Sandy Duncanson
IN appealing to the Full Court of the Supreme Court, the Hobart City Council is almost implementing a “gated communities” policy on the residents of Hobart.
This policy would see the creation of exclusive enclaves. The question must be asked: Why is the Council spending enormous amounts of money implementing a gated communities policy when they could have been enacting an affordable housing policy? After all, there are thousands of homeless people living on the streets during this bitterly cold winter. The Council is acting disgracefully.
According to Aldermen Helen Burnet:
If the original decision had been to allow this accommodation to proceed, we would not be in the situation of Council having to appeal this decision. The ratepayers of Hobart would be outraged if they were aware of how much money had been wasted on this type of appeal.
Sandy Duncanson concluding:
There is an urgent need for housing in Tasmania at the moment with many people turned away from shelters because they are already full. Fitzroy Place is, in many respects an ideal site with good access to the city, bus stops and shopping facilities. It is simply unconscionable that the HCC would vote against such an important development for some of our most marginalised people.
Sandy Duncanson
Solicitor
Tenants’ Union of Tasmania
