The Friends’ School new gym plus Grinners Dive Bar extension to operating hours applications up for approval at HCC

Plans for a redevelopment at a top Hobart school and an extension of opening hours for a popular bar both have objections from the public, but are recommended for approval by council. SEE THE CONCERNS >>

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PROPOSALS for a significant redevelopment for one of the state’s top schools and an extension of operating hours for a popular bar are both recommended for approval by the Hobart City Council.

The council’s planning committee meeting on tonight will consider an application by The Friends’ School, which is recommended for approval by council planning staff.

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The Friends’ School new gym development in Carr St, North Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

The proposal includes the redevelopment of the school’s current gym into a teaching space and building a new gym located on the existing tennis courts fronting Carr St.

The development is proposed to cater to existing student numbers, planning documents state.

There were eight representations from the public objecting to the proposal raising concerns such as the impacts on the surrounding residential area and traffic.

Specific concerns included that the new gym “does not positively contribute to the streetscape, negative impacts on the adjacent heritage buildings, will impinge on views of the mountain for some nearby properties and the scale will contribute to wind tunnelling effects.”

One representer said basketball “should be prevented from occurring due to the noise impact of bouncing balls.”

The Friends School new gym development in Carr St, North Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

The council’s senior roads and traffic engineer in assessing the proposal said the development was appropriate if it was limited to use by the current number of staff and students only.

“If it is to provide for additional public use without provision of additional, parking, I would be prepared to consider a recommendation for refusal,” the engineer said.

Meanwhile, also recommended for approval is an extension of operating hours for Grinners Dive Bar in Elizabeth St to be open until 3am Monday-Thursday and 4am on Friday and Saturday.

The bar currently can trade until midnight every night, but a council report said the venue has had been operating much later over the past two years “after obtaining an out of hours liquor licence without confirmation that planning approvals matched those hours.”

Interior view of one of the rooms at Grinners Dive Bar in North Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Representations opposing the application were received, some from nearby neighbours.

“I have a restaurant at 128 Elizabeth St...my building is continually being damaged and this occurs after hours. I am also daily cleaning up vomit and cigarette butts from the front of my restaurant and urination on the wall.”

Another said “we do not believe Midtown is a nightclub area for drinking all night until the early hours of the morning.”

Beef, pork and chicken tacos. Grinners Dive Bar in North Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Council staff found the proposal was “not out of character” with the existing late night venue hours in the immediate area.

In April, planning officers had recommended council refuse the Superstar Karaoke bar’s application for extended hours to 3am because it would have an “unreasonable impact” on surrounding residents.

However, the recommendation was rejected 10-2 by elected members.