Cafe strip parking bid

HOBART City Council has opened the door for the redevelopment of a North Hobart car park, in a bid to create more housing and address the suburb’s parking pains.

Aldermen last night voted for an urgent report into the council pursuing expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the Condell Place car park.

The report is expected to take a month.

HOBART City Council has opened the door for the redevelopment of a North Hobart car park, in a bid to create more housing and address the suburb’s parking pains.

North Hobart traders have been seeking urgent action to increase parking in the precinct, reporting lost trade and worsening parking conditions over the past 12 months.

In July last year Council rejected calls to transform the Condell Place car park at the rear of the Elizabeth St strip into a multi-level residential block and car park.

There had been two informal approaches to the council, from separate developers, seeking to submit proposals for the site.

Alderman Marti Zucco’s motion at last night’s Council meeting called for an urgent report on any issues for the Council immediately pursuing expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the Condell Place car park.

After about an hour of debate, Ald Zucco’s proposal was passed 7-4, with Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet, councillors Bill Harvey and Holly Ewin voting against. A report on the path forwards for an EOI process is due to be completed within a month.

Ald Zucco said as there was already a “vast and extensive” body of information about parking in North Hobart, it was time for Council to act.

“This matter has been before us Council on a number of occasions over the past 15 years,” he said.

Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said Alderman Zucco’s motion was a “significant disrupter” of processes already underway to take a detailed look at North Hobart’s parking needs.

Councillor Burnet asked General Manager Nick Heath for information on what developers had expressed interest in building at the publicly owned site.

Mr Heath said: “I think there has been an emphasis on car parking.”

Prior to the meeting Councillor Reynolds had taken the unusual step over reassuring ratepayers about Council’s commitment to conflict of interest rules.

This was in response to concerns raised about Ald Zucco owning commercial property next to the Condell Place car park.

Ald Zucco has rejected any suggestion of a conflict of interest. Mr Heath told the meeting any EOI for the Condell Place site would be conducted with “probity, integrity and transparency”.