City to probe setting height limits in stone

THE Hobart City Council will investigate implementing strict height limits on buildings around the capital.

Following heated debate at last night’s council meeting, aldermen voted 7-2 to pass Ald Helen Burnet’s motion.

The motion called for an urgent report to outline what scheme amendments were needed and the time it would take to set a limit on height to a “non-discretionary” maximum of 45m in the CBD, commercial and urban mixed zones.

The report would also cover a non-discretionary height limit of 18m in the Sullivan’s Cove area.

Ald Burnet said more protection was needed for Hobart’s skyline before urban design consultant Leigh Woolley’s modelling on height standards in the CBD was completed next year.

Only Deputy Mayor Ron Christie and Ald Marti Zucco voted against the motion.

Ald Burnet said specific purpose zones, such as hospitals or buildings of public benefit, could be open to discretion.

“[The report] would require information on the definition of discretion [and] a more precise definition relating to height so there is more certainty for developers but also for members of the public,” she said.

Lord Mayor Sue Hickey voted for the motion, but with reservations.

“If we were to get a 46m development that met all the criteria ... it would be ridiculous to take away the discretionary allowance. It is only a report ... but I do hope we maintain the discretion,” she said.

Ald Zucco voted against the motion because of ambiguity surrounding the wording of “and the time it would take to set a limit on height” as officers could report a discretion above 45m.

Ald Christie said there was no way he would support a maximum height of 45m.

Ald Anna Reynolds said: “The community is pretty confused about what our height limits are in Hobart.”

In June, Mr Woolley delivered a report to the council, which included recommendations future CBD projects should be restricted to 75m.