Tasmania’s peak architecture body has welcomed the federal and state government plan to redevelop the Dowsing Point defence site, saying it could deliver the medium-density housing Tasmania badly needs – if the master planning is done right.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff toured the 31-hectare Derwent Barracks site last weekend.
Early planning suggests it is slated to support up to 1,000 new homes.
The site, about 10km north of the Hobart CBD, will include a mix of family homes, townhouses and medium-density options, alongside parks, community infrastructure, local shops and a future ferry terminal.
The Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has now thrown its support behind the project, calling it a rare chance to deliver “missing middle” housing close to jobs, services and transport.
Chapter President Daniel Lane said the scale and location of the site set it apart.
“The scale and location of the Dowsing Point site presents a rare opportunity to deliver the ‘missing middle’ housing Tasmania urgently needs – medium-density homes that provide greater housing choice while supporting community life, public transport and local services,” Lane said.
He said the project could become a national example of how surplus government land can support housing supply while building liveable communities.
“The institute is encouraged to see a vision emerging for increased density on this site, rather than continued low-density suburban sprawl,” Lane said.
But the institute warned the outcome will depend on a strong, design-led master planning process from the start, led by architects, planners, urban designers and landscape architects.
It also called for early costing strategies, meaningful community engagement, infrastructure planning and independent design review.
“Early investment in professional master planning, meaningful community engagement, infrastructure planning and independent design review will be critical to ensuring this becomes a genuinely liveable and enduring neighbourhood,” Lane said.
The institute also flagged the need to build local industry capability in medium and higher-density construction to deliver projects of this scale.
Defence personnel are expected to relocate over at least 12 months.
Any land transfer to the state will be subject to market value and further consultation.
