Tasmanian Planning Commission gives Cambria Green deadline

The planning commission still has questions over whether a man who signed letters on behalf of seven companies in relation to the Cambria Green development actually had authority to do so.

Cambria Green homestead. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE Tasmanian Planning Commission has given Cambria Green’s lawyer until Monday to produce documents critical to hearings that will allow progress on the mega-development.

The commission has written to lawyer Shaun McElwaine demanding proof Liu Keijing was authorised to sign letters on behalf of two companies that own land crucial to the development giving consent to planning scheme amendments that would allow the project to proceed.

The commission asked in May why Mr Liu’s signature had been used on owner consent letters representing seven different companies.

Cambria Green Agriculture and Tourism chief executive Ronald Hu’s letter stating Mr Liu had authority to do so was last week knocked back by the commission.

A letter sent from Tasmanian Planning Commission chairwoman Ann Cunningham to Mr McElwaine on July 4 said the body’s research showed Mr Liu was only a minority shareholder in one of the seven companies — Shenglong Hong Kong Investment — and one of two directors of Cambria Green Agriculture Limited. The second director was Xiaojun Hu.

The commission said it needed evidence that Mr Liu was authorised to act on behalf of those companies by close of business next Monday.

“The Commission considers there is a potential deficiency in the consent letters and requests you to provide evidence by COB Monday, 15 July 2019,” Ms Cunningham’s letter said.

“The Commission considers this information is necessary to determine whether it has jurisdiction to proceed with the matter.”

No further correspondence has been uploaded on the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s website.

The commission is considering whether to permit changes to the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council planning scheme to allow the $138 million Dolphin Sands development to proceed.

The council voted in November to change its rules so it could go ahead.

The 3185ha Cambria Green project would include a series of villas, units, hotel rooms and other facilities as well as a crematorium and medical services.

Documents released by the project’s proponents earlier this year suggested most of the profits from the project would flow to overseas investors, but also estimated guests would spend up to $39 million a year on other East Coast services once it was fully operational.