Height vote on the edge

THE future of Hobart’s skyline will be debated on Monday night and councillors Mike Dutta and Zelinda Sherlock may hold the balance of power.

Last Monday, the council planning committee endorsed Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds’s amendment to lower heights in the CBD from the 60m recommended in the council-commissioned Leigh Woolley report to 45m.

Cr Dutta says he has received more than 200 emails regarding the issue, many pleading with the new councillor to help push the policy through.

“I have had a half-a-dozen people come into my shop to talk about the issue,” he said.

“I am still open to listen to the debate and hear the facts. But I’m elected to represent the people of Hobart and not just one section of Hobart.”

Alderman Damon Thomas will miss the vote due to an overseas trip.

That leaves Aldermen Simon Behrakis, Tanya Denison, Marti Zucco and Peter Sexton to likely vote against the motion.

Councillors Helen Burnet, Bill Harvey, Holly Ewin and Ald Jeff Briscoe will likely support it.

Ald Zucco said he was not convinced the recommendations put forward by the committee were appropriate.

“A group of aldermen who have no formal training in planning matters have decided to pluck a number in respect to what they believe the heights of Hobart should be without any social or economic analysis,” he said.

Cr Sherlock remains undecided on the matter but said she had been inundated with emails calling for her to support the 45m height cap.

“I want to make an informed decision as opposed to an emotive one,” she said.

“It seems that Hobart takes an adversarial tone on a lot of issues.”

In today’s Talking Point, Property Council of Australia Tasmanian executive director Brian Wightman urges the council not to ram through the height restrictions before a proper analysis.

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr said claims were being made by some vested interests that high-rise buildings would deliver the world, with no evidence provided.

“Low-rise heritage cities are the ‘gems’ of the world.” he said.

The decision on Monday will form the council’s recommendation to the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which will have the final say.