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Saturday, October 20, 2012
George Town Council approves controversial amendment
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
GEORGE TOWN COUNCIL TO VOTE ON REGENT SQUARE DEVELOPMENT - DESECRATION!
Council will act as a Planning Authority at this WEDNESDAY's Council Meeting – starting 1pm to approve or disapprove the GEORGE TOWN HUB. This is the first item on the Agenda after Public Question Time.
Copies of the AGENDA are available to the Public from Council Chambers – all 345 pages of it!
31 REPRESENTATIONS are included – 1 for and 30 AGAINST the Development Application.
Unfortunately, most of the reports have been scan/copied onto the Agenda and the printing is so small we had difficulty reading it!
How can Councillors be expected to read – and understand - so many pages of very small print between Friday and Wednesday afternoons?
And how can they make an informed decision on this contentious issue unless THEY DO READ EVERYTHING?
The Agenda is also on the Council website – but be warned Part 1 is 12 MB! Click here.
Matthew Clarke of HOBART firm Johnstone McGee & Gandy Pty Ltd has prepared the report that evaluates and responds to the Lester Franks' planners Claire Gregg's and Rebecca Green's Planning Application and the Representations.
We find some of his conclusions and interpretations of the George Town Planning Scheme QUESTIONABLE to say the least!
However, Mr Clarke presumes to be better informed than members of the Tasmanian Planning Commission who approved the Amendment for a 'Civic' Building as a Discretionary use, BUT considered the purpose of the Hub did not entirely fit the "Civic" description, but was more an "Education" and "Health" use class!
Does he really believe all those rooms on the plan are for MEETINGS? 355 square metres of them?
And that they won't be used for EDUCATIONAL or HEALTH purposes?
Or that there will be NO fence around the outdoor playground – right next to the road?
We wonder if he's ever been to George Town and seen the effect this building could have.
The Agenda also includes a 28 page Traffic and Parking Report – that was NOT AVAILABLE with the other Planning Documents, so no-one has had a chance to respond to it! It was obviously done in a hurry using NSW and Southern Tasmanian data.
This hastily prepared report seems to be 're-assessing' the complete parking requirements for all the buildings on Regent Square, but almost ignores the fact that staff and patrons of the businesses right along the main section and further, of Macquarie St use these parks.
And if there is a bus trip for a community group there could be another 20 or more cars parked there for the day!
This is how Mr Clarke justifies this building on our public recreation reserve:
"The proposed building will be government owned has been designed for use by a number of government administered community services, including a Service Tasmania office, Centrelink services, meeting rooms, a Learning and Information Network Centre (LINC) and child family centre (CFC) and public indoor spaces.
Whilst the LINC could be classified as a 'Education Establishment' under the scheme it is a resource link to the Centrelink and Service Tasmania functions and as such is considered and integral and incidental use under Clause 2.6.1.
[ IT IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! AND NOT PERMITTED! ]
The CFC may be viewed by some as a 'Health Centre' however as no professional child care is proposed; this is not consistent with this definition.
Accordingly, the CFC areas are considered assembly areas, which is consistent with the Civic Building use class."
And yet Claire Gregg's report says: "It is NOT a Place of Assembly..."
THIS IS QUITE AN ELABORATE SET-UP FOR A GLORIFIED PLAY GROUP!
Now, what is that old saying? "A rose by any other name ... ..."
or maybe it's a "wolf in sheep's clothing"?
"Friends of Regent Square"
Sunday, October 16, 2011
WHEN IS A MEETING ROOM NOT A MEETING ROOM?
Friday, October 14, 2011
WHEN IS A "CIVIC" BUILDING NOT A "CIVIC" BUILDING?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
THE GENERAL MANAGER ADVISES THE TASMANIAN PLANNING COMMISSION
Correspondence with respect to the Planning Scheme / Regent Square
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
2010 AMENDMENT TO GEORGE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME 1991 (REGENT SQUARE) - for a 'CIVIC' Building
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Friday, October 7, 2011
"VISUAL AMENITY" - IT'S ALREADY COMPROMISED!
