Hobart voters deliver overwhelming support in favour of building height limits

Hobart has delivered an overwhelming verdict on absolute building heights, but claims of voter confusion may plague the contentious poll.

The height was a contentious issue in the proposed Welcome Stranger development.

HOBART has delivered an overwhelming verdict in favour of absolute building heights, but claims of voter confusion may plague the contentious poll.

The final tally on Monday night showed more than 77 per cent had 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’.

TURNOUT UNDER FIRE IN HEIGHT LIMITS POLL

OPPOSING SIDES DIVIDED AS BALLOTS SENT OUT

Additional questions showed 70 per cent supported changing the planning schemes and for a CBD height limit of lower than 60m.

The NAB building in Collins St, Hobart. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

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 standalone elector poll for a large council.

But some aldermen who were against the idea of the plebiscite said a small turnout showed “no clear mandate for anything”, with one claiming the poll was “fast approaching economic vandalism”.

Ald Simon Behrakis made the spectacular claim as he slammed the $200,000 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.

Hobart City Council alderman Simon Behrakis. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

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

Ald Marti Zucco said irrespective of any elector poll result it did not reflect the views of all ratepayers.

Ald Peter Sexton — who supports building heights — said the results showed confusion among voters.

Ald Sexton said the first question referred to support for a 60m height limit, while the next question referred to less than 60m, meaning 9200 who voted ‘yes’ to both questions appeared to contradict themselves.

He said it demonstrated the need for a proper social, economic and environmental impact study — which the council did not need a poll to determine as it was already underway.

MORE NEWS:

SEARCH ONGOING FOR MISSING BUSHWALKER

ROAD CLOSURES: WILD WEATHER ROLLS ON

CABLE CAR PROGRESS ON THE ROPES

But Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said claims of confusion undermined the public’s position.

“People have a right during the process to suggest that the heights should be lower,” Cr Burnet said.

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“There’s a clear majority of people who are still concerned about the building height limits proposed by council officers.”

Cr Burnet said a 42 per cent turnout was significant and was not much lower than the 61 per cent who voted for the lord mayor position at the local government elections in October 2018.

Brian Corr, president of Hobart Not Highrise — whose petition initiated the public meeting that led to the elector poll — said the first question was the one that counted and he was extremely pleased with the result.

“People have told us and council what they want. People expect council to abide by their decision,” he said.

A report on the results of the poll will be discussed at next week’s council meeting.

[e-mail]