It’s important to preserve what is special about Hobart. Hobart is a low-rise heritage city and should remain that way. And Hobart is currently thriving – without high-rise buildings. High-rise glass / concrete towers would put this prosperity in danger.

Hobart Not Highrise notes that the record amount of development (Mercury, Friday 7th December) coincides with the campaign to keep Hobart a low-rise heritage city. This is not an accident. Development has not been hindered.

We make the following points:

  • Hobart is a low rise heritage city and should remain that way.
  • Council has the ability to consider what makes our city unique and special, and propose specific controls relevant to Hobart.
  • Council has the ability to put a sensible and practical hard ceiling on maximum building heights.

The proposed absolute maximum height for this site is 18 metres and the developer wants 2 glass / concrete towers each close to 50 metres.

The City’s planning officers have given 12 serious well-explained reasons why it should be refused.

The Urban Design Advisory Panel raised issues re height, impact on existing heritage buildings, view-lines, setbacks, and states that it is “inappropriate in a low scale urban landscape area.” How true!

We support the officers recommendation that the applicants should consult with the aboriginal community regarding significant aboriginal connections with the area.

There is an extra issue with this development. If it’s approved, it could easily be a precedent for other high-rise towers popping up around the city, and quickly destroying Hobart as a low-rise heritage city. Please don’t let that happen.

We urge you to support the officers’ recommendation to refuse.

Deputation re Building Height Standards

It’s important to preserve what is special about Hobart. Hobart is a low-rise heritage city and should remain that way. And Hobart is currently thriving – without high-rise. High-rise glass / concrete towers would put this prosperity in danger.

The state government supports what is being proposed. An email from Premier Hodgman (Page 2), in June 2018 states:

  • the Liberal Government does not support Hobart becoming a home for sky-scrapers.
  • Hobart is a low rise city and should remain that way.
  • councils have the ability to consider what makes their local municipal area unique and special, and propose specific controls relevant to their local area.
  • it is important to preserve what is special about Tasmania.
  • with the Hobart City Council having the ability to put a sensible and practical hard ceiling on maximum building heights.

We believe that the proposed changes are in line with Premier Hodgman’s statements.

Hobart Not Highrise supports the officers’ recommended changes to the planning schemes.

We offer support, also, to any reductions in these heights as Council might see fit.

If you look back at the HnH petition with over 7,000 signatures, a number of packed meetings, letters and articles in the Mercury, and extensive coverage by ABC radio and WinNews, you will see that the vast majority of the public also want these changes. Public sentiment has not waned over time.

The officers’ report (page 607) shows that “the vast majority (86%) of respondents support the concept of including absolute maximum building height limits in the planning schemes. (5.7)” and “only one respondent suggested that they [i.e. the proposed limits] were too low.(5.9)”

We ask you to support the proposed changes, or lower, as you see fit. You have the support of the state government, the planning staff, the vast majority of residents, and Hobart Not Highrise.

Brian Corr, President, Hobart Not Highrise, 12th December 2018

Dear Mr Black

Thank you for your email of 21 March, providing me with a copy of your email to the Mercury. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Comments in the media are often necessarily edited, so I am happy to explain the Government’s position in relation to skyscrapers.

The Government is currently introducing a Tasmanian Planning Scheme, and last year established a consistent set of Statewide Planning Provisions (SPPs).   Councils, including Hobart, are now preparing their Local Provision Schedules (LPS), which will indicate how the SPPs will apply to their municipal area.   This means that councils have the ability to consider what makes their local municipal area unique and special, and propose specific controls relevant to their local area.

The Tasmanian Government supports investment and development in the State, however we are satisfied that the legislative framework that underpins the new planning system, including the ability of councils to set specific controls relevant to local areas, provides due and proper process to address any concerns you have on building heights.

For my part, I stand by my comments that it is important to preserve what is special about Tasmania.  As stated during the election campaign, the Liberal Government does not support Hobart becoming a home for sky-scrapers.  Hobart is a low rise city and should remain that way.   The Statewide planning scheme provides the tools for local government to manage these issues, with the Hobart City Council having the ability to put a sensible and practical hard ceiling on maximum building heights.

Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.

Yours sincerely,

Hon Will Hodgman MP

Premier