The Tasmanian Greens today continued to voice concern in the House of Assembly about the ongoing issue the George Town community is facing regarding historic Regent Square.
Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said that despite the fact that Regent Square has now been heritage listed, and that an overwhelming majority of the local community are against the development of the Square, the Minister for Children, Michelle O’Byrne MP, continued to allow the push for a LINC Hub and Child and Family Centre to be built on that site.
“So concerned are the local community, that a large group have today travelled to Hobart to demonstrate their plight on the lawns of Parliament House,” Mr Booth said.
“I will be attending that demonstration to support the George Town group, and have today tabled a Motion, on behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, once again seeking support from the House and calling on Ms O’Byrne to put an end this 3 year long battle the George Town community has been subjected to,” Mr Booth said.
Text of Motion tabled today by Kim Booth MP:
Kim Booth MP on tomorrow to move –
That the House notes:
1. On the 17th of October 2012, the George Town Council passed a motion to change the zoning of the 200 year old Regent Square, despite protests from a packed and vocal gallery against the rezoning application;
2. The rezoning was passed simply to allow for the proposed $6m development of a LINC Hub and Child and Family Centre;
3. In February and March this year the Tasmanian Planning Commission met at George Town to hear evidence regarding the rezoning of Regent Square to allow for the LINC Hub and CFC to be built, however the hearing has yet again been adjourned to allow for more evidence;
4. During the hearing of the Planning Commission it came to light that errors had in fact been made regarding the area of Regent Square which has been highlighted by the architect as suitable to house a LINC Hub and CFC highlighting that serious flaws remain in the planning and design of this project and cementing concerns that Regent Square is not the most suitable site;
5. By way of petitions and representations, including a petition tabled in the Legislative Council containing 1,800 signatures, it is believed that up to 90% of George Town residents do not want their historic, and now heritage listed, Regent Square to be compromised with any further buildings or developments;
6. So concerned and passionate are the George Town community, that a large group have travelled to Hobart today to voice their concerns on the lawns of Parliament House; and
Further:
7. Calls on this House to recognise the long and intense battle that George Town residents have waged over the past 3 years to save Regent Square;
8. Congratulates the George Town community for standing up for Regent Square; and
9. Calls again on the Minister for Children, the Honourable Michelle O’Byrne MP, to once and for all abandon her plans to desecrate Regent Square and to use an alternative site for the CFC which will be greatly appreciated by the George Town community.
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass Tuesday, 19 March 2013
