Sale of state treasure gets trust backing

THE National Trust has thrown its support behind Government plans to sell Treasury buildings in Hobart.

National Trust Tasmania chairman Nicholas Heyward said the “adaptive reuse” of the building would keep Tasmania’s heritage alive and well.

“We support the sale, but we would like to make sure it is well looked after,” he told the Mercury yesterday.

Mr Heyward said an advantage of the sale — perhaps to the operator of an international hotel — would be that people could see the interiors such as the old Supreme Court and the original Cabinet room.

“At the moment people can’t see them,” he said. “We would hope that there were sufficient covenants on the building to make sure they are well looked after.”

Treasurer Peter Gutwein announced on Budget day that funds from the Treasury Building sale would go into consolidated revenue.

The Treasury building was last valued at $20 million in 2014, but Mr Gutwein expects significantly more when the building is offered for sale.

The Mercury has suggested that sale funds should be quarantined and reinvested in maintaining other heritage buildings around the state or spent bringing back into state hands those buildings important to our history.

Mr Heyward said there were many ways a government could encourage the preservation of heritage.

“If the Government changed the rules to encourage preservation that would be a wonderful thing,” he said. “There could be planning concessions or tax concessions or grants.”

However, a spokesman said the Government already spent considerable funds preserving Tasmania’s heritage.

Franklin House in Launceston and Clarendon House at Nile had received significant funds from general revenue recently, he said.

He said the Treasury buildings were not well suited to modern office accommodation and the Government believed there were better options.

“In other hands these beautiful buildings will be able to be put to a better use, one that takes full advantage of its heritage character and location,” the spokesman said.

Labor treasury spokesman Scott Bacon said the Liberals did not take the decision to sell the building to the election

“The question that needs to be answered is what do they intend to use the sale proceeds for,” he said.

“With rumours the Liberals will sell the Burnie Port, Treasurer Gutwein must be upfront with Tasmanians about his asset sale agenda.”