A COUNCIL TIMELINE - FROM HALL RE-DEVELOPMENT TO LINC HUB PROPOSALS
31 Aug - 1 Sept 2006 - Value Management Workshop held on Memorial Hall & Surrounds Re-development. 40 participants from community groups invited – list begins P. 93.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/061212_Minutes__without_in-committee_.pdf
Minutes 12 Dec 2006
P 32 - 41 - The Memorial Hall is a Heritage Listed building based on its significance to the community, and characteristics as a post war international style building. Applicn. Approved.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/070220_Minutes_(without_In-Committee).pdf
Minutes 20 Feb 2006
Development Applicn made - one submission received. Special meeting once works permit rec. from Tas. Heritage. ..tenders should be called early March. Landscape plans being sought.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/2007_-_Februrary.pdf
Mayor's Message Feb 2007 shows plan and details of 'Community Reference Group'.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/070306_Minutes_Special_Cl_Mtg.pdf
Special Meeting – 6 March 2007
P 1 – 6 - Public Questions
P7 - 26 - Memorial Hall Re-development Approved - Council acting as planning authority.
CARPARKING ...there is not sufficient car parking in both the eastern and western car parks within Regent Square ... Council will be undertaking car parking design in conjunction with a landscape design.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/080220__Minutes.pdf
Meeting – 20 Feb 2008
P. 11 Re-location of On-line Access Centre
P. 71 ...Council receive Regent Square Master Plan and seek community feedback on this plan in accordance with Council's Community Consultation Policy and that a public meeting be held.
14 March 2008 - GT&DHS Submission to GTC re Regent Square Landscape Guide Master Plan - No acknowledgement received. (Followed up 22 April 2010 - requesting moratorium on further buildings and parking and restoration of historic plaques and Rotary Clock - still no acknowledgement !)
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/080319_Minutes_(without_In-Committee).pdf
Meeting 19 MARCH 2008
P 3-7 Questions - Online Access Centre
P 35 Memorial Hall Opening
Page 51-55 Re-location of OAC in the Macquarie Room in the redeveloped Memorial Hall Cultural & Civic Centre... the project was to create a high quality, multi-purpose cultural and civic centre that would provide for the community's needs over the next fifty years.
28 March 2008 - Memorial Hall Official Opening
21 April 2008 - Regent Square Master Plan Public Meeting held (same date GTDHS' special ANZAC meeting) - we believe the consensus was 'no more buildings on the Square'.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/080423_Minutes_(without_In-Committee).pdf
Meeting – 23 APRIL 2008 - P100 - Report on Memorial Hall Opening
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/080521_Minutes_(without_In-Committee).pdf
Meeting – 21 May 2008
P 97-8 - Report on Regent Square Master Plan Public Meeting held on 21 April 2008.
P99 - 101 - Full Report of Memorial Hall Redevelopment with final costing, loans, etc was received by Council.
http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/090527_Agenda_(without_In-Committee).pdf
Meeting – 27 May 2009
P. 5 - Public Question - Mr Austin, George Town: Concerning the municipal hall development, car park and flower beds which aren't completed, how soon will this take, and to what extra cost?
The Mayor acknowledged that there were areas still to be completed.
The General Manager (Interim) stated that the car park area to the North of the Hall is complete however the road is yet to be constructed. The road has been left for the present time in anticipation of the commencement of the new LINC community building, the position of this centre has not yet been determined, however it is anticipated that it may be on either side of the hall, thus it was not appropriate to complete the areas surrounding the hall until the situation concerning the location of the new centre has been finalized.
WE ASK AGAIN - WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 120 EXTRA PARKING BAYS REQUIRED BY THE HALL EXTENSIONS?
In particular, the 48 that were planned to be on the site of the LINC Hub?
"FRIENDS OF REGENT SQUARE"