Delays cast doubt over $50m training facility

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 DOUBTS have been cast over Kangaroo Bay’s multi-million dollar hospitality training school and hotel development due to the wait for educational providers to commit to the project.

The Mercury understands developer Shandong Chambroad, a multi-billion dollar Chinese petrochemical company, needed two hospitality training service providers to confirm their involvement before they could proceed.

It’s understood the University of Tasmania has expressed interest in being part of the $50 million facility, with others being interstate educational providers.

An international standard hospitality training facility has been an integral part of the development since day one, and it’s understood it would not proceed without the commitment from the service providers.

The Tasmanian Co-ordinator-General and Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman arrived in China on Saturday where they were to meet the Chambroad chairman to get a clear picture of the reasons for the delay.

Questions have been raised over the benefit of the trip by Ald Chipman’s colleagues, given it appeared the project had been stalled by delays in securing service providers and not problems the developer.

The Clarence City Council last month threatened to buy back the valuable waterfront land if no progress was made within six months.

Ald James said the had not stalled.

“It’s my view the trip to China won’t achieve anything because it’s all dependent on the service providers,” he said.

“I don’t think one service provider is enough for the hotel development and hospitality training facility to proceed.

“Should any of the remaining two service providers decide to withdraw, it’s my with Richard development understanding the development would not proceed.”

Community group Kangaroo Bay Voice said they had also been told the project was waiting on decisions from the hospitality providers.

Cr Tony Mulder also pressed concerns over China mission.

Local firm Hunter Developments, which has been assisting Chambroad with the project after it was transferred from them to the Chinesebased company more than a year ago, said they remained “very optimistic” about the chances of the development going ahead.

A spokesman for the Office of the Co-ordinator General said the China trip would strengthen the relationship exthe with Shandong Province and meetings with the Government of Binzhou would discuss investment in agriculture, tourism and education in Tasmania.

The spokesman said realising the Kangaroo Bay development was also a “high priority”.

“The Office of the Co-ordinator-General is working closely with Chambroad and other key parties to progress the education components of the project,” he said.

“The opportunity will also be taken to meet with the chairman of Shandong Chambroad Holdings to emphasise the importance of the Kangaroo Bay development to Tasmania.”

The pair are due to leave China on Thursday.

Doug Chipman