Hobart expected to know results of building heights limits elector poll by Monday night

UPDATED: Hobart voters have delivered their verdict on absolute building height limits as some aldermen claim the small turnout will give the council “no clear mandate for anything”.

Hobart not Highrise meeting. Brian Corr is pictured ahead of a Hobart not Highrise meeting at The Grand Chancellor. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

UPDATED: Hobart has overwhelmingly voted in favour of absolute building height limits.

More than 77 per cent responded ‘yes’ to the principal question that asked residents if the council should support building height limits and other recommendations made by its planning officers. Almost 23 per cent voted ‘no’.

But some aldermen who were against the idea of the poll said a small turnout showed “no clear mandate for anything”.

Ald Marti Zucco also claimed the principal question was leading in its wording.

More than 42 per cent of enrolled voters — 15,990 of 37,718 — had returned their ballots when polls closed at 10am on Monday.

Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said he believed that was a strong response for a stand-alone elector poll for a large council.

Mr Hawkey said counting for the remaining two questions was underway.

“Ballot papers are being counted as groups determined by the response to the principal question,” he said.

“It is anticipated the results for the further questions will be known before 6pm today.”

EARLIER: Counting has begun in the Hobart building height limits elector poll as one alderman claims the poll is “fast approaching economic vandalism”.

Ald Simon Behrakis made the spectacular claim as he slammed the plebiscite for wasting ratepayers’ time and money.

“With such a small turnout, it is clear the people of Hobart have seen this elector poll for the farcical waste of time and resources that it is, forced upon us by an anti-development lobby group whose behaviour is fast approaching economic vandalism,” Ald Behrakis said.

He said the low turnout — expected to reach more than 40 per cent — had “no clear mandate for anything”.

Voter turnout when Hobart residents last went to the polls for the local government elections in October 2018 was 61 per cent for the lord mayor position.

Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said the number of ballots returned so far showed there were many people concerned about building heights one way or the other.

Ald Marti Zucco said it had been a waste of $200,000 of ratepayer funds.

“Irrespective of any elector poll result it will not reflect the views of all ratepayers,” he said.

EARLIER: Hobart will know by Monday night how much public support there is for absolute building height limits in the city.

Polls close in the Hobart City Council height limits elector poll at 10am on Monday with voters able to hand deliver their ballots to the council office or Tasmanian Electoral Commission until then.

More than 38 per cent of enrolled voters — 14,359 of 37,718 — had returned their ballots by Friday with it hoped that the final tally would nudge 16,000.

OPPOSING SIDES DIVIDED AS BALLOTS SENT OUT

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said counting would begin straight away and results to all three questions should be expected by the end of the day.

Brian Corr, president of Hobart Not Highrise — whose petition initiated the public meeting that led to the $200,000 elector poll — said their initial target was for 40 per cent participation from enrolled electors.

“We’re looking forward to getting the result and for council to do something off that result,” he said.

MORE:

ALDERMEN URGE DELAY OF HEIGHT LIMITS POLL

ALDERMEN HIT BACK AT EMAIL BARRAGE FROM BRIAN CORR

RISING TENSIONS IN DEBATE OVER BUILDING HEIGHTS

PETITION DEMANDS A POLL ON BUILDING HEIGHTS

“They’re not bound by the result but there’s kind of an obligation to do something given they represent the voters.”

Fragrance Group proposed a 210m hotel for Davey St in 2016.

Mr Corr said if the poll supported the introduction of a height limit he expected some action almost immediately.

Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said it was a “good opportunity to sit up and listen” for council.

Cr Burnet said the number of ballots returned so far showed there were many people concerned about building heights one way or the other.

Cr Burnet said it would be interesting to see how the council discussion panned out once the results came back.

Voters were asked a principal question of whether council should support the building height limits and other recommendations made by its planning officers. Mr Corr said he was hoping for at least 70 per cent in favour of this question.

They were then asked if they preferred the building height limit in Height Area 1 to be lower than 60m and if the preferred the planning schemes remain unchanged.

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