New six-storey Central Launceston hotel development approved
A six-storey hotel development featuring 134 rooms, a gym and a restaurant has been approved in central Launceston. DESIGN + PLANS >>
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A NEW six storey hotel development in central Launceston that will overlook the North Esk River has been approved.
Launceston City councillors voted in favour of the proposal at Thursday’s meeting.
The 134 room hotel on Boland Street that will feature a gym and restaurant will have a maximum height of 22.2m.
It was recommended for approval, subject to recommended conditions.
A number of representation were made ahead of the meeting, including about concerns on the height, traffic and parking.
Councillor Krista Preece voted against the proposal saying she would like to see it lower.
“The problem with the emerging streetscape is we don’t have a height limit that supports buildings over 12m and it becomes our decision what the heights are in the city.”
“I think more consideration needs to be taken in regard to the types of buildings we’re looking at in the city, particularly when we are using the language emerging streetscapes,” she said.
The site was previously listed by the Tasmanian Heritage Council when two cottages on the site were considered a chance of being saved.
As the cottages fell into further dereliction, they were removed from the THC listing and demolished following the 2017 approval of a development for multiple dwellings over five storeys.
Bricks from the original cottages and other recycled bricks will be used on the lower levels, and the upper levels will also be brick with steel mesh to support vines.
Floors from levels three to six will have a set back of 3m to better incorporate with the surrounding streetscape ,which is largely two storey buildings.
A development application was lodged in 2019 for a four storey office building also remains valid.
The site is currently a vacant lot and sits between the Centrelink building and a heritage listed hotel.
A development application lodged last year for a 135 hotel was withdrawn by the applicant and replaced by the current application.
Councillor Andrea Dawkins said it was welcome development in this part of Launceston.
“Having driven past it, seeing it in various stages of decay, now to have a third development application which fits within the planning scheme, discretions allowed, this gives an opportunity to give the community confidence that these kind of issues can be worked out in the planning scheme,” she said.
The six storey hotel will have 15 car parking spaces on the ground floor and 19 car parking spaces at an off site location that is yet to be identified.
Prior to the commencement of any work, an amended plan must be submitted including ensuring arch shaped windows are only on the sixth floor, with rectangle windows on level three, four and five to better fit with the surrounding heritage sites.
Growth spurt strains region’s infrastructure
KINGBOROUGH Council approved a record number of planning permit applications last year, and the municipality’s hub has major changes in store.
Acting Mayor Jo Westwood said the southern council’s population of 40,000 was set to keep rising.
“It is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Tasmania,” she said.
“The main growth areas for Kingborough over the next five to 10 years are Spring Farm, Whitewater Park, Huntingfield, Mary Knoll and Kingston Park and we anticipate these will deliver around 1400 new dwellings.”
Cr Westwood said council approved 2236 dwellings in the past decade, and a record 785 planning permit applications last year.
“This has undoubtedly put pressure on council’s development services staff,” she said.
“We employed one extra planner last year and another will be employed this financial year to meet demand.”
Cr Westwood said about 70 per cent of the municipality’s population lived in Kingston, Blackmans Bay and Huntingfield.
Huntingfield alone was set to gain 470 residential lots under a state government master plan.
But Cr Westwood said issues such as traffic congestion and adequate health and education services required a “proactive” approach to prevent strain on services and infrastructure.
She said Kingston was becoming a “commercial, retail and administrative hub” for the municipality, which was “slowly but surely” gaining self-sufficiency.
“The challenge for council is to encourage community connectedness while at the same time ensuring the right mix of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural developments deliver a vibrant and sustainable municipality,” Cr Westwood said.
The Kingborough Planning Scheme was also facing a big change, with council waiting for Tasmanian Planning Commission approval to upgrade the scheme into a new Local Provision Schedule.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Between the Huon Highway, John St and the Channel Highway.
Mix of 80 townhouse-style residential dwellings, retail, public open space and playground, other commercial uses, a medical centre, a community hub, a cinema, and parking.
Estimated to take eight-10 years, with the playground (stage one) completed.
Expected expenditure for 2020-21 was $6.5m.
34ha green spaces, 34ha general residential, local business and inner-residential zones.
470 lots – 15 per cent reserved for new social housing through Communities Tasmania, two new retail spaces, new public transport-suitable road network.
Expected to create more than 990 jobs, $139m boost for economic activity.
Construction will take up to seven years, with first lots expected to be available by late 2022.
Townhouse development by Revelstoke near Kingston Town Shopping Centre.
18 already built, plans for 36 units pending approval – submissions close July 23.
Traffic fears from unit development
RESIDENTS who already face long delays turning off their street onto a major highway fear the wait may increase with a new development, but others see it as a win for the housing crisis.
Building plans from Cunic Homes for a 20-lot development between the Southern Outlet and Channel Highway have been modified to include 55 units.
Kingborough Council general manager Gary Arnold said council issued the subdivision permit for the 20 lots in February last year.
“This permit provided for lots ranging in size from 511sq m to 1852sq m but did not include approval for any dwellings,” he said.
“The current application for 55 units was lodged in February 2021.”
Developer Brett Cooper said the decision was made to increase the density of units as the housing crisis progressed.
“It’s within the planning scheme to be able to have an inner-residential zone high density,” he said.
“Appropriately zoned land is very hard to find, it has to be land that is serviced by proximity to shopping centres, to roads, especially for younger people with vehicles.”
Mr Arnold said “at least seven” of the units would be social housing operated by Uniting Victoria and Tasmania for vulnerable locals.
“The application is lodged by All Urban Planning Pty Ltd on behalf of the owners 38 Waterworks Road Pty Ltd,” he said.
The development includes garages, one- to three-bedroom homes and a mix of one- and two-storey homes, plus sewer and stormwater infrastructure.
The planning application revealed several trees, sheds and an existing house would be removed from the land, retaining one “significant tree” bordering the Channel Highway.
Council advertised and alerted adjoining land owners about the development, but residents in nearby Moir Road and Breeza Court learned of the proposal only a day or two before submissions closed on Tuesday, sending a flurry of 19 submissions to Kingborough Council.
Lauren Eschler, who has lived in the area for 11 years, supported more housing, but took issue with the number of residents.
“Only the houses backing onto the site were informed by council when effectively it involves everyone in this tiny little section,” she said.
“Our road just cannot support it. At times it can take me 10 minutes to get out onto Channel Highway through (peak hour).”
Ms Eschler suggested halving the number of homes and adding speed bumps and an extra entry and exit point.
Mr Arnold acknowledged “a range of issues” regarding the development needed to be considered.
But Mr Cooper said a “comprehensive” traffic report showed the road had capacity to take on the extra volume of motorists and pedestrians.
“It’s always contentious when you have a high-density development around existing people but the facts are we need to have more accommodation for people and we need to have it where the infrastructure is in place,” he said.
Cunic Homes has built 11 of 38 units for over-50-year-olds at Margate.
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