Tempers flare at Cambria hearing

A HEARING over a proposed development on the state’s East Coast became heated as the proponent and objectors clashed over the authenticity of key documents.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission held the hearing in Hobart yesterday over the proposed $138 million megadevelopment at Dolphin Sands, near Swansea.

The hearing, chaired by Ann Cunningham, focused on the issue of landowner consent.

Cambria Agriculture and Tourism’s Melbourne-based chief executive Ronald Hu was questioned repeatedly over the signing of consent documents.

The hearing heard the owner of Cambria Agriculture and Tourism, Liu Keijing, had signed multiple documents on behalf of landowners.

The commission had previously asked why Mr Liu’s signature had been used on owner consent letters representing seven different companies.

“He [ Mr Liu] is the person with the authority to represent the consortium from China and I’m authorised to represent the consortium to deal with matters related to this development here in Australia,” Mr Hu told the hearing.

He also faced questioning from representors — people given permission to speak at the hearing.

In response to a question from Dr Peggy James, Mr Hu said Mr Liu was the appropriate person to sign consent forms.

“He is the 100 per cent owner of the companies, he’s the 100 per cent owner of the titles,” Mr Hu said.

“This is about landowners’ consent, he is the privileged person to sign.”

Representors Alain Coltier and Ross Irving questioned Mr Hu about the process behind obtaining the owner consent signatures, including the time frame for them to be sent, signed and returned. Other technicalities have been presented, including the correct name of the Cambria company and Mr Hu’s appointment to the role as chief executive.

Cambria Green lawyer Shaun McElwaine objected to many suggestions being put by representors, calling on Ms Cunningham to disallow certain lines of questioning.

On occasions during the proceedings, Mr Hu called questioners out for talking over the top of him.

Plans for the development were first announced in April last year.

In November, the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council voted to amend planning rules to allow the project to go ahead before the matter went to the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

The commission is now considering whether to permit changes to the council’s planning scheme to allow the development to proceed.

The 3185ha Cambria Green development includes a series of villas, units, hotel rooms and other facilities, as well as a crematorium and medical services.

Ms Cunningham said at the start of the hearing that no determination on the landowner consent issue would be made yesterday and that the panel would reserve its decision to a later date.

The hearing continues.