University of Tasmania’s $50 million accommodation complex moves a step closer

THE University of Tasmania’s planned $50 million student accommodation complex will go to Hobart City Council for possible approval, but one alderman is vowing to vote against it.

The Red Cross building in Melville St, the site of the proposed university accommodation. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THE University of Tasmania’s planned $50 million student accommodation complex will go to Hobart City Council for possible approval next Monday, but one alderman is vowing to vote against it.

The 14-storey, 35m high student complex in Hobart’s CBD is expected to be built by February 2020.

The Melville St building would house more than 421 student beds across 189 apartments in a mix of single and multi-occupant rooms.

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Yesterday, the council’s planning committee voted 3-1 to recommend approval for the development.

Aldermen Jeff Briscoe, Eva Ruzicka and Tanya Denison voted for the recommendation.

Alderman Jeff Briscoe said the project was good for the university and the community and it would take some pressure off rental accommodation in Hobart. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Alderman Helen Burnet plans to vote against the UTAS accommodation development at Melville ST because she believes the building is too high. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Greens alderman Helen Burnet voted against, saying the university’s application had got it wrong.

“This is right on the edge of the central business zone,” she said.

“This theoretically should be around 30m and this will be 45m. It’s another tower.”

The current building height limit for that area is 35m, but under Leigh Woolley’s council-commissioned building height report the limit is proposed to be 45m.

The UTAS accommodation complex on the corner of Elizabeth and Melville streets in Hobart is right across the road from the Red Cross site redevelopment. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

City planning committee chairman Ald Briscoe said the project was good for the university and the community.

“The 400-plus beds will take some pressure off rental accommodation in Hobart,” he said. “It will activate that area and there will be a bit of a buzz that has been lacking there.”

The development will include the demolition of the Red Cross buildings but retain and reuse the existing three-storey classical heritage building.

Nettleton Tribe, the architect behind the project, outlined in its report the strengths of the project being the building’s proximity to buses and shops which will reduce the demand for carparks.