Clarence City Council approves bottle shop proposal, but the plan is set to remain on ice

Clarence City Council has approved a contentious plan for a bottle shop on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, but the proposal is not expected to be realised in the short-term. LATEST >>

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THE Clarence City Council has approved a proposal to replace a charity op-shop with a bottle shop in Warrane, but the plan will not be realised for the foreseeable future.

At a meeting on Monday night, aldermen ticked off on a change of use application by the proponents Cemcon Developments for a shop within a retail complex on Edgeworth St.

But as previously reported by the Mercury, that development is not expected to proceed in the short-term, with a new lease being negotiated between the landlord and the current tenant.

The tenancy is currently occupied by the Hobart City Mission, which runs run an op-shop from the site.

Strip of shops in Warrane where there is a new bottleshop proposal. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Cemcon Developments director Lucia Fitzgerald said a new five-year lease had been agreed upon for the op-shop to remain in operation.

She said there was a few hold-ups in negotiations and the developer had considered their options and looked at “the bigger picture” but were pleased to agree to new terms with the Hobart City Mission.

“The takeaway message is we are part of the community and we are always looking to have a win-win situation for the community and ourselves and we have really achieved that with the op-shop,’’ she said.

Cemcon Developments also took into account the community feedback about the bottle shop proposal, she said.

Council’s decision comes after 173 people signed a petition submitted to the council against the proposal, and eight written deputations were sent with a range of concerns about the plan.

Council officers recommended the application be approved but Alderman Richard James proposed an alternative motion to refuse it.

Ald James argued the plan would have an unreasonable impact on the residential amenity of the area, saying the site was within 50 metres of a residential zone.

The suggested opening hours are 9am-8pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays.

But Alderman Tony Mulder said there was already an existing shopping area — the complex also features stores like chemist and a newsagent.

Alderman Beth Warren said the application was “a planning matter, not a moral judgment”, and referenced a bottle shop in Lindisfarne close to her home that has operated for many years with no significant traffic or noise issues.

Alderman Brendan Blomeley said it was not council’s role to act as “moral police” and said the bottle shop plan was a sound proposal.

The large number of people who signed a petition against the development reflected the depth of community concern, Alderman Luke Edmunds said.

He said most people understood the way the approval system worked but suggested there was some “angst” about the process.

Hobart City Mission chief executive John Stubley said last week that the charity had negotiated a new lease for the site and would be continuing to operate as an op-shop there for the foreseeable future.

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