Rates free for ‘uni grocer’

themercury.com.au

Urban Affairs Reporter

A TASMANIAN grocery store chain has not had to pay rates on its new Sandy Bay property because the land is still zoned for the University of Tasmania.

The Hill Street Grocer opened its 10th store in the state in Churchill Ave in October last year.

The store was built on the site of the old UniPrint building, which was demolished after the university closed its

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 in-house printing operation in 2017.

The new development also includes a medical centre and cafe.

Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath told the Mercury that while the council was formally advised of the change of ownership, registered at the Titles Office in August 2019, it was a partial change of ownership only.

“The Office of the ValuerGeneral will split the prior property and create a new property, which will be in the ownership of Hill Street South Property Group Pty Ltd,” he said. “The city of Hobart will thereafter be advised formally through the supplementary rates process.

“The University of Tasmania will continue to be responsible for the entire rates on 2 Churchill Avenue until such time as the city is formally advised by the Office of the Valuer-General of the property split through the supplementary rates process.”

As a property with an educational purpose, the university is entitled to an exemption from paying general rates.

At about 700 sqm, the independent grocery store is the biggest of the Hobart area Hill St stores and the third largest across the state, after Longford and Devonport.

Mr Heath said the zone purpose statement for the site included providing for “a diversity of activities primarily catering for the education, recreation and entertainment of its student population while also encouraging a closer integration with the community.”

“The planning application for the Hill Street site indicated that while the use would be available to the general public, it would primarily serve the large number of students, staff and on-campus accommodation beds, and was intended as an enhancement to existing on-campus facilities in line with the direction of universities throughout Australia.”

Hill Street Grocer marketing and communications manager Emma Munnings said the business expected the “long and complex” process of separating the property titles should be completed soon.

“The certificate of title has been issued, but the ValuerGeneral is currently creating the Property Identification Number,” she said.

Ms Munnings said although the store opened shortly before the end of the university year, it was “very popular” among students and staff.