Tassie losing big works battle

IT is the battleground on which the next state election may well be fought: Is Tasmania open for business?

Whether it is a difficult investment environment, red tape, green tape, NIMBYs or planning delays, the state is dotted with major projects taking years to get off the ground.

Hobart's Myer development, Parliament Square, Pumphouse Point ... the list goes on.

The $2 billion Gunns pulp mill project is testament to the state's sometimes uncanny knack for failing to get a major project from concept to reality.

Liberal Leader Will Hodgman pins the blame for the high number of stalled projects on the Government.

"Only the Liberals have a plan to create a simplified, single statewide planning system, a plan to cut the red and green tape that is holding these projects back," he said.

Premier Lara Giddings said the State Government was committed to maintaining an attractive investment environment.

She said Tasmania enjoyed the lowest land costs, the lowest business licensing costs and the lowest tax burden of any state.

"The vast majority of major projects awaiting construction already have all the necessary planning approvals in place," she said.

"Difficulty obtaining finance is the most significant hurdle that any project faces."

Ms Giddings's office provided a list with $1.4 billion of developments now under way – 72 per cent of which are funded by the government sector.

Tasmanian Industry Group executive director Daniel Leesong said developers needed a great deal of patience to see their projects through.

"There's no doubt the issue around potential for sovereign and government risk – political risk is very apparent within Tasmania," he said.

"You can see that in a number of developments that have been frustrated either through vexatious appeals or through political intervention, which hasn't been particularly helpful.

"Parliament Square is probably the best example.

It's gone through all the necessary approvals.

It's investment-ready, but then gets stalled through what can only be described as people trying to use the system to stop developments that are ready to go."

Property Council of Australia executive director Mary Massina said green and red tape, and duplication between levels of government, were big issues.

"The planning issue is a major one, and if you look at environmental or heritage assessments – that process is quite lengthy," she said.

"The planning malaise is really a large one."

Ms Massina said Tasmania had to work harder to get the results it needed to have a strong and vibrant economy.

"Even if you were to look at it in terms of attracting mainland investors – whether they want to buy a home or a shack, let alone pulling major developments – you have to look at your market and your tax and planning regimes and your infrastructure and at how competitive we are with other jurisdictions," she said.

"Our market is smaller than the likes of Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane so when we need to attract investment we have to be more flexible and nimble on our feet and go over and above in terms of providing economic development policies."

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief economist Phil Bayley said planning wasn't entirely to blame.

"Tasmania, in a lot of cases, can be one of the quicker jurisdictions.

One of the problems we've identified is that appeal rights are available to a much wider group of people than in other jurisdictions.

"Confidence in the Tasmanian economy is holding back projects.

"When you overlay challenges like planning, people look at it and think it's too hard."

STATE OF PLAY

MYER REDEVELOPMENT
$100 MILLION
DELAYED

Hobart's Myer department store was destroyed by fire in September 2007.

The proposed redevelopment is not expected to reopen for shoppers until Christmas 2014.

The Mercury this week reported the latest hold-up is due to wrangling over the cost of water and sewerage connection.

PARLIAMENT SQUARE
$100 MILLION
DELAYED

First announced in 2008 the redevelopment has been delayed by a series of planning appeals which aimed to save the state office block at 10 Murray St from demolition.

Construction on the project is tipped to start before Christmas and be completed over four years, providing 400 direct and indirect jobs.

PARANVILLE
$900 MILLION
DELAYED

Construction of a $900 million Eastern Shore housing development is hoped to begin by the end of this year.

About 2000 new residents are expected to eventually settle on the 158ha rural site near Clarendon Vale, slated for the suburb of Paranville.

The development is a key part of the state's push into Asia by attracting hundreds of mainly Korean language students and migrants.

MT WELLINGTON CABLE CAR AND VISITOR CENTRE
$40 MILLION
SLOWED

Investors and manufacturers are lined up, but project is awaiting approval from Wellington Park Trust and State Government.

Proponent Adrian Bold has been pursuing the project for two years.

Mr Bold says the project is ready to proceed as soon as approvals are gained and could be built in just 18 months, but he expects to spend another two or three years in the planning process.

SEVEN MILE BEACH GOLF DEVELOPMENT
$15 MILLION
SLOWED

Professional golfer Matt Goggin is seeking to develop two courses on 300ha of land on the eastern side of Seven Mile Beach.

The plan involves the construction of one or two public golf courses and a clubhouse, estimated to cost between $10 million and $15 million.

The project is bogged down in the planning process and is proceeding slowly.

SPRINGS VISITORS CENTRE
$3.5 MILLION
ON HOLD

Robert Morris-Nunn first came up with the plans for a visitors centre at the Springs response to a Hobart City Council request in 1999.

