Premier Will Hodgman says Government has ‘no aversion’ to Treasury development

DEVELOPMENT of the Treasury Building into a hotel remains on the table, Premier Will Hodgman says.

The Treasury building in Hobart’s CBD has been touted as a suitable site for a boutique, high-end hotel.

THE State Government has not shut the door on potential development of Hobart’s Treasury building, Premier Will Hodgman says.

Mr Hodgman has hit back at Labor’s call for a public conversation on the future of the under-utilised building, saying his Government remains open to ideas.

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The Government had held back on calls for the Treasury to be opened up for hotel developers, citing independent advice that warned other investment in accommodation could be jeopardised.

“Certainly the landscape’s changed,” Mr Hodgman said.

Premier Will Hodgman. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

“We have no aversion whatsoever to having a proper discussion about this.

“Labor were in government for 16 years and did nothing about it.”

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Shadow treasurer Scott Bacon has called for public discussion of the future of the building, which sits between Macquarie and Davey streets adjacent to Franklin Square.

Mr Bacon called on the Government to release its independent advice.

The Premier said documents would be made available publicly if appropriate.

“We will certainly release what we are able to without in any way breaching any matters that are sensitive or commercially confidential,” Mr Hodgman said.

The Treasury has long been eyed by the tourism industry as a possible six-star hotel.

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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief Luke Martin has said the building is in danger of neglect while a small number of bureaucrats call it home.

Developers have previously told the Mercury they would be interested in converting the building, which would come at a cost of $20-30 million.

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Former economic development minister David O’Byrne, who will run in next year’s State Election, said Labor had been preparing to test the market for the building when the party was voted out in 2014.

David O’Byrne.

“When we raised the idea people were very excited about the opportunity and we were working through a process to see if we could make it happen,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“I’m very surprised that no action has been taken to progress that, even to have a conversation with the community about its best use.”

Mt O’Byrne said the Treasury should remain in public hands, with a long-term lease ensuring the public had access to its history.