ROSNY HOTEL PLAN DUMPED

Plan withdrawn, but developer readies for a fresh bid

THE developer behind a controversial Rosny Hill eco-hotel plan has pulled the plug on the $50 million project — for now.

Hunter Developments has withdrawn its application to build the five-star hotel.

Architect Robert MorrisNunn said the company had withdrawn its plans but hadn’t given up on the idea.

“It is our intention to review the project and resubmit an amended planning application once there is an agreement with the State Government and Clarence City Council as to the type and scale of development,” he said.

A $50 million plan for a hotel development on Rosny Hill has been withdrawn, Clarence City Council says, but the developer maintains it will be revised and resubmitted.

Hunter Developments had submitted an application for a five-star project with the plan featuring 82 rooms and 18 guest pods.

Architect Robert MorrisNunn said while the company had now withdrawn the application, it aimed to resubmit it.

“It is our intention to review the project and resubmit an amended planning application once there is an agreement with the State Government and Clarence City Council as to the type and scale of development that is in accordance with National Parks and Reserve Management Act,” he said.

“We are still very much of the belief that a development, such as we have proposed, is a very positive outcome for the reserve, which will greatly enhance the every day public use of the whole of the area, restore the ecology of the entire hillside and at the same time be a major new tourism venue of significant benefit for Tasmania.”

Acting Clarence City Council general manager Ian Nelson confirmed Hunter Developments had withdrawn its application for the Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area.

“In my role as a Statutory Officer under the LUPAA [Land Use Planning and Ap- provals Act] I had raised concerns that the development as it stood may not be consistent with the requirements of the National Parks and Reserves Management Act,” Mr Nelson said. “As a consequence, Hunter Developments have now withdrawn their development application.”

Convener of the Rosny Hill Friends Network, Peter Edwards, congratulated the developer on the decision.

“Clarence council will now need to consider whether the whole issue is largely about council’s failure to communi- cate, and do the necessary research,” he said in a statement,

He said there should have been better public consultation when the idea was raised in 2013 and that the group would continue to monitor the plan.

“Noting this announcement just prior to an election, the Rosny Hill Friends Network will continue to closely observe what council does next in respect to the crown land reserve.

“The next elected Clarence council can this time consult adequately on their community’s vision for the reserve.”

Greens candidate for Clarence City Council Tom Allen hailed the withdrawal of the application, which came after a community campaign against the plan.

“This outcome shows that people power works. This was a traditional grassroots community campaign. Kudos to the Friends of Rosny Hill Network, who weren’t anti-development,” he said. “They just wanted a fair and transparent process and a small cafe on the site. Instead, they got an untransparent process and a massive hotel.”