The project is ready to proceed but stalled awaiting funding for infrastructure works.

NORTHERN SUBURBS LIGHT RAIL
$100 MILLION
STALLED AND UNFUNDED

A high-level task force has been established to chase federal government funding.

Project faces critical deadline in upcoming round of Infrastructure Australia grants.

Coalition has indicated a reluctance to fund urban passenger rail projects.

BROOKE ST PIER REDEVELOPMENT
$10 MILLION
PROGRESSING

Delayed in the planning process, the Hobart development is back on tracks after a funding agreement between government and proponents.

AIRPORT SHOPPING CENTRE
$100 MILLION
ABANDONED

Planned $100 million retail outlet near Hobart Airport that was abandoned due to inability to secure investors.

The Hobart Capital + Home factory outlet and homemaker centre at Mornington would have created 700 jobs.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Left in casualty for days

THE Royal Hobart Hospital has ordered a review into why a patient spent two days waiting for treatment on a trolley in its emergency department.

Kingston man David Dawes said despite having private health cover and always paying his Medicare levy, he was forced to lie on the trolley and a chair in the public hospital while he waited for a bed.

"There were other people waiting to go upstairs to a ward too, it's disgraceful," he said.

The hospital said the length of time Mr Dawes, 56, had to wait for a bed was unacceptable and it would investigate the matter.

Mr Dawes first went to hospital after an accident left a drill bit in his foot.

The Hobart Private Hospital had no access to an orthopaedic surgeon that day so he had his operation in the Royal.

But a week later his GP said his sore, reddened leg was infected and sent him back to hospital – where he waited, and waited.

Mr Dawes said he went to the Royal at lunchtime on Monday, April 8 and was not sent to his own room until late on Wednesday, April 10.

Tasmanian Health Organisation South chief executive Jane Holden said Mr Dawes waited 46 hours.

"Mr Dawes spent an unacceptable amount of time in ED awaiting a ward bed," Ms Holden said.

"This length of stay in ED raises serious issues, which have been referred for clinical and operational review."

The Hobart Private Hospital said orthopaedic specialists who accepted referrals from its emergency department might sometimes be unavailable and in such cases they would advise and organise a transfer to the RHH.

Mr Dawes said he spent a day and a half on a trolley in the RHH then another day in the children's emergency section on a reclining chair that was so badly positioned he was having physio for back pain.

"I couldn't adjust it and I was sitting on timber," he said.

He was on a drip and having observations taken and said he was only given sandwiches until he demanded a meal.

His sister Judy Bishop said she felt sorry for nursing staff who often ended up working extra shifts, but that it must put patient care in jeopardy.

"This must happen to people all the time, we aren't an isolated case," she said.

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Launceston man stabbed

A LAUNCESTON man is in hospital after being stabbed in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police have today charged an 18-year-old man with causing grievous bodily harm as a result of the alleged altercation that is understood to have left the victim seriously injured.

The stabbing occurred on a public street - Pioneer Parade in the outer Launceston suburb of Ravenswood - where both the victim and the alleged offender live.

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Horror day on our roads

IT has been a horror day on the state's roads with a motorcyclist killed and police called to seven crashes in a matter of hours.

Police have confirmed a motorcycle rider has been killed on Durkins Rd at Quoiba in the North-West.

It is understood the bike and a trailer collided at 2.15pm.

As a result of the crash traffic remained banked up on Stony Rise Rd and motorists are asked to avoid the area for at least a couple of hours.

The crash brings the state's road toll to nine compared to six for the same period last year.

Elsewhere in the state a log truck caused significant delays this morning when it rolled over on the Arthur Highway at Forcett, just outside of Sorell in the south.

Police said no one was injured in the accident but traffic flow was reduced to just half a lane while the site was cleared.

Officers were at the scene to direct traffic, with motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.

Hazardous road conditions after heavy overnight rain caused havoc on the roads this morning.

Officers attended at least seven crashes, starting just before 7am today.

The most serious was at Broadmarsh, near Brighton, where a car rolled over on Black Brush Rd about 6.55am.

An ambulance was called but it is believed the female driver escaped without serious injury.

Police said other minor crashes occurred at Forcett, Cygnet and Glenorchy.

Officers also attended a four-car pile-up on the East Derwent Highway, at Otago Bay, later in the morning. No one was seriously injured.

"Motorists are reminded to drive according to the road conditions, allow sufficient time to safely reach their destination and to maintain a safe distance between other vehicles," a police spokeswoman said.

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Car gets startled reception

A bystander looks shocked at the damage to Opteon in Castray Esplanade. Picture: LEIGH WINBURN

WORKERS at a Hobart office are recovering from the shock of seeing a Toyota