New Kangaroo Bay twist

A CONTENTIOUS proposal for an $80m hotel and hospitality school on Hobart’s Eastern Shore will come before Clarence City Council again next week amid concerns by the proponent over councilimposed conditions.

The council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday night will again consider the Kangaroo Bay project, less than two months after council granted an extension of time to get the development under way.

Council officers have recommended the council revoke its decision from a special meeting in late December and reconsider its position on the conditions it imposed.

If approved by aldermen, council would grant an unconditional 20-month extension for substantial commencement to October 2022 and negotiate the conditions in place to allow the council to be updated on the project.

Chambroad raised concerns with some of the conditions adopted by the council following the December meeting.

Council general manager Ian Nelson said under current circumstances, the council could lose oversight of the project if it did not provide an unconditional extension of time.

Mr Nelson said there could be consequences for the council if the extension was not granted, such as losing its right to buy back the land.

“I have been talking to Chambroad to try to reach an understanding that protects the interests of ratepayers and council, while also recognising Chambroad’s rights under the sale and development agreement,” he said.

In October, Chambroad’s request for another two years to start the project was rejected by the council after a tied vote.

More than 2200 people signed a petition urging council to reject the extension and buy back the land.

Before the next meeting, Mayor Doug Chipman said the council had to reconsider its position for legal reasons.

Alderman Luke Edmunds said he and his colleagues were led to believe Chambroad had accepted the conditions.

“I hope this haggling is not simply an attempt to run down the clock to extinguish the ‘buyback’ once and for all,’’ he said on Thursday. Alderman Richard James also questioned the need to reconsider the conditions.

Alderman Brendan Blomeley said it was a disappointing development, but added: “What has dogged this project since day one has been the brazen, albeit effective misinformation campaign waged by a noisy minority hell bent on stopping development in our city,’’ he said.

Chambroad has been contacted for comment.