Launceston City Council quashes concerns big projects could be rammed through during pandemic

Provisions for unelected officials to grant development approvals without a full sitting of Launceston City Council do not apply to large projects like the Fragrance Hotel proposal, the council says.

An artist’s impression of the proposed $50 million Fragrance Hotel in the centre of Launceston. Picture: SUPPLIED

LAUNCESTON City Council has reassured ratepayers that large development proposals will not be able to bypass planning approval processes during the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerns were raised by Launceston community group Launceston Concerned Citizens that special measures to delegate responsibility for planning approvals to unelected officials in the absence of a sitting council could lead to a lack of proper scrutiny for large proposals.

The group pointed to the Fragrance Group’s development application to build a hotel at the corner of Tamar St and Cimitiere St, diagonally opposite the historic Albert Hall, as one project that might be rammed through, despite community objections.

But Launceston City Council spokesman Simon Tennant said there was no danger of such a project being approved without the proper process.

“The council does have contingencies in place for building approval to be granted or rejected without the full council, but only for emergencies, and this is not one,” he said.

“And the provisions only apply to projects under $10 million dollars.

“Since the Fragrance proposal would be well in excess of that, it still has to go to a full council meeting.”

The provisions for unelected officials to grant development approvals only apply to projects under $10 million dollars. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Tennant said the provisions — which would allow the chief executive officer, community and place general manager and the city development manager to grant or reject proposals independently of council — mainly existed to allow smaller developments like residential developments to go ahead if deemed reasonable.

The Launceston Concerned Citizens group also drew attention to the fact that the section of the council website that allows the public to view development applications was very difficult to find, and the 34 documents attached to the Fragrance proposal were unable to be opened.

The objection period for the Fragrance proposal ends on Wednesday, April 15.

The public is unable to view the plans in the council offices due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Tennant said the issues with the website had since been fixed, and he would look into whether an extension to the objection period was being planned, given the current circumstances.