Clouds Gather over Kangaroo Bay Development

Media release – Clarence City Council, 8 September 2020

Clarence City Council does not do secret deals

Clarence City Council held a workshop last night and Alderman received a project briefing by proponents on the status of a hotel and hospitality development at Kangaroo Bay.

At the conclusion of the briefing Chambroad made a request to council to consider an extension to achieve substantial commencement of the development.

The project is dependent on two of Tasmania’s hardest-hit industry sectors, tourism and hospitality, and tertiary education.

The proponents are seeking an extension to the project to enable all parties to better understand future demand for a hospitality school and how relevant industries are recovering from impacts of COVID-19.

“There is no secrecy here, just good governance,” Clarence City Council Mayor Alderman Doug Chipman said.

“This project is strategically important for the development of tourism, accommodation and night economies in the City of Clarence.”

“Clarence currently lacks high quality, 5 star accommodation built around iconic buildings. This project, and others, have the capacity to be a game changer for Clarence”.

Included in last night’s discussions was the option of council managing the site for community purposes until the development is able to take shape.

Chambroad also revealed that they are ready to commence the development once an education provider is finalised. Chambroad has proposed a series of regular, six monthly updates to keep the council and Clarence community updated on progress.

As the deadline for the Kangaroo Bay development is approaching, it is anticipated the future of the site will be considered at the council meeting on 12 October 2020.

A full report, including recommendations to council, will be included in the meeting agenda and available publicly on Thursday, 8 October.

Key council dates – Kangaroo Bay development

2017
May: Approval of the development and construction of the hotel and hospitality school.

November: Clarence City Council sold the land to Chambroad Australia for $2.44 million.

2018
February: A revised Development Application was approved, revising the building design of the hospitality school.

July: A building approval for stage 1a, site preparation and reclamation, was issued.

2019
May: Clarence City Council wrote to Chambroad Australia, stating there is a six-month period in which they can commence construction. If there has not been substantial commencement by the deadline, council will consider a buy-back of the land.

June: Clarence City Council Mayor Alderman Doug Chipman travelled to China to meet with Chambroad to discuss the project’s status.

2020
June: Publicly disclosed that a buyback clause exists for council if substantial commencement on the development has not started by November.

July: Clarence City Council wrote to proponents once again outlining the upcoming deadline.

October: Deadline for substantial commencement of works. If there has not been substantial commencement or an extension of time, council may consider a buy-back of the land.

Artists impression of hospitality. Image courtesy Hunter Development.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Planning spokesperson, 8 September 2020

Clarence City Council Must Hand Kangaroo Bay Back to the Community

Eastern shore residents never wanted the king-sized Kangaroo Bay development that’s gobbled up public open space and would create a traffic and parking nightmare.

We urge the Clarence City Council to refuse a further extension of the time for starting construction, and instead to call for development tenders that fit the original community-endorsed Kangaroo Bay Plan.

Enough’s enough – public land should be for public good.

So far the promised hospitality school is just a pipedream, and residents are left with a fenced-off prime foreshore site and the haunting prospect of an oversized development years off in the future.

This development has been mired in murky dealings between the Office of the Coordinator General and the proponent. It never had widespread residents’ support.

Development of the Kangaroo Bay foreshore should have the interests of residents, not developers, at its heart. We hope the Council will keep this at the forefront of their minds when they make a decision about the future of the foreshore at their October meeting.

On the Council website, as of 8 September 2020: