Project no shore thing

Meeting looms amid rising doubts over Kangaroo Bay plan

THE proponent of a hotel and hospitality school development on Hobart’s Eastern Shore has asked to meet Clarence City Council next week, as aldermen raise fresh doubts over the project’s future.

The $80m development has been proposed for Kangaroo Bay, with the council in June saying it had a clause to buy back the land if substantial work on the project had not started by November. The council sold the land to Chinese company Chambroad in 2017 for $2.44m, and the company last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tasmania for the hospitality school component.

A council meeting this week heard the developers would meet with council on Monday.

Council could either decide to enact its buyback clause or grant the developer a further extension to begin work.

It is understood council wrote to Chambroad and UTAS in July urging action.

Several aldermen have cast doubt about the future of the development, including Alderman Luke Edmunds who said: “We don’t want Kangaroo Bay turning into the Macquarie Point of the Eastern Shore.

“Since joining the council I’ve supported extensions to the original DA to allow the development to occur,’’ he said. “It’s time for the proponents to put up or shut up.”

Alderman Tony Mulder said he did not believe a building permit had yet been lodged, which he said put into question the November timeline.

“I think it’s unlikely that the hotel will commence within the current planning permit,’’ he said. “The question becomes then is will council extend the permit, and I will be urging my colleagues not to do so, to not extend the contract and get this sorry mess behind us.”

Alderman Brendan Blomeley said the development had been a “divisive” issue for the community and he said it was “deeply concerning” substantial works had not been started.

Alderman Beth Warren said she did not vote for the previous extension and would not vote for another.

The developers and UTAS were both asked to provide an update on the development but declined to comment to the Mercury.

In June, Chambroad said the project continues to progress, but said the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed some processes down.

A state government spokeswoman said the government was supportive of the project, but would not answer if it had been asked to partly fund the project, nor would it rule in or out providing financial support.