Skyscraper ban a no-brainer for heritage city

One thing we can now say with certainty: People in Hobart do not want highrise. Everyone, including City of Hobart staff, aldermen, state and federal politicians, knows how the public feels on this issue: no skyscrapers.

A Hobart Not Highrise petition this year collected over 5500 signatures against highrise. Two packed public meetings (at the Town Hall and Hotel Grand Chancellor) passed motions strongly against highrise.

In July, exclusive Mercury polling showed 62.4 per cent of Tasmanians did not support skyscrapers in central Hobart, with 20.1 per cent in favour of skyscrapers and 17.5 undecided.

Some of Hobart’s young architects conducted an online poll in November, showing that 73 per cent do not want highrise. The majority want 45m or lower.

There is anger in the community. How dare someone waltz into Hobart and seek to destroy the look and feel of our beautiful city? How dare they buy up land and act as if the planning laws don’t apply to them? And the absolute cheek of trying to put a 210m skyscraper hotel into a zone designated for 18m.

Hobart Not Highrise has not created this anger, but it has helped to focus it, and bring it to the attention of those elected to look after our best interests. Residents are standing tall to protect what makes Hobart special.

Hobart is a heritage city. It does not need to emulate other cities’ destruction of their built heritage.

Hobart is a historic city. To radically change its skyline is to destroy its very essence.

Mona, our numerous heritage precincts, the mountain and the waterfront are what attract tourists. We’re doing just fine without

Brian Corr

skyscrapers. A recent proposal, to build a hotel on the water shows that there are alternatives to skyscrapers: lateral thinking, lateral building.

The City of Hobart has commissioned a report into height limits, including absolute maximum heights, a ceiling above which no one can go. This will give certainty to all — residents, developers, architects, city staff, aldermen, and other politicians. This report is due by the end of March and will, no doubt, lead to a lot of discussion, followed by a historic decision.

The State Government’s proposed legislation regarding ‘Major Projects’ has just been released for public consultation.

We have serious reservations about consultation across the Christmas/holiday period; people’s minds are on other things.

It is essential that the final legislation ensures, when a development is declared to be a major project, that the local planning scheme be used by the decision-maker (Assessment Panel or Planning Minister). Otherwise, the major projects legislation becomes just a way to bypass council.

With the stakes so high and public opinion so clear, it is unconscionable for any politician to support any highrise building.

Hobart Not Highrise stands with the majority of residents, and ratepayers, who are committed to stopping the destruction of our city. Hobart’s health and wellbeing depends upon it.

Politicians have a rare opportunity to represent the overwhelming will of the people; just ban skyscrapers.