Aldermen pulled up

Watch what you say about building heights, says GM

HOBART aldermen have been instructed to watch what they say publicly about building heights and potential skyscrapers in the city.

HCC general manager Nick Heath has written to aldermen reminding them of their obligations as a planning authority after an approach from highrise hotel developer the Fragrance Group.

Fragrance wants to build a 179m tower hotel in Davey St and a 84m hotel in Collins St — with development applications for both proposals to be publicly advertised soon.

Building heights and how high they should be in Hobart have been discussed at length after a report by urban design consultant Leigh Woolley.

The council has held public information sessions and will hold a meeting next month after high-rise opponents Hobart Not Highrise submitted a petition to the council.

Mr Heath told the Mercury that representatives of the Fra- grance Group wrote to him and individual aldermen last month seeking private briefings on the proposals.

“Reference was also made to aldermen having the responsibility to objectively consider development applications,” Mr Heath said.

He said the Fragrance Group was advised that all aldermen “were aware of their obligations when determining an application as the planning authority”.

Fragrance was also told that it was up to individual aldermen to agree to briefings, but the City Planning Committee chairman Jeff Briscoe would prefer any briefings to aldermen be given in the public portion of a City Planning Committee meeting.

The Fragrance Group’s concerns over aldermen’s obligations follows a motion made by Ald Helen Burnet last month that council staff look at an absolute height limit for buildings in the city.

Ald Burnet proposed the investigation of an 18m limit in the zone where Fragrance wants to build the two hotels.

Ald Burnet says her motion is not related to the Fragrance Group’s proposals.

“It’s certainly nothing to do with what has come before us or what is set to come before us,” she said.

“I’ve been on the council for 12 years now. I know how to deal with this and I’m not compromised at all by putting up the motion. I did it for the thousands of people who want an absolute height limit looked at,” she said.

The issue of Hobart aldermen’s roles as a planning authority came up in vigorous debate over Ald Burnet’s motion last week.

Deputy Mayor Ron Christie said he didn’t think any of the aldermen would support the “sky towers” but was quickly reminded by Ald Philip Cocker, Ald Jeff Briscoe and Ald Eva Ruzicka of their planning authority obligations.

Ald Cocker publicly rejected the assertion that he was against the proposals.

“I have not had the chance to make my mind up on them,” he said.

Ald Ruzicka told Ald Christie: “Stay away from that. We are a planning authority.”

A Fragrance representative declined to comment when asked by the Mercury about the approach to council.