The Tasmanian Government has rejected a call for it to intervene and ensure an $80 million Launceston hotel development can be built without delay.
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After the City of Launceston council gave the Global Premium Hotels development the green light on May 14, Launceston Heritage Not Highrise member Jim Collier said he would appeal the decision and attempt to stop construction.
Property Council chief executive Brian Wightman said the appeal bid was "vexatious" and he called on the state government to step in.
"The proposed Fragrance Hotel, like the Gorge Hotel, was approved by the City of Launceston council 11 to one and now a minority body sees fit to again put Tasmanian jobs at risk," Mr Wightman said.
"The Property Council encourages City of Launceston ratepayers who work hard to put food on the table, and strive for an improved future for our young people, to voice their opposition to this unnecessary appeal and for the state government to intervene as a matter of urgency to ensure construction is not delayed."
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A government spokesman swiftly dismissed Mr Wightman's request and said the Resources Management Planning Appeals Tribunal appeal process could not be stopped.
"It is an independent statutory body and the government has no power to intervene in much matters, nor would it be appropriate to do so," the spokesman said.
Mr Collier said the appeal was necessary because "it's very important that Launceston does not end up like Melbourne, Sydney or, god-forbid, the Gold Coast".
"The Verge Hotel just across the road from the site where this hotel is proposed to be constructed is 24 metres [high], this Fragrance Hotel will be 43 metres and will tower above the Verge Hotel and that's just not acceptable," Mr Collier said.
"We also feel the environmental site assessment was not properly conducted and the ground on which this hotel is proposed to be built is potentially contaminated land."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Before council approved the development, its city development manager Richard Jamieson said a preliminary environmental investigation identified potentially contaminating activities which had occurred over the site of the proposed development.
"The environmental site assessment has then provided remediation and protection measures against these known contaminants," Mr Jamieson said.