Square bid forges ahead
The Mercury, 9 July, 2010
by SUE NEALES
THE State Government has vowed to push ahead with the $100 million Parliament Square project.
It will do so even if it means defying planning laws.
Treasurer Michael Aird told Parliament yesterday he would not allow the development to be impeded and hinted at a possible government legal challenge.
The future of the proposal by the Citta Property Group is in doubt after a shock decision on Tuesday by the three-member Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.
It ruled that new plans submitted by Citta as modifications two weeks ago were too substantial and fundamentally different to be included as part of an on-going planning approval process.
The tribunal found the revised project plans for Parliament Square were deficient and lacking in clarity.
Its decision said some drawings appeared incorrect and other shortcomings of the plans made aspects of the project problematic.
The tribunal said it found the “difficulties with information provided” added up to uncertainty about the visual impact of the proposal on the historic Parliament House.
The project contentiously involves knocking down the 1960s departmental office block in Murray St and replacing it with a modern square that includes office space, lawns, cafes, a piazza space and even a large outdoor screen.
