Council row flares at Mac Point plan

HOBART Lord Mayor Ron Christie has accused poll rival Anna Reynolds of grandstanding over her comments about the new Macquarie Point masterplan.

Hobart aldermen Anna Reynolds and Bill Harvey both criticised the State Government yesterday over excluding the council from any discussion about the new masterplan unveiled this week.

But State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein said the Government had held ongoing dis- cussions with senior officials at Hobart City Council about the Macquarie Point Development Corporation Amendment Bill and the proposed new masterplan.

“Once the legislation is passed, the proposed new masterplan will be submitted to the council and other stakeholders for consideration,” he said.

The masterplan will allow for residential housing, a Northern Suburbs light rail and more than 50 per cent of the site to be retained as public space.

Elements of the 2016 Mona vision, including the proposed reconciliation park, will also remain.

Ald Harvey said it was disappointing to find out about the new plan via the Mercury on Tuesday.

“I read about it in the paper and that’s poor process,” he said.

“Regardless of the design, the process was not transparent and it was dropped on us out of the blue.”

Ald Reynolds said all three levels of government needed to work together on such a significant site.

“Macquarie Point is meant to be central to the Hobart City Deal,” she said.

“Yet having a new draft masterplan and new legislation on the table without the council knowing about it until it appeared flies in the face of the philosophy of City Deals.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said it was inappropriate for Ald Reynolds to comment publicly without seeing the masterplan.

“It would have been more appropriate had she discussed the matter with the general manager or myself, instead of grandstanding to the media,” he said.