News that Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals has lodged a Major Project Impact Assessment with the Tasmanian Planning Commission for their proposed hotel at Kangaroo Bay will rightly reignite the outrage of local residents. The fact the Liberal government has weighed in with their support will be even more enraging for the Clarence community.
Kangaroo Bay is prime public land on the Bellerive foreshore – it should be used for the public’s benefit, not private gain. Chambroad has serially ignored community opposition for nearly a decade to their proposal for a luxury hotel at Kangaroo Bay, and has exploited every avenue possible to hold onto this prime vacant land.
Clarence City Council and the community have comprehensively rejected Chambroad’s continued plans for Kangaroo Bay, and Council is actively engaged in a Supreme Court case to buy back the land for public use. The Liberals have ignored the widespread local opposition, and instead backed the interests of a big international petrochemical corporation.
Chambroad’s plans for a hotel at Kangaroo Bay should not be going through a Major Project assessment. Their previous application to use this planning process was initially rejected, but revived after Planning Minister Felix Ellis intervened.
Given the Clarence City Council remains committed to returning Kangaroo Bay to public hands, we hope the Tasmanian Planning Commission recognises the interests of the Tasmanian public and rejects Chambroad’s application.
The Greens will continue to stand with the community, and fight for this special place at Kangaroo Bay to be used for public good building.
