Chambroad Australia has lodged its major project impact statement for the proposed $65 million Kangaroo Bay Hotel, marking the latest chapter in an eight-year planning battle.
The developer released new images of the 155-room luxury hotel on Tuesday as part of its submission to the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
The project is being assessed by the TPC after former planning minister Felix Ellis declared it a major project in October 2024, removing it from Clarence City Council’s planning authority.
Project director Greg Hudson said the company was confident it could meet the assessment panel’s requirements.
“This $65 million development is more than just a hotel,” he said.
“It’s a vision for a vibrant, world-class destination at Kangaroo Bay for the eastern shore and the southern region of Tasmania,” he said.
The proposal features 37 luxury suites, premium dining and bars, 1,000 square metres of conference space and a wellness centre.
Hudson said the development would create 100 construction jobs and more than 400 ongoing operational roles, injecting $500 million into the southern economy over the next decade.
“The new, luxury hotel will unlock Kangaroo Bay’s potential by creating hundreds of new jobs and be a catalyst for activating the foreshore and attracting further commercial investment,” he said.
“We have been planning and preparing for the delivery of the Kangaroo Bay project for the past eight years.”
The development has faced sustained opposition since it was first proposed.
Clarence City Council previously rejected extension requests from Chambroad and attempted to buy back the waterfront land after the developer failed to meet construction deadlines.
The council’s buyback effort remains before the Supreme Court.
Mayor Brendan Blomeley said at the time the major project declaration set “a dangerous precedent”.
“The City of Clarence has the legal right to buy the land back from Chambroad,” Blomeley said.
“Granting major project status before the legal proceedings have concluded risks wasting a significant amount of public money and resources at a state and local government level.”
The independent assessment panel will now assess the submission against its planning criteria.
The proposal will be publicly exhibited for 28 days, giving community members the opportunity to have their say.
Chinese company Chambroad entered into a sale and development agreement with the council in 2017, purchasing the land for $2.44 million.
Updated: The developer behind a Hobart hotel project says it has the social licence to proceed, pointing to survey data showing 71% community support.
Kangaroo Bay Hotel project director Greg Hudson said the company had “documented evidence” backing the $65 million development.
“The social licence issue for us is really important,” he said. “We’ve actually got the documented evidence that the Tasmanians, the ratepayers, strongly support this.”
Hudson said the consultation process was one of the largest conducted in Tasmania, with about 2,500 people responding.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the waterfront site is currently “a vacant bit of dirt begging for development”.
“A 155-room hotel on the eastern shore of Hobart will be a complete gamechanger,” he said.
Rockliff said the project would deliver public benefit through conference space, amenities and hospitality options.
But Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said the council remained committed to buying back the land.
“Council granted three extensions of time to Chambroad to reach substantial commencement under the sale and development agreement and they failed to deliver,” he said.
“City of Clarence committed to buy this land back in early 2023 and this is what we will do.”
Blomeley said the council would review the submission during the 28-day public exhibition period and prepare its own response for the commission.
The council is pursuing a Supreme Court case to reclaim the site, with Blomeley hoping the matter will be heard “in coming months”.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff also rejected the development.
“Kangaroo Bay is prime public land on the Bellerive foreshore – it should be used for the public’s benefit, not private gain,” she said.
Hudson called for the dispute to be resolved commercially.
“We believe that ultimately there has to be a reconciliation with the council,” he said.
“This is a commercial matter and should be resolved between the parties.”
Hudson expects a planning decision by mid-year.
