Five-star Morris-Nunn development seeks public approval before returning to Clarence council

THE developer behind the Rosny Hill Hotel wants to consult with the community as its multi-million-dollar project goes before council.

IT’S been three years since the Rosny Hill Hotel last dominated headlines in Hobart, but now the $50 million, 100-room project is back in the spotlight with a development application set to finally go before Clarence City Council.

Four years ago, the council called for expressions of interest for Rosny Hill with Hunter Developments eventually awarded preferred developer status to build a hotel.

Hunter Development director and architect Professor Robert Morris-Nunn said the five-star hotel proposal had been revised but not much had changed since the original concept.

MORE: LEADING ARCHITECT’S BOLD ECO-RESORT VISION

The plan features 82 rooms within a two-storey building that wraps around the hill plus 18 premium guest pods. There will be two restaurants, seating up to 200 people each, a function centre for 200 delegates, a gym and private bar with views of Mt Wellington.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW: An artist’s impression of the proposal for Rosny Hill on Hobart's Eastern Shore.

Hunter Developments is also behind the controversial development of a $50 million hotel and hospitality training school at Kangaroo Bay with multibillion-dollar Chinese petrochemical company Shandong Chambroad, which was approved by the council in January last year.

MORE: PROTEST AGAINST KANGAROO BAY DEVELOPMENT

MORE: WATERFRONT LAND SOLD OFF FOR $2.4M

Prof Morris-Nunn said the Rosny Hill Hotel proposal had been put on hold while resources were diverted to the Kangaroo Bay project.

Eastern Shore residents have been concerned about any development on Rosny Hill and in 2016 campaigned for the area to be rezoned to protect it from major developments.

The petition fell on deaf ears and the council decided its zoning was adequate.

MORE: LOCALS SPLIT ON PLAN FOR ROSNY HILL

MORE: RESIDENTS SEEK COUNCIL SUPPORT AGAINST HOTEL

CONSULTATION: Graduate architect Tom Chandler, left, and architect Robert Morris-Nunn. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

A draft proposal of the hotel development obtained by the Mercury notes that ideas including a wildlife sanctuary on-site were still on the table.

It also states that the economic benefits will be considerable and wideranging.

“Tourist accommodation of this standard will have a major indirect flow-on effect out into the community and the city,” it says.

Prof Morris-Nunn said The Rosny Hill Lookout had some of the most panoramic views of Hobart and would remain public space. “We will make it look beautiful and landscape it properly.”

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said as of yesterday the council had not received a development application.

“I’m delighted to see the developer has chosen a community consultation pathway prior to submission and look forward to seeing the application submitted in due course,” he said.

Prof Morris-Nunn said Hunter Developments would hold briefing sessions with the community about the project on Tuesday at Rosny LINC at 46 Bligh St, Rosny Park, from 10am-2pm and 5-7pm.

“Members of the team including landscaping, planning, architects are making themselves available to answer any queries from the local community,” he said.

“Rather than them receiving documents from council we want to explain what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”