Ire over nature reserve hotel bid

OPPONENTS of a proposed hotel at Rosny Hill have held a “snap action” to highlight the impact of the development on the hill.

About 30 people attended the gathering at the hill’s lookout yesterday.

Friends of Rosny Hill Network Inc president Beth Rees said the event aimed to raise awareness of the public comment period around the development, and to highlight the hotel’s size and scale.

Ms Rees said Rosny Hill was “a little gem of Hobart”.

“This is privatising public land for private profit,” she said.

“It’s actually state government owned and Clarence Council manages it.”

Hunter Developments wants to build a $50 million luxury hotel at Rosny Hill.

The development application lodged in July almost halved the number of rooms in the original proposal from 100 to 60.

A proposed function centre was scrapped from the new plans which helped decrease the building footprint to 3850sq m, or about 1.8 per cent of the crown reserve land.

The development by architect Robert Morris-Nunn will also include a restaurant and terrace, open public space, viewing platforms and walking trails.

The proposal also features a management plan for the Rosny Hill Reserve that aims to ensure community interaction and involvement.

Professor Morris-Nunn has said the development aims to improve public access to Rosny Hill and fund the regeneration of the surrounding bushland.

The building would be built into the hill below the level of the existing carpark, to take in the site’s sweeping views of Hobart and the River Derwent.

The proposed development has been lodged with Clarence City Council and is open for public comment until October 14.

In July last year 300 people attended a public meeting at the Rosny Hill bowls club, where the council was asked to revoke its preferred development deal with Hunter Developments.

Original plans for the hotel were withdrawn from the council in September 2018, before being resubmitted in July.

The Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area is reserved land under the Nature Conservation Act but the Clarence City Council manages the area.