Ms ROSOL – The Hobart Cenotaph is 100 years old next year and, quite rightly, it’s revered as a sacred ground for RSL Tasmania and many in its sub‑branches. Its reverential ambience and sightlines are some of the values recognised and contributing to its heritage listing. Until now, that’s been protected by provisions in the planning scheme and a 15‑metre height limit at Macquarie Point. However, a 54‑metre‑high stadium, 25 per cent higher than assurances that were originally given, has now been shown to destroy three of those important sightlines at the Cenotaph. The Cenotaph and its values will be diminished by the stadium and the heritage report rates the impacts as very high.
Minister, have you sought advice as to whether the heritage listing of the Cenotaph is at risk? Should the protections for key values like sightlines not be enough to stop approval of the stadium and those values lost?
Ms OGILVIE – I have not personally sought advice, but the department has an update on this matter. The stadium doesn’t sit under my ministerial purview but I have some information here in relation to the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and the Project of State Significance (POSS) process. My understanding is that process will include public consultation and engagement with relevant agencies, the Hobart City Council, key stakeholders, including the RSL, and all members of the public. The Heritage Council would probably wish to make a contribution at that stage as well. I understand that Mel may have some more information in relation to that specifically.
Ms FORD – The development of a stadium at Macquarie Point will be considered under the POSS process. Under this process, the Heritage Council is not a decision-maker. While it is a relevant regulator, it will be invited to contribute to the process but it has no statutory powers and provisions under its act.
I’m not sure how clearly this is understood, but the POSS process actually goes further than the Historic Cultural Heritage Act in terms of considering the impact of the stadium proposal on heritage places. This is through the inclusion of a 200‑metre zone around the stadium area which will capture additional heritage-listed places, including the Cenotaph. Part of the POSS process is also to consider other factors that would be wider than what the Heritage Council would typically consider under a development application under its act. For example, the financial and economic impacts are not things the Heritage Council would consider. So, in terms of the process and what is being considered, it’s much more rigorous than if the Heritage Council were looking at a matter just on its own, under its own act.
I guess that process needs to play out. At the moment, we’re at the stage where the submission has only been formally provided to the Heritage Council today. There’s now quite a bit of work to do to assess the thousands of pages in that submission.
Ms ROSOL – Are you confident you will have sufficient voice and opportunity? It sounds like you’ll have several opportunities to feed into it. Are you confident that you’ll be able to speak up strongly on behalf of the heritage values of the area?
Ms FORD – From the process that’s been described to us, the Heritage Council will have that opportunity.
Ms JOHNSTON – Minister, the Tasmanian Transport Museum holds an incredibly important collection when it comes to –
Ms OGILVIE – It’s fabulous.
