School’s concern over ‘multiple red flags’ from 30-high apartment proposal

A proposal for a 30m-high block of apartments next to a private girls’ school has generated intense interest in the community with hundreds of submissions made to council.

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A PLAN for a 30m-high apartment building on vacant land adjoining a senior girls’ school in central Hobart has attracted significant community concern.

A development application was lodged last month with the Hobart City Council for a 40-apartment complex on the former petrol station site at 202-206 Macquarie St, which has been vacant since the early 2000s.

A council spokeswoman said more than 470 public submissions had been received in relation to the plans, which will be considered by the full council after a special planning meeting on October 12.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Macquarie St Apartments development. Picture: SUPPLIED

The senior campus of private girls’ school St Michael’s Collegiate adjoins the vacant site on three sides and principal Adam Forsyth said the plans raised multiple red flags.

“The fact that it’s about 30m high is a significant concern and that highest part is right up against our border. We’re a girls school and there’s about 40 apartments planned, so there would be significant overlooking of our site — overlooking classrooms, play areas, where we hold assemblies and chapel,” Dr Forsyth said.

St Michael's Collegiate Principal Adam Forsyth is concerned about a proposed 30m-high apartment building that would overlook the school’s senior campus and boarding school. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Designed by local firm Jaws Architects, the $36 million Macquarie St Apartments would feature 40 units, a first-floor childcare centre, two ground floor commercial spaces and basement parking for 45 cars.

Dr Forsyth said the building would also block a significant amount of light for the school, which has been on the site for 125 years.

“Whatever goes in there needs to treat the surroundings of the school — and the type of school it is — very sensitively,” he said.

“That campus is our senior school campus and it houses our boarding students, so we’ve got students from all over the world who live there 24/7. It’s a significant hub for the Collegiate community.

“I don’t think it’s something that is at all in keeping with the streetscape along that side of Macquarie St and adding 40 apartments worth of cars into that area, and a child care centre, has the potential to impact a lot of people who use Macquarie St,” Dr Forsyth said.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Macquarie St Apartments development. Picture: SUPPLIED

A planning report prepared on behalf of the developer New Pleasant Investments No. 2 Pty Ltd said the project would “contribute to the vibrancy of the city” and improve the streetscape by redeveloping the vacant site, which is still owned by Mobil Oil Australia.

202-206 Macquarie St, Hobart, which is owned by Mobil Oil Australia and is the site of a proposed 40-unit residential development and childcare centre. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The proponents and opponents will make representations via videolink to a special planning committee meeting at 4pm on October 12 before the plans go to a full council meeting at 5pm.

“Given the large amount of community interest in this proposal, there will be many people who will be listening in to the special meeting and then the decision afterwards of council,” planning committee chairwoman Helen Burnet said.

She said the move to online meetings via the HCC’s YouTube channel allowed for greater community engagement, which was welcome given the “flurry” of development applications in recent months.