HERITAGE HOT ZONE
DEVELOPMENT V CONSERVATION
DEVELOPMENT in Tasmania’s national parks and use of heritage buildings loom as key election issues with tourism leaders arguing sensible development will help preserve the state’s natural beauty and rich history.
They want an independent panel to examine use of historic buildings and say sensitive parks development will provide funding needed to properly resource the Parks and Wildlife Service.
In the second of its Tassie 2022 series, the Mercury examines development verses conservation and reveals that architect Robert Morris-Nunn’s, right, proposed eco-resort at Recherche Bay, above, has stalled because of a stalemate over the length of lease for the project.
Morris-Nunn hits Recherche Bay stalemate
THE best way to conserve Tasmania’s special values, heritage and wilderness is by allowing sensible development — tourism and development leaders argue.
And they say Tasmania needs to ensure its character is not a victim of the need to stimulate investment.
To do this, they argue, the Parks and Wildlife Service must be adequately funded and resourced after years of neglect, and a state architect position must be re-created — or a committee created to decide whether new proposals are in line with the values of the state.
With its low property prices compared with the rest of the nation — and the State Government’s decision to open up parts of national parks, reserves and crown land for “sensitive and appropriate” tourism — more and more local, interstate and international developers are looking to splash their cash in Tasmania.
The increased interest brings a lot of money, but is starting to attract an increasing amount of community concern and opposition to the proposals.
Among the developments that are encountering increased community opposition include: THE Fragrance Group’s two proposed skyscrapers in Hobart. THE much-debated Mt Wellington Cable Car. THE Kangaroo Bay hospitality and training school. A clifftop resort at Table Cape. EXTENDING a walking track through the state’s remote South-West. HUTS on the South Coast Track. A woodchip export processing facility in the Huon Valley. HELICOPTER flights around Cradle Mountain, Freycinet and Tasman Island.
On top of that is debates about new uses for heritage-listed buildings such as the Treasury Building in Hobart and the public buildings in Launceston’s St John Street, and whether the CSIRO building and University of Tasmania’s Hunter St campus could be better used.
The key reasons usually given for opposing such developments include that they are not in line with the proposed area, would take away from Tasmanian “values” and would damage Tasmania’s brand, heritage and wilderness.
It seems hard to see develop- ment and conversation co-existing.
But those who love Tasmania say that not only can this happen, but it must happen for the state to be thriving in four years.
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin argues that tourism enhances conservation.
“If we get tourists into these areas and they see them, they appreciate the place and want to preserve it,” he said.
“More of these award-winning small-scale tourism projects completed by 2022 will help.
“We have some of the best operators in the world who really care about heritage and the environment.
“But we need to have a serious conversation about the funding of Parks and Wildlife and resourcing.
“The funding and resourcing of Parks and Wildlife has been a pimple on the backside for Tasmania. It needs to be addressed.”
General manager of the worldrenowned Saffire Freycinet resort Justin King has seen what can happen when conservation and development intertwine.
As part of its high-end offering, Saffire has developed “signature experiences” that capitalise on Freycinet’s stunning natural environment without detracting from it, Mr King said
“At the high end of the market, guests want to have a positive impact,” he said. “They see the beauty of the area and they want to ensure that is protected.
“I think it’s a great way Tasmania can move forward.”
While award-winning local architect Robert Morris-Nunn’s Kangaroo Bay project on Hobart’s Eastern Shore has attracted opposition from some locals, he consistently champions “sensible” development of Tasmania’s heritage and wilderness areas.
He said striking the balance between development and conservation was “absolutely critical” for Tasmania.
“I think it has to be, I think if we don’t construct a framework for development for what I would call the spirit of the place we risk going down the wrong path,” he said.
“There has to be a mechanism that looks at the proposed development and tests whether they are in the spirit of the place.
“It wouldn’t just be management plans for parks, it would be a
We are at risk of destroying the cultural values of the place if we don’t balance this [development and conservation] right architect ROBERT MORRIS-NUNN
statewide approach. You would have people like Richard Flanagan on this committee for example — people that have expressed some real vision about what this island should be.
“We are at risk of destroying the cultural values of the place if we don’t balance this [development and conservation] right.
“Look at the middle of Paris. They have maintained the charm of the area with their developments. They don’t allow massive buildings in there. That’s what we need to follow.”
As well as a committee to decide whether developments were in line with the “spirit” of a place, Professor Morris-Nunn said the Heritage Council needed to be strengthened.
Council member and architect specialising in the re-use of historic buildings, Genevieve Lilley, said a strategic approach was required for Tasmania to conserve and make the most of its heritage buildings.
“In other places it is perfectly normal to do modern development in heritage places,” she said.
“And that is what makes Tasmania unique. A lot of our build- ings have not been touched for 80 to 100 years. In Sydney, the average life of a bathroom now is three years.
“It’s very important that people be less afraid of the process around heritage, because that is how we are going to maintain these fantastic buildings.
“Look at the Agrarian Kitchen in Willow Court, look at Stillwater in Launceston, that kind of stuff sets Tasmania apart.”
Ms Lilley said with opposition to developments rising in Tasmania, it was vital that a state architect be reestablished. The role was scraped when the Liberal Party took government in 2014.
“I think it’s absolutely critical that the state has a state architect,” she said. “People are getting quite militant about [developments]. It’s really important that there is someone who is the champion of this change in Tasmania and can ensure it is done in the right way. Also advising from a strategic level, for example on Macquarie Point.
“There has been a lot about height when it comes to development in Tasmania, but that is one of 10 or 20 issues that will shape us.”