Ms O’CONNOR – Yes. Minister, there are other sites in and around the city and there’s two I’m thinking of particularly. The KND site which is owned by the University of Tasmania which would make a fantastic inner city medium density housing, and there’s the site behind Vinnies in Argyle Street which was going to be accommodation for women. That was knocked back by council. For a block like the KND site is that something that Homes Tasmania could look at investing in? Because I’m not sure UTAS will, and how might that work? Is it being looked at? Does Homes Tas recognise what a prime site it is and what an opportunity it is? Or would you leave that to the private market.
Mr ELLIS – So firstly on Argyle Street, there’s an appeal process that’s happening in that space. So that’s probably some further updates there. I’ll also note that we do have State Growth in the room, so I’ll invite them to the table to add to an answer very shortly, and I’ll pass over to the team around – we’re always looking for strategic acquisitions but particularly around that site.
CHAIR – We just need a response to the two that the honourable member has asked about because otherwise we’re going to be here a lot later than we expected.
Mr ELLIS – Yes, no I mentioned the KND site in particular.
Ms MORGAN-THOMAS – We are all over all sites that are available but there are commercial realities to a lot of sites and sometimes people want too much money for then, in which we say thanks but no thanks. The KND site, I don’t know particularly. I’m aware that UTAS has some sites in the city that some other developers have been sniffing around. So I don’t have enough information about that.
CHAIR – Let’s get this issue out of the way with the State Growth and we then we need to move on.
Mr ELLIS – Thank you, Chair. So Denise McIntyre, deputy-secretary Resources Strategy and Policy from State Growth. Denise, thank you for your time.
Ms McINTYRE – Thank you, now what was the question.
Ms O’CONNOR – That is a fair question.
Mr ELLIS – So this is in particular – well I’ll let you ask Ms O’Connor.
Ms O’CONNOR – The query was, and it’s partially been answered here, I think. What is the role for Homes Tasmania in identifying key inner-city sites –
Mr ELLIS – Okay. So we were talking about –
Ms O’CONNOR – The women’s?
Mr ELLIS – No the medium density grant program.
Ms O’CONNOR – The medium density grant. Well goodness me. My goodness. Okay.
Mr ELLIS – Sorry, it’s state growth. So here to clear this up for us.
Ms O’CONNOR – Yes, trying to understand what the criteria would be for, or the program guidelines would be for the medium high density development grant and whether it would rule out suburban development subdivisions.
Ms McINTYRE – We are currently working on the guidelines for the grant program. So we’ve undertaken some consultation with some key stakeholders and we’re just collating that feedback now to determine what that program – what the guidelines will look like.
Ms O’CONNOR – But the guidelines would require, with respect, wouldn’t they, Ms McIntyre, that it be for medium and high-density developments?
Ms McINTYRE – That’s correct. For medium density development. Yes.
Ms O’CONNOR – Medium. Thank you.
Mr ELLIS – Thank you, Denise and we’ve definitely got everything we needed of that one.
