Rosny Hill Friends Network Annual Report

Report – Rosny Hill Friends Network, 18 October 2023

ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023

During the Year October 2022 – October 2023:

We continue to monitor progress on the Rosny Hill Hotel Development:

(Background: As soon as the revised permit was granted in January 2021, Robert Morris-Nunn announced that Hunter Developments would seek to on-sell it.

We are seriously concerned that a new developer will have taken no part in the process to date, and therefore have no awareness and understanding of the importance of this area to the local and wider Tasmanian community.)

• In January 2023, Clarence City Council granted a 2-year extension of Hunter Developments’ DA approval. This happened by delegation to council officers, thus it did not need to come before council and hence come under public scrutiny.
• In September, in response to a question from Councillor Tony Mulder, CCC councillors were advised that a draft sub-lease for the land proposed for development of Rosny Hill had been received and referred to the Planning Officer for review and comment. It was suggested that councillors would discuss this at a future workshop.
• We understand this was sent out with limited distribution, including to Parks and Wildlife Service and Hunter Developments (but not Rosny Hill Friends Inc).

It remains a matter of concern that after two years, so many things about the project remain unclear:

o   the boundaries of the area to be leased for the development have never been defined, giving rise to concerns that most of the present Nature Recreation Area could be included in the lease.

o   the terms of the lease remain a ‘work in progress’;

o   it is unclear whether the Minister for Parks or a Clarence Council representative will be responsible for making this determination and signing the lease;

o   there has been no update on Hunter Development’s public statement of an intent to on-sell the Development Permit, shortly after it was granted at the conclusion of the Appeals process in January 2021;

o   there remain strong concerns within the community about current and future management responsibilities for the Nature Recreation Area.;

o   there is no clarity about the management and monitoring of adherence to the conditions of the Permit.

o   the environmental impact on the reserve has never been adequately assessed and it has not been shown to meet the reserve purpose or management objectives.

We continue to monitor this process and to ensure that all the permit conditions are adhered to, particularly with respect to future management plans.

RHFN has always contended that, due to its large scale and accommodation component, the Hunter development does not comply with Rosny Hill’s reserve purpose, which is for public recreation and education, consistent with conservation of the natural and cultural values of the reserve.

In other activities

In 2019 RHFN prepared an alternative low key proposal for day facilities on Rosny Hill.

We plan to seek an opportunity to re-present the Rosny Hill Friends Inc alternative proposal for Rosny Hill to councillors in the near future.

Letters have been sent to CCC re:

o    Requesting further information on the draft lease.

o    Requesting access to the delegations register.

• Anne and Michael Geard have continued to monitor CCC meetings and draw attention where reference is made to Rosny Hill (and Kangaroo Bay). We are deeply appreciative of this ongoing commitment.
• We continue to support the work of Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) and Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT).
• As individual members we participated in consultation processes of the Clarence City Council: the City Heart Plan, Kangaroo Bay hotel development (and land buy back) survey and the Victoria Esplanade and Queen Street Master Plan.

We recommend that Rosny Hill Friends Inc. continue as a group that can be a voice for our local community, and to contribute and support other groups who are fighting against proposals that are inappropriate and unsustainable.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude and admiration for the many people who have supported and contributed to this important work.

• Supporters – for their financial support, but especially their ongoing reminder that we are trying to prevent wanton destruction of urban green spaces and species habitat that will be lost forever to this development.
• Strong ongoing support was provided by Greens Franklin member (now leader) Rosalie Woodruff
• The RHFN committee and members, and the talents and skills you bring – truly the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.