$50 million hotel and hospitality training school for Kangaroo Bay wins Clarence City Council nod

A BOLD plan to create a world-class waterfront hotel and a hospitality training school on the Eastern Shore has moved one step closer.

An artist’s impression of the proposed $50 million Kangaroo Bay hotel development. Picture: Hunter Developments

A BOLD plan to create a world-class waterfront hotel and a hospitality training school on the Eastern Shore has moved one step closer.

The $50m project cleared the first hurdle after Hunter Developments was unanimously given preferred development status by the Clarence City Council last night to build the hotel development and hospitality training school at Kangaroo Bay Drive.

A formal development application will be lodged in six weeks after the submission of technical reports to council, Hunter Developments director Robert Morris-Nunn said.

Multi-billion dollar Chinese petrochemical company Chambroad has teamed with Hunter Developments to build the 120-room hotel, TasTAFE tertiary level hospitality training school and a ferry pier.

The proposal is “more than just a nice development,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.

He said it originated from a three-way agreement between the council, the Co-ordinator General John Perry and the Chinese investor Chambroad — a first for Tasmania.

“It was fundamental to the whole exercise,” he said.

Designed to look like a ship’s hull with a traditional Chinese “cracked ice” facade, the hotel will have uninterrupted views across the River Derwent to Mt Wellington.

“The ship’s hull is a visual metaphor for the launching of a unique new tourism and education venture and one that has the potential to fundamentally redefine and transform Tasmania’s tourism industry,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.

State Growth Minister Matthew Groom welcomed the council’s decision and said it was pleasing to see the project one step closer to completion.

“The Government, through the Co-ordinator-General and the Department of State Growth, has been closely following this potential development, and I look forward to the next steps in the approval process,” he said.

TasTAFE corporate services executive manager Nick May said the inclusion of a hospitality school in the development would help the skills shortage facing Tasmania.

“There are challenges finding the right people trained to the right level in Tasmania,” Mr May said.

Hospitality students will study and work throughout the hotel and in formal lecture theatres.

TasTAFE has been in discussions with Chambroad for almost a year about the school which will train Chinese and Tasmanian students.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said council and the State Government assessment panel recommended the preferred developer status be awarded to Hunter Developments.

“Our vision is that Kangaroo Bay be an inclusive place for both residents and visitors,” he said.

“It provides one of the most attractive harbourside vistas in Tasmania.”

Alderman Daniel Hulme said the project had the potential to be Clarence’s jewel in the crown.