Developer Ken Hughes had received strong support for his proposal from government and from the community but yesterday's meeting drew some heated responses and showed that not everyone supported the idea.
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The steel bridge that spans the Scamander River was earmarked for removal in the State budget when Mr Hughes submitted his idea to redevelop the bridge into a 60-room apartment hotel and restaurant with conference facilities and to redevelop the recreational areas on the riverbank around the bridge - a concept that is believed to be unique.
A similar but unrelated proposal was offered as a final-year project by University of Tasmania architecture student Lyndon Wade in 2001.
Engineer Jim Gandy, of Gandy and Roberts, said that the concept was feasible.
He said that the old bridge would form an atrium along the middle of the new structure, which would remain visible from the interior.
"This is a piece of Tasmanian engineering heritage.
"It is absolutely impeccable, elegant and beautifully proportioned for its day," he said.
Mr Hughes said that his company, Kellara Transport, would finance the project to the development application stage and then individual units would be sold and the complex ultimately leased.
He was addressing concerns that the hotel would be eventually bought by a multinational company with little economic return to Scamander.
"It's a project that could be largely owned by the community," he said.
The most pressing concerns though were the ability of the current infrastructure in Scamander, particularly water supply, to cope with the extra development and the impact on the river's water flow.
Break O'Day Mayor Stephen Salter said he was enthusiastic about the possibilities but assured residents that it could only proceed on the basis that all the necessary planning, environmental and building requirements were met.
While many present felt that the proposal would take away from the quality of life in the small seaside town, there were just as many who applauded the idea.
One local resident who didn't wish to be named said, "we have the opportunity to use these people to get things done for Scamander - it's win- win.
"It would be fantastic. For years we've been wanting to get things done and nothing has happened."
Long-time resident Sheila Crugg said: "we've been discussing the same things in Scamander for 20 years.
"We have to have progress or else nothing happens and the world passes us by.
"This is a chance to preserve part of our history, create work for our children and beautify our town."
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