5pm at Latrobe Council Chambers
Monday 3 December 2012
Save Our Seaside Village (‘SOSV’) executive and members together with two Town Planners (around 12 people) will be available at 4.50pm for a photo if required outside Council offices, Gilbert Street Latrobe.
The SOSV will meet tonight with the Latrobe Council (‘Council’) to outline its opposition to a new town centre for Shearwater.
We will be joined by Jeff Wolinski from Renaissance Planning (Melbourne) and Michael Ball (Hobart), town planners who will release a Master plan for Shearwater including plans for a major supermarket and related shops.
“This report proves that any major development can and should occur in the existing town centre. There is simply no good reason to establish a new town centre. We support development, growth and jobs in the existing town centre. This report is factual, evidence-based and proves any new town centre will split the community and cause untold economic and social disadvantage, said Guy Barnett, Spokesperson for SOSV.
“The development application for the retail shopping complex in Alexander Street and the new town centre has now been approved. However, in a bizarre twist both the Council and the developer have refused our request for a copy of the plans. What have they got to hide?
“This is a ludicrous situation. The public has a right to know. The approval of this development is happening behind closed doors and the community has every reason to be upset. A work shed is already on site and workmen coming and going. The Council has approved the development but the public can’t see the plans. It is not on and the SOSV will fight for a fair go and common sense to prevail.
“What regional Tasmanian town would want their council to support a new town centre 700 metres up the road from their existing town centre? This is crazy planning” Mr Barnett said.
In addition SOSV is opposing the Council’s prohibition on developments in the existing town centre of 250m2 or more. The Council is unfairly restricting existing Tasmanian owned and operated retailers from competing against new retailers up the road in the new town centre. This is a cruel hoax on law- abiding, rate-paying retailers that are currently fighting like crazy to make ends meet. It has a direct adverse impact on all existing retailers including the butcher, baker, newsagent, supermarket, bottle shop and chemist.
Town Planner Michael Ball said “In my thirty years’ experience as a town planner in Tasmania this is the only instance where development options that were previously permitted have been removed in this way.
“It is likely that the only way new retail development can be attracted to the new site is by removing the potential for competition from the existing Shearwater town centre. These changes reinforce my opinion that Council has a clear strategy of changing the function of the existing Shearwater town centre and the creation of a new town centre on a greenfields site. The Council’s preclusion of developments of more than 250 square metres apply not just to a single shop but an application for two or more specialty shops with a combined gross floor area of 250 square metres. This change came in to effect on 24 April 2008,” he said.
Paul Foster, owner and manager of Tempt Bakery & Cafe said “The Council’s attack on our freedom to fight back against the competition up the road is a disgrace. This decision must be overturned. My bakery and cafe is in serious jeopardy now.”
“This current situation is anti-competitive, unfair and now entirely unacceptable. There is no level playing field at all. The Shearwater community is fighting back. People power and common sense can prevail, Mr Barnett said.
“More than 2800 petitions were recently tabled in State Parliament saying no to the establishment of a new town centre at Shearwater. In a community of 4200 people this sends a strong message. We are very pleased with this response.
“The development is now approved but no plans are available to the public and Council is blocking our right to compete. We do not live in Communist China. This is Tasmania and we will keep fighting for a fair go,” Mr Barnett concluded.
Guy Barnett
