Debate on high-rises may carry $150k sting

A POLL on whether highrise buildings should be allowed in Hobart could cost the city council up to $150,000.

The poll is on the city’s radar as lobbying by the Hobart not Highrise group, against skyscraper-style developments in the state’s capital, gains momentum.

The group has lodged a petition with Hobart City Council that has more than 1000 ratepayer signatures and, in response, the council is required to hold a public meeting and initiate first steps towards a poll.

It could be just the second electors’ poll in council history and would come at a significant cost to the city.

The council will hold the public meeting at the Grand Chancellor Hotel on October 16.

After the meeting, Hobart not Highrise — which has been running a campaign against plans by the Singapore-based Fragrance Group to build a 210m-high hotel on Davey St and another on Collins St — needs to produce another petition with 1000 ratepayer signatures to trigger an electors’ poll.

If the group is successful it will be the second such vote in Hobart. The previous was in 2007 when the council polled ratepayers during the October council elections on the proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said holding an electors’ poll outside of a council election meant the cost could be about $4 a ratepayer, with a total bill about $150,000.

And Ald Hickey said the results of the vote were not binding.

“It can’t bind us [aldermen] because technically the planning laws make us unable to do so,” she said.

“As a planning authority we have to judge each proposal on what is in the development application.

“But this will give people the chance to have their views heard ... it’s a very, very important issue for the city.”

Hobart not Highrise president Brian Corr said the group wanted an electors’ poll to be held as soon as possible.

“The Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme, where the projects are proposed for, the provisions there are enough for aldermen to say no,” he said.

“But this will be about sending a message. If 80 to 90 per cent is against it then it is a huge one.

“We would be pushing to have it as soon as possible.”

This will be about sending a message. If 80 to 90 per cent is against it then it is a huge one.

BRIAN CORR, HOBART NOT HIGHRISE