City of Launceston council has come under fire again by representors against the proposed Gorge Hotel, following a meeting between the two parties.
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At the meeting on Thursday, more than half of the representors attended. The attendees had submitted representations against the hotel.
However, general manager Michael Stretton said the council routinely hosts representor meetings prior to a development application going before the councillors for a decision.
Ratepayer Ian Routley said after more than two-and-a-half hours, the representors moved a motion criticising the council's actions during the advertising period and expressed no confidence in the ability of the council to completely asses development applications.
However, the motion was not regarded as official, because it was not the forum for those types of issues, Mr Stretton said.
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"They are not a forum for the passing of resolutions and or the making of decisions," he said.
"The council is not required to hold the meetings and only does so because we believe that they add value to the process from both an officer and a representor perspective."
Nearly 40 representations were received about the hotel proposal, with all of the representors who submitted invited to the meeting.
The development proposal has now been finalised for assessment, with the councillors set to discuss the application at its meeting on Thursday.
Of the representations, three were supportive of the development, and 35 raised concerns.
However, the development is recommended for approval by council staff.
In the meeting's agenda, the representors' concerns are outlined, with seismic risk, design, height, heritage, lack of community consultation and noise all listed.
The $50-million hotel would have 145 rooms, a 500-people conference centre, 200-seat bar and restaurant, function rooms, rooftop cocktail bar, day spa and a gym.
It is being put forward by Josef Chromy's JAC Group.
The council's development services director Leanne Hurst said in the agenda: "subject to the recommended conditions, the project complies with the planning scheme and is appropriate to be recommended for approval."
Councillors will vote on the proposal at a meeting on Thursday. It will be held at 1pm at the Town Hall.
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