CBD height push builds

RISING public demand may force the Hobart City Council to hold further public meetings over building heights and the city skyline.

The council decides tonight if it will prepare a report on setting a nondiscretionary height limit of 45m in the CBD and 18m in the Sullivans Cove area.

But the council’s governance committee will consider a motion tomorrow night calling for a public meeting on October 16 in response to a petition by the Hobart Not Highrise group.

The petition called on the council to: PROTECT Hobart’s skyline and prevent outsize buildings obscuring views of the mountain and waterfront. SUPPORT and defend current planning rules for building height limits in Hobart. REJECT development applications for buildings that breach height limits, such as the Fragrance Group’s proposals for an 84m high hotel in Collins St and a 179m hotel in Davey St. HOLD a public meeting for residents to vote on these issues in an electors’ poll.

The requirement for the council to hold a public meeting when petitioned is that it must be signed by either 5 per cent of voters in the municipal area or 1000 voters, whichever is less.

Hobart Not Highrise’s petition contained 5279 signa- tures, including 1383 from City of Hobart postcodes.

The council must also invite public submissions on the issue and provide a summary of all submissions to the meeting.

A report prepared by council to the governance committee said the first three actions of the petition had been noted, but the planning authority would “assess and determine the application in accordance with its legislative responsibilities under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993”.

“It is required to bring an open mind to consideration of the application and any apprehension of bias or perception of prejudgement of the application is grounds of review of the council’s decision,” the report said.

Hobart Not Highrise treasurer Peter Black said the group had a number of agenda items for the meeting ready to go, which they also hoped to take to the public via an elector’s poll.

“Anybody who likes the way Hobart is and wants to preserve everything that makes it unique should come along,” he said.

In June, urban design expert Leigh Woolley delivered a report to the council, which included recommendations that future CBD projects should be restricted to 75 metres high and not block mountain views.

Public submissions on that report closed on Friday and two public meetings were held last month.

Council will vote tonight on Alderman Helen Burnet’s motion for an urgent report on a 45m height limit for the CBD.