Enough is enough. This city and its residents have been forced to endure the eyesore that is CH Smith for too long.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And now, on the cusp of developers finally turning the first sod in their $10 million vision for the site, a group of objectors have stepped in at the 11th hour and halted a legitmate, socially sensitive development application in its tracks.
Interestingly, the appeal made by the group Heritage Protection Society (Tasmania) Inc. was lodged on the final day of the 14 day appeal period to the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.
The appeal was forwarded by P. W. Reynolds on behalf of the protection society over the heritage council’s decision to allow the demolition of parts of the interior of 22 Charles Street, an 1860s grain store.
Let’s take a step back for a moment to understand why it’s OK to be overly cynical about this appeal.
On December 21, the Tasmanian Heritage Council listed 10 conditions it believes should be adhered to by developers Errol Stewart and Scott Curran. The developers agreed to meet all 10 conditions, including the most relevant – point 10 on the council’s list – which relates to the internal structure of 22 Charles Street.
The heritage council requested that the developers fully document the interior of the building – including measured drawings, detailed sketches and high resolution digital photographs. The developers were then cleared to demolish the interior. The interior, not the external facade.
This is now what forms the basis of the appeal. The society – Launceston architect Lionel Morrell is its president – has appealed the heritage council’s ruling.
One has to assume that the people who make up the heritage council have a firm, sound understanding of the heritage values of Tasmanian buildings when they make their adjudications and rulings.
The society also demands that the developers adhere to all previous permits imposed upon the site by all previous developers.
Much of the original interior of CH Smith is rotting – its wooden skeleton exposed to the damaging elements for the past 20 years. It’s difficult to understand how rotting timber has any heritage or cultural significance.
For the sake of the city, one can only hope that Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal makes the right decision and puts a stop to this farce once and for all.
