Blanket height bid a folly

PLANNING

I WISH to point out the folly of blanket restriction of the heights of Hobart CBD buildings. Building height should be assessed on merit on a case-by-case basis. On small lots as in Hobart, going high is the only way to ensure a building is of sufficient size to bring in economies of scale and make, for example a hotel, a viable proposition. If this is not allowed, developers will pass Hobart by. The height restriction also means sprawl is encouraged so commercial buildings will be forced into adjoining suburbs such as North Hobart and West Hobart. The argument that views of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington are blocked by tall buildings is spurious. A 1.8m paling fence will block the view if one stands beside it.

I have a feeling a proportion of people who oppose these buildings are people who have moved here for a quiet life and want Tasmania to remain a quaint, 1970s type of place. Tasmania is destined to fall further behind the rest of the country in living standards and incomes if development is stifled. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to allow development to be assessed on merit and if a tall building is appropriate then let it be built. This is potentially a golden era for Tasmania. Let’s embrace it and not let it slip. necessity to maintain our heritage, quirkiness and CBD difference cannot be overemphasised.

We do not wish the Hobart CBD to end up as yet another high-rise concrete jungle like so many other city centres in Australia and around the world. So let’s keep our unique city development in line with what is already here and avoid the pitfalls of high rise and the overdevelopment of our heritage city.

Nondescript

PITY the developers complaining about Hobart’s height restrictions will mean that they can only build nondescript concrete and glass blocks. Take a look around folks, that is already what we have been lumped with!

Hardly opposition

REGARDING Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds’ comments on submissions received against height limits. With a population of 22,000, only 319 people opposing does not represent a vast majority of the community.

Learn some new ideas

MEMO to those town planners and architects who claim they are unable to design attractive, sympathetic and efficient buildings if the height is lower than they would prefer: time to visit multiple other Swamped University of Tasmania tells applicants to look online for accommodation It seems Hobart doesn’t have the capacity to support more students. Shouldn’t UTAS restrict the first-year intake until adequate housing is known to be available? cities that have managed this challenge effectively and learn some new ideas or retrain in another profession that requires no creativity or contemporary thinking. What a sad indictment on the built environment profession.

Lenna regret

I WRITE about the proposal to expand the Lenna Hotel ( Mercury, December 10). Despite the clear recommendations of Hobart City Council planning staff to reject the plan, citing its “location, bulk and appearance” and that it “does not have a respectful relationship to buildings of identified cultural significance”, I was dismayed that the Planning Committee has chosen to ignore this expert advice and to give the green light to it.

In addition, more than 100 submissions were received opposing this development. It will adversely affect outlooks, streetscapes and diminishes the amenity of adjacent Princes Park. Despite a few “tweaks” presented to the committee at the last minute, which slightly diminish its size, the proposed structure remains ugly and inappropriate, and will be a cause for much regret in the future.

Out, up and rentals

GO up, not out, say many city planners — to provide housing, contain infrastructure cost and sprawl, except in Hobart where out, up and rentals are limited.

Cricket interrupted

HORSES for courses but it is a pity the continuity of Sheffield Shield Cricket is interrupted by a more commercially driven form of the game in terms of the BBL.

Disabled spots

FOR those motorists who are issued a disabled person swing tag indicating they can park their vehicle on a metered car space for double the signposted time, where is the button on these new parking meters in Hobart to select indicating the circumstance? No doubt the Hobart City Council parking/information officers will be most disgruntled to see the swing tag?

Pay rise under cost of living

SO we’re being asked to take a 2 per cent pay rise and the last CPI shows Hobart cost of living has increased by 2.7 per cent. Cheers for that!

Take note of Paris

POLITICIANS at local, state and the federal level should all take note of the demonstrations in Paris. People are sick and tired of politicians doing the wrong thing. Yellow fluoro vests are not that expensive!