A new multi-storey car park development in North Hobart has been given the green light by councillors, with the planning committee chair calling the rules that allowed it “outrageous”.
The Hobart City Council this week unanimously approved a $4.475 million application for a 106-space private car park at Toyota on Argyle Street.
Committee chair Councillor Ryan Posselt said the new building, set to house unregistered vehicles and customer cars waiting for service, should not have been allowed.
“Like the Lord Mayor, I’m very disappointed that this application is in front of us,” he said.
“Although we are acting in the capacity as Planning Authority this evening, it would be remiss of me not to mention that this could have been housing, that we could have had three-storeys of housing in walking distance to the CBD.”
“I question the land use planning that allows for the storage of unregistered cars in a multi-storey car park in the CBD of capital city. It’s pretty outrageous. It should be homes.”
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds had earlier asked when the council would move to “discourage expansion of car storage” in the area through changes to the planning scheme.
“When are we going to change our planning scheme to start implementing our Central Hobart plan, because this is heading in completely the opposite direction of what our strategic plan envisages for that part of the world?” she said.
Councillor Bill Harvey said: “As much as I don’t like car parks … I guess it is what it is … If they need that space for their business to operate, then so be it.”
Alderman Louise Bloomfield said the site’s commercial zoning made the development entirely appropriate.
“This is actually a central business district, so therefore encouraging businesses to operate as they so choose, legally and lawfully, would be of totally appropriate use, despite our personal opinions,” she said.
