Oohs, ahhs and doubts over plan

THE vision for Hobart’s waterfront has earned praise from both sides of politics but the year-round swimming pool on the edge of the River Derwent has raised eyebrows.

The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania and Destination Southern Tasmania yesterday unveiled a concept plan for the Castray Esplanade precinct, including an expansive ocean swimming pool.

The idea is being put forward by the tourism industry as a way of “reimagining” the CSIRO headlands should the organisation move from its current Battery Point home to Macquarie Point.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the idea was worthy of consideration as part of a City Deal with the Federal Government.

“It’s a move that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investment here in Hobart and we will have more to say on that in the coming months,” he said.

“It’s this type of bold, exciting vision that’s going to drive Tasmania’s future and, importantly, cement Hobart as arguably one of the best small cities in the world.”

The plan is for the CSIRO site to make room for a boardwalk around the headlands to allow public access to the waterfront.

The new waterfront precinct would also include space dedicated to Hobart’s maritime heritage.

Labor leader Rebecca White said it was exciting to see a plan encourage more people to use the waterfront but said it was a shame the Government had not developed a masterplan for the waterfront.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said he was impressed with the concept design, which reminded him of Brisbane’s Southbank.

“We would welcome this as part of the City Deal,” he said.

“But the most important thing is it’s a people place.”

Destination Southern Tasmania chief executive Alex Heroys said it was a once-inlifetime opportunity to develop the space with three options: adaptive reuse of the current buildings, partial redevelopment and major redevelopment.

“We have worked with the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania and renowned tourism architects Cumulus Studio to present an initial vision of what Castray Point could become, if the CSIRO site becomes available,” he said.

Questions have been raised about the practicality of an outdoor swimming pool operating throughout winter.

Cumulus Studio principal architect Peter Walker said workshops were held with the tourism industry before the concept design was created.

“Swimming pools are communal places and hold a strong position in the Australian psyche and this was tapping into that,” Mr Walker said.

“I think you will have diehard swimming fans that will use it all-year-round.”