Grander plan needed

THERE has been a great deal of comment about the Fragrance Group’s skyscrapers proposed for Hobart but little debate about solutions.

The latest move by the Hobart City Council is to seek advice from a local architect Leigh Woolley about possible ways to amend the Hobart Planning Scheme to address building height and related issues. I question whether council should start its public consultation using Mr Woolley’s proposed 75m maximum as their starting point.

They should ask the community first, including if existing buildings are too high.

Secondly, why use the planning scheme to limit building heights when changing schemes is such a normal prac- tice?

The people of greater Hobart, should have assurance that height limits cannot be increased by the first developer who seeks a change to the planning scheme.

The approach taken by the Victorian Government over the last two years provides an interesting alternative approach.

In 2015, in response to a number of very high buildings being approved in the Melbourne CBD, the Victorian Government put in place an interim planning control, a moratorium, while a more permanent policy was developed.

Over the next 12 months a policy was developed through consultation with the general public, the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government Architect. What resulted is a compromise that does not suit everyone, but it raises the question, should the Tasmanian Government be involved in developing a policy or legislation regarding very high buildings in Hobart and other Tasmanian cities? Peter McGlone Tasmanian Conservation Trust