Architect vote put on hold

A HOBART City Council motion calling for the reinstatement of a state architect in Tasmania was not heard at last night’s council meeting, with moving alderman Helen Burnet interstate.

Ald Burnet’s proposal last night was to lobby for the return of the position, which was abolished by the Hodgman Government in 2014.

But Ald Burnet is in Adelaide because of an illness in the family.

She told the Mercury the motion would be discussed at the next meeting on November 20.

She has said council had supported the state architect position.

Labor established the office of the state architect in 2009.

Peter Poulet held the pos- ition until 2012 but left to take up the same position in NSW.

He was not replaced because of budget constraints and the Liberals scrapped the role when they took government in 2014.

A Government spokesman last month said funding the position was not a priority use of taxpayer funds.

Also at last night’s meeting, the council endorsed a report detailing 178 public submissions for the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme amendments relating to CBD height standards.

Aldermen debated the issue at length and eventually agreed to endorse the report and recommend to the Tasmanian Planning Commission that the scheme be modified in several ways.

People can view the changes at the council website.