Developer Chambroad wants to bypass the Clarence Council by submitting plans for its $50m Kangaroo Bay hotel development to be assessed under the state government’s major projects process.
Chambroad lodged an application with Planning Minister Michael Ferguson, requesting that the 155-room hotel be declared a “major project,” which would allow it to bypass the council and be examined by an independent panel.
The move from the Chinese-owned company comes after the council rejected the project earlier this year and then started legal proceedings in an attempt to buy the land back.
If successful, the project would bypass the council and come under scrutiny by an independent panel assembled by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Chambroad believes that the major projects assessment will ensure that their plans receive fair consideration, as they feel they would not receive a fair and impartial assessment from the council.
The Kangaroo Bay Hotel project will address the lack of premium accommodation, restaurants and meeting spaces in the eastern shore area and is expected to bring in an estimated $42.7m in visitor spending annually to the local area.
The major projects process is expected to take at least 11 months and will still allow for proper assessment and public input.
