Article – Parliament Square scuttled

Parliament Square scuttled

The Mercury, 8 July, 2010

by SUE NEALES

AN ambitious plan to sell off the city block behind Hobart’s Parliament House for a major development is in chaos.

A shock decision this week by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal has ruled property developer Citta Group cannot proceed with its multi-million dollar Parliament Square project.

The judgment throws into jeopardy the sale of the State Government-owned prime city block to Citta for $7 million, and the rejuvenation of the site behind Parliament House into a “people’s place” complete with large TV screens, cafes, lawns and provision for outdoor concerts.

Read the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal decisionLast week Treasurer Michael Aird said he was confident the sale would be finalised early this month, provided Citta obtained all the necessary planning approvals as expected.

The dramatic turnaround follows a decision by Citta two weeks ago to submit radically changed project plans and designs for Parliament Square to the tribunal for final approval after public consultation had closed.

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Article – Parliament lease details not finalised

Parliament lease details not finalised

by Zoe Edwards

The Examiner, 23 May 2010

DETAILS of a long-term lease agreement between the State Government and the company contracted to build a new government office building behind Parliament House are yet to be finalised.

Citta Property Group plans to demolish government office block 10 Murray Street to build a five-star green building, as part of its Parliament Square redevelopment.

Treasurer Michael Aird says the Government had guaranteed to lease the new building but could not detail the length or cost of the agreement.

“Negotiation of the final terms of a lease agreement have not been finalised,” Mr Aird said.

This comes at a time when the Government is proceeding to buy back Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital for $29million, releasing the Government from the final 10 years of a $5million-a-year lease for the site.

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Article: Treasurer blocks building award

Treasurer blocks building award

by Zoe Edwards

The Examiner, 7 May 2010

Tasmania’s Treasurer has blocked the nomination of Hobart’s 10 Murray Street’s government office building for an architectural award.

The 1960s, 14-storey building is one of two buildings in Parliament Square set to be demolished to make way for a multi-million dollar redevelopment.

Briony Kidd — the head of Save 10 Murray lobby group, which has launched an appeal against the demolitions — nominated the building for an Australian Institute of Architects 25 Year Award for enduring architecture.

But Treasurer Michael Aird has stopped the nomination, which needs permission from treasury — the building’s owner — in order to go ahead.

Mr Aird said it was inappropriate for the building to be nominated.

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Article: Govt pours $25m into offices

Govt pours $25m into offices

SUE NEALES

The Mercury, February 11, 2010

THE Bartlett Government has approved an extra $25 million of funding to decorate plush new offices for its Cabinet ministers.

And senior bureaucrats at a time when state health, hospital and disability budgets are being pruned and cut

The Government’s latest financial report reveals it plans to spend $25.5 million over the next three years furnishing and fitting out government offices in the soon-to-constructed $100 million Parliament Square development close to Hobart’s waterfront.

But no public announcement has yet been made by the Government explaining its lavish spending plans for its new offices.

Most other changed spending priorities earmarked in the latest December financial figures such as extra money for frontline nurses, teachers, police and park rangers have been unveiled with great fanfare by the Bartlett Government as pre-election sweeteners.

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