RAILROADED
Mayor’s plea over Mac Point access road
GLENORCHY’S Mayor says the reactivation of the northern suburbs rail corridor is under threat by a proposed new road that is part of development plans for Macquarie Point.
Ald Kristie Johnston will tonight address Hobart City Council members, urging them not to approve a development application lodged by Macquarie Point Development Corporation.
The Glenorchy City Council has made an official representation against the application for a new access road through the 9.3ha site. The application has been recommended for approval by HCC planners, but Ald Johnston said it would prevent the establishment of light rail along the existing northern suburbs corridor.
THE reactivation of the northern suburbs rail corridor is under threat by a proposed new road at Macquarie Point and the potential for the billion-dollar waterfront site is being sold “far short,” says the Glenorchy mayor.
The Glenorchy City Council has made an unusual representation against a development application submitted by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation for a new access road through the 9.3ha site.
Mayor Kristie Johnston will address the Hobart City Council meeting tonight to urge it not to approve the application, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers.
Approval would allow construction of a road through the site plus a new slip lane on the Tasman Highway.
Ald Johnston said this would prevent the establishment of light rail along the northern suburbs corridor as it passes through where the new road would go.
“This planning application is a desperate and shortsighted attempt at development for the sake of trying to keep up the appearance of progress at Macquarie Point,” she told the Mercury.
“This key strategic site is just being frittered away with ad hoc developments that are so far removed from the Mona vision that it would be laughable if the consequences for the greater Hobart region weren’t so dire.
“The proposed road development would prevent the rail corridor from continuing through Macquarie Point to access the CBD. This is in direct contravention of the Mona vision, the Hobart City Deal commitments to provide a public transport service along the rail corridor to the Hobart CBD, the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme, and the State Government’s public commitments to preserving the rail transport corridor.”
The council officers’ report said the location of the proposed road was considered to be “in accordance with the requirements of the planning scheme” and would not prevent “a future rail connection with the north”.
Ald Johnston, a longtime advocate for light rail in the northern suburbs, said for the Macquarie Point site to be successful, it must have a transport corridor to and through it, connecting people to the CBD and beyond.
“While I appreciate that [MPDC chief] Mary Massina may be under pressure to sell some land quickly, and may think the proposed road would make it more attractive for the escarpment development idea, what she is actually doing is selling the real potential of Macquarie Point far short,” she said.
“This proposed road would ensure that Mac Point remains only accessible to an elite few that can afford to live or work there.”