meetings after its sale to property developers is finalised.

TasRacing has a lease over the venue for the next 20 years.

“TasRacing and the two Devonport race clubs hold 67 meetings annually at the showgrounds servicing more than 170 participants and generating about $1.85 million in race field fees that flow back to the Tasmanian Racing Industry,” TasRacing CEO Paul Eriksson said at the time.