Hobart hotel worth $45m gets approval despite traffic, heritage concerns
The Hobart City Council has given the green light to a $45 million hotel close to the central business district.
Macquarie Street hotel proposal, Hobart. (Ressen Property Group)
Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said there was robust debate at Monday night's council meeting, with the final vote on the development application approved seven votes to four.
The development had been knocked back at committee level due to heritage and traffic issues.
The 225-room hotel will be built on the Myer site in Macquarie Street after it becomes vacant later this year when the retailer moves to its Murray Street site.
The mayor said the project would be a big job creator.
"We have already seen an increase in tourism of 11 per cent and mostly from China or Hong Kong and also from Singapore," she said.
"The Government has a target to get to 1.4 million visitors in four years — it often takes two to three years to get these hotels up and we're desperately short for them so we see this as a major coupe for Hobart."
Alderman Hickey said there was also an equity argument in allowing the development.
"In that we already approved a taller hotel right next door to this one," she said.
Work on the new hotel is expected to start later this year.
Source: ABC News, Michael Dalla Fontana, 11th August 2015
Originally published as: Hobart hotel worth $45m gets approval despite traffic, heritage concerns
