A new $40 million shopping centre in Devonport looks set for construction after the state government successfully pushed through legislation to overturn its previous rejection.
Stony Rise Village, which will include a Woolworths supermarket, cafes, shops and a medical centre, was initially denied planning approval by the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC).
However, the Liberals introduced a bill specific to the centre to Parliament that would allow the project to go ahead regardless of the TPC’s decision.
The bill passed House of Assembly last week and the Legislative Council on Wednesday night, with the support of Liberal, Labor and some independent MLCs.
Independent Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said the development was “important” for his electorate and would provide a “most-needed piece of infrastructure”.
“I’ve weighed up the pros and cons of this legislation and for the good of my community and representing the people of Mersey electorate, I will support this legislation,” he said.
“Whilst Hobart appears to be going gangbusters with development and huge pieces of infrastructure in the pipeline, smaller Tasmanian regional areas are doing it tough.”
“We have had very few major projects currently surfacing in my region on the north-west coast.”
However, fellow north-west independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said the situation surrounding the project was “frustrating” and argued that the TPC’s decision should not be overridden.
“I absolutely acknowledge the general support for this development and the development of this nature in this area,” she said.
“But it should meet the current requirements and if it doesn’t, either alter the process through a proper agreed process or resubmit the proposal and see if it can meet the requirements.”
Greens Hobart MLC Cassy O’Connor warned that the bill set a “precedent” for future developments.
“Will we be back here after the government’s review [into kunanyi/Mt Wellington] is finished with a nice bespoke piece of legislation to approve the Mt Wellington cableway cable car?” she said.
“It is not off the table.”
“Will we be backing here when some developer who can’t get their expression of interest development up inside a public protected area wants a bespoke piece of legislation so they can have their huts in one of, if not the last, great coastal wildernesses in the world along the south coast track?”
O’Connor and other MLCs Meg Webb, Ruth Forrest and Bec Thomas opposed the bill.
