Council cool on huge project

HOBART City Council has voiced opposition to a scaledup mega-development at Droughty Point.

The Skylands development is in the Clarence area, but Hobart City Council was asked to weigh into the controversy by Planning Minister Michael Ferguson.

At Monday’s committee meeting councillors voted against lifting the urban growth boundary, which would allow the developers to build in areas marked as no-go zones.

Councillor Helen Burnett vehemently opposed the developer’s plan, saying it would have dire knock-on consequences for the Hobart region.

“Good planning is at stake here,” Ms Burnett said.

“It flies in the face of urban growth boundaries, it flies in the face of the 30-year greater Hobart plan, the wider potential impact on traffic, and the potential cumulative impacts of extension to urban growth boundaries.”

Alderman Will Coats said there was an urgent need for housing and there was insufficient evidence to prove the development would worsen traffic congestion in Hobart.

Mr Coats said the council should remain neutral until harder evidence was found.

Alderman Simon Behrakis said the development provided much-needed housing and would “almost certainly” go ahead with or without Hobart City Council’s support.

But he was outnumbered by councillors Mike Dutta, Bill Harvey, Jeff Briscoe, and Helen Burnett who voted against the proposal.

The full council will now vote in the issue.

In a letter put forward to council by the developers, Skylands promised this area would become the “Jewel of Tasmania” under their watch.

The development has been opposed by some local residents and the Friends of Tranmere and Droughty Peninsula Association.