A Hobart Alderman and Planning Committee Chair has blamed the cancellation of a new private hospital in New Town on “anti-development forces” within the council.
Following the announcement that the proposed Tasman Private Hospital had been axed due to the cost of construction ‘more the doubling’, Simon Behrakis took to social media to express his disappointment.
“If Council worked with developers to get this project underway in 2019 when it was initially brought to us, rather than 2 years later, it would likely be built by now,” Behrakis wrote.
“The result is much needed health infrastructure not being built.”
“The site will remain empty for the foreseeable future, so at least the NIMBYs [not in my backyard] will be happy.”
After multiple plan revisions and substantial community opposition, the Hobart City Council granted approval to the project in March 2021 – two years after the project was initially proposed in 2019.
With a price tag of around $50m in the early stages, the developer now estimates the build would cost over $120 million.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds suggested that the site could be used for public housing and called on the Tasmanian government to purchase it.
“Housing would be fantastic!” Reynolds wrote on Twitter, now X.
“Doubling building costs is a common story – it’s why there’s a slowdown in construction starts across the nation, but worse in Tassie because of small number of companies.”
The Lord Mayor’s response was then blasted as ‘hypocritical’ by Behrakis.
“The Lord Mayor talks about building apartments on the site of the now canceled New Town Hospital as if she wouldn’t be the first one to vote against its development application for being taller than 1 storey,” Behrakis wrote.
“If not for the her obstruction during the application process for the hospital which delayed it’s approval for 2 years, she might very well have been cutting the ribbon at it’s opening some time this year.”
Greens MP Vica Bayley said the cancellation is a “stark reminder” that a proposed Macquarie Point stadium will “end up costing far more than $715 million”.
“We know Tasmanian taxpayers are going to foot the bill for any cost blowouts,” Bayley said.
“The Government are utterly delusional if they think that this stadium can be built with a roof to meet the requirements of the AFL for $715 million.”
