Revised high rise project

New plan for Davey St hotel

AN UPDATED proposal has been submitted to council for the Fragrance Group’s most controversial planned development in central Hobart.

In May 2017, the Singapore company lodged development applications with the Hobart City Council for a 120m-high, 400-room hotel at 28 Davey St and a 75m-high, 495-room hotel at 2 Collins St — worth a combined $230m.

The proposals were for the tallest buildings ever earmarked for Tasmania’s capital and provoked significant public opposition.

In March 2018, the Fragrance Group announced it had downsized the height of its Collins St hotel to 50m in response to feedback from the city’s residents.

The developer also put its much higher Davey St hotel on hold and indicated it could reexamine the height of that proposal if the revised Collins St project, and its separate Elizabeth St project, were well received by the authorities and the public.

The smaller Collins St development was refused by council and the Elizabeth St project is in mediation at the state’s planning tribunal.

Now a new application has been submitted for the 28 Davey St site. It is listed on council’s website as being for “demolition, new building for visitor accommodation, function centre and shop”.

On the Fragrance Group’s website listed under the Davey St address is a short statement reading: “Located near to the Hobart waterfront and a short walk from the famed Salamanca Market, plans are being drawn up to develop this site into an upmarket hotel.”

The developers were contacted for comment and further detail on the specifics of the proposal.

Meanwhile, the company’s revised development application for 45 apartments at the old Conservatorium of Music has been recommended for approval by council staff.

“The design of the development is well considered and has a number of positive attributes, with high-density residential accommodation presenting an appropriate fit in terms of use for this location,” the council report says.

“Also considered a positive is the heritage-listed George Davis ABC mural to be adequately protected and incorporated into the development.”