Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for HOUSING and PLANNING, Mr ELLIS
The Clarence community are outraged to hear that you signed off on the Kangaroo Bay Chambroad development being assessed as a major project. A year ago, Chambroad had a go at subverting the Clarence Council planning process through a major projects pathway. Then Planning minister, Michael Ferguson, dismissed it as ineligible for assessment because it did not have the regional impact or complexity needed for that process.
The Clarence City Council has lodged a very strong submission against the project, and this morning Deputy Mayor, Allison Ritchie, said, ‘This is the single biggest attack on community voices I’ve ever seen’.
On top of this, there is a case before the Supreme Court for the council to buy back the land from Chambroad. You are happy to use legal processes as an excuse for inaction when it suits you and the rest of your government, but in this case, you are backing an international corporation and their interests and riding roughshod over the Clarence community and their council.
The SPEAKER – The member’s time for asking the question has expired.
Dr Woodruff – Will you table the advice from the Tasmanian Planning Commission about their views on this major project?
The SPEAKER – The Standing Orders and the times for question and answers were in fact negotiated by members on the floor. The one-minute time limit is important. I will allow the minister, simply because he was jumping to his feet so excitedly, to address the question, but I will not take questions that are given after a one-minute speech in the future. The Minister for Housing and Planning may address what he can given that the question was out of order.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, it gives me great delight to respond to another Dr Woodruff speech. I can update the House that after consideration of the major project proposal for Kangaroo Bay Hotel and on advice from the State Planning Office, I am of the opinion that the project has the necessary attributes to be declared a major project under our government’s landmark major projects legislation.
As Minister for Housing and Planning, I am required to consider a major project proposal under a range of ineligibility tests, determination guidelines issued by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, advice from councils, relevant state entities, owners, occupiers, lessees or adjoining owners, as set out under Part 4, Division 2A of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.
The $65‑million, 155‑room hotel development is anticipated to create 100 full‑time equivalent jobs in the construction phase and up to 443 full‑time equivalent positions once the hotel is operational in the region, as demonstrated by the major projects proposal. This development will have a direct impact on the region’s economy with a forecast visitor expenditure growth of $500 million over 10 years. Through our government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we are supporting local jobs and driving investment by backing in developments that benefit our communities and our regions.
Now that it has been declared a major project, the Kangaroo Bay Hotel proposal will be assessed by an independent expert panel appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission along with relevant statutory regulators. The independent panel will develop draft assessment criteria for public exhibition. The community will have multiple opportunities to have their say on the project over the course of its assessment.
The hotel will feature indoor and outdoor bar and dining, a premium specialty restaurant, 1000 square metres of meeting space, landscaped foreshore, open space, a public boardwalk and a space for capacity of up to 120 vendors and guests for outdoor events. With regard to previous decisions for a major project to be declared, the project must meet at least two of the three eligibility criteria set out in Section 60M of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act.
A review of the proposal originally provided to the government in 2023 concluded that the project proposal did not demonstrate at least two of the three eligibility attributes as required. This updated proposal that has now been declared a major project has provided the necessary supporting evidence to satisfy the eligibility requirements of the act.
TABLED PAPER
KANGAROO BAY MAJOR PROJECT REPORT
Mr ELLIS (Braddon – Minister for Housing and Planning) – Honourable Speaker, I table the report to the Minister for Housing and Planning on the declaration of a major project, the Kangaroo Bay Hotel project.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I’m not sure that I really can give you a supplementary, given I gave you a question after the time.
Dr WOODRUFF – I understood you ruled that question in order.
The SPEAKER – I allowed the question because the minister took it. It was after time. I will hear the supplementary but do note that the minister has given a very comprehensive answer.
Dr WOODRUFF – The supplementary question was in relation to his reference to the Tasmanian Planning Commission. Will you table the advice to parliament that they provided you about this project being a major project? Is that their advice?
The SPEAKER – I understand that is in the advice that has been tabled, minister?
Mr ELLIS – Yes.
