Letter to Mercury Editor (so far unpublished):
The Lord Mayor has called for trust in the community, but does he trust his ratepayers? Why then was the community kept in the dark about the excision of a significant section of the Battery Point Planning Scheme?
Never mind that the block – adjacent to Narryna and containing the original Mures restaurant, rows of Georgian cottages and antique shops and the nonconforming crane depot at the centre of it all, forms the gateway to Battery Point.
Never mind that Tasmania’s heritage is the top tourist drawcard alongside its wilderness and coast. And never mind that several commercial spaces in Montpelier Retreat are vacant, or yet to be built.
Is it too hard to develop the site within the spirit of the scheme that has preserved Battery Point’s unique character for the past 35 years, following decades of demolition and high rise development?
Why is it easier to rezone part of Knopwood’s original land grant to ‘mixed use’ under the Sullivan’s Cove Scheme to permit a 10m tall apartment building, car park, shopping centre, office building or hotel and watch the rates roll in? And why is it happening before the crane depot is sold? Is a development application in the pipeline?
The Council’s information session on the amendment it had already approved was a disappointment. The audience endured a rambling presentation without supporting slides or handouts, and was told the information was available on the website. A vigilant reader of council minutes might have noticed. Sorry HCC, active disclosure does not necessarily make for a transparent and consultative process. Or trust, as you call it.
Some background …
Hobart City Council is removing the block bounded by Hampden Road, James Street, Knopwood Street and Montpelier Retreat from the Battery Point Planning Scheme.
The block is to become part of the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme’s mixed use zone. Development of up to 10m tall commercial buildings with 100% site coverage is permitted in this zone.
HCC conducted a review at ratepayers’ expense ($9850 for the consultant’s report) but did not consult the community before considering the amendment.
The review followed an approach by the owner of a site on the block, formerly occupied by Elliot Bros crane depot, who ‘had shown some interest in rezoning of the site’. The site is currently on the market (apparently under contract at the moment).
According to the real estate agent’s website, the owner of the Elliot Bros site has plans drawn up for a possible development. According to the Mercury (30 Jan 2012), the plans are for an apartment block.
Had the owner/developer been required to make an application for rezoning – or a combined development and rezoning application – in the usual fashion, the application and supporting material would have been at his/her own – not ratepayers’ – expense, and subject to the usual BPPS planning application and consultation process.
You have until 6 June 2012 to make your submission to the Hobart City Council to stop this residential block – more than 2/3 filled with historic terraces – being rezoned ‘mixed use’ to allow development of 10m high commercial buildings with 100% site coverage.
The block was part of the Rev Knopwood’s original 12 hectare land grant back in the early 19th Century. In the past some of the cottages were home to sail makers and net makers servicing the nearby wharves. The pattern of early development is still clearly evident in the precinct.
The departure of Elliot Bros – a crane company – that had been on a site within the precinct since the 1950s has opened up a development opportunity. Under the current zoning any development must comply with the Battery Point Planning Scheme i.e. be sympathetic to the historic values and amenity of the area.
What kind of development might be proposed is unknown, because the Council has initiated the amendment rather than requiring the owner or developer to do so. Possible uses if the rezoning goes ahead would include multistorey apartments, hotels, shops, offices, carparks or a mixture of all of these.
Battery Point Planning Scheme was brought in to protect these buildings from exactly what is happening now.
Ed: The writer has been identified to the Editor but chooses to be anonymous
