Clarence City Council has voted to refuse an urban growth boundary amendment for the controversial Skylands mega-development proposed for Droughty Point.
Developers wanted another 58 hectares added onto the current boundary, further up the peninsula’s hills, in their bid to build around 2500 homes across six neighbourhoods.
It’s attracted consirable opposition – a council survey last year found roughly two-thirds of respondents were against the boundary adjustment, while more than 5000 people have signed a petition against the overall development.
Mayor Brendan Blomeley said Council refused to support the request on the basis that it did not align with the 30-year Greater Hobart Plan, was not in line with broad community feedback through consultation and sought to densify a region too far away from major centres.
“Council didn’t see enough in the proposal to warrant the amendment request, however that does not preclude the proponents from coming back to council with an alternative proposal for us to consider,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“For now, we have welcomed a further discussion with the proponents in an attempt to address concerns with their current proposal.”
At the meeting Council CEO Ian Nelson read out a letter from land owner and developer Greg Carr.
“Without additional housing above the current UGB to help ensure success of the neighbourhood centres, the Master Plan isn’t economically viable,” said the letter.
“We’ve invested heavily in the plan and are dedicating 34 per cent of our land to parkland, instead of just five per cent required; these parklands will be big enough to bring back much of the flora and fauna that disappeared long ago.”
