CLUBHOUSE BEACHED

Report says development unfair on residents

A SURF lifesaving clubhouse at Kingston is no closer to reality with the development to be recommended for refusal at tomorrow’s council meeting.

The Kingston Beach Surf Lifesaving Club’s project, estimated to be worth $1.2 million, has been on the drawing board for several years.

The building would include clubrooms, facilities and storage for the surf lifesaving club, 24-hour public toilets and showers, an 80-seat restaurant and a takeaway coffee and ice cream shop.

It would be sited on council land at Osborne Esplanade, which is home to a public toilet block and storage sheds.

In April 2014, Kingborough Council called for expressions of interest for use of the block and in 2015, entered a memorandum of understanding to develop it with the surf club and restaurateurs Osborne Esplanade Pty Ltd.

An application was submitted in December 2015, but was withdrawn to consider changes after negative representations from the public.

The new application, which will go to a vote tomorrow, was submitted by a new planning consultant for the surf club last November.

Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass said previously the council would look at the ownership of the site if the application was approved, but said there were a number of options.

However, 63 representations were received during the public exhibition period of the latest proposal, with 37 against and 26 in favour.

The Kingston Beach Community Association has long expressed concern about the project, including that architects had prioritised the restaurant over the toilet block.

A report was compiled for the council by an independent planning consultant and concluded the site and scale of the development would result in “unreasonable impact on surrounding residents”.

“The proposed uses are not only incompatible with the surrounding residential development, but the uses proposed will not primarily serve locals, but just as much, if not more, the wider community,” it said.

“The primary area of concern with the restaurant is the outdoor dining component, which is likely to considerably exacerbate noise impact on neighbouring residences.”

The project was promised $300,000 from the State Government and a further $300,000 from the Tasmanian Community Fund.

Franklin MP Nic Street said the funding was not transfer- able to another project and urged councillors to approve the development.

“The current facility on the site is 30 years past its use-by date and is a community embarrassment and completely unacceptable for the growing number of people who use Kingston Beach,” Mr Street said.

“It is about time the council realised the importance of progressing this important piece of community infrastructure.”

A lifesaving club spokeswoman did not wish to comment until after the meeting.