Pub toasts move to reject complex

THE owner of a popular Battery Point watering hole says the build of a multistorey apartment complex in the area would leave the beer garden “effectively dead”.

The proposal at Knopwood St was for the construction of 26 new apartments across two podiums.

The development application for the project was knocked back by the Hobart Planning Committee on Monday and is set to go before the full council next week.

Preachers owner Chris Cooper said the building would overshadow the pub.

“It’d be devastating, we would never see the sun. The beer garden would be effectively dead,” Mr Cooper said.

“The whole thing with Preachers is people bring their kids, bring their dogs, have a beer in the sun, that’s us.

“In winter we’re quiet and spring, summer, autumn that’s when we’re busy.”

The development application for the project received more than 300 representations against it from members of the community.

Most were in opposition and many were concerned about the impact on the much-loved pub.

The build was also recommended for refusal by council officers.

It is the second time an apartment development has been proposed for the site.

“At the time we thought that was out of scope for the area as well and this time they’ve come back to us twice the size,” Mr Cooper said.

“We’d only just got to accept the old one which was going to block our sun.”

He believed the council had struck a balance between heritage and development.

“I think they’re doing an excellent job of maintaining the growth that we’re experiencing in Hobart but also protecting what makes us special, what makes us a great place to live,” he said.

“I have faith they’ll have that balance on Monday.

“I lived in Sydney and Melbourne for a while, there’s nowhere like Battery Point.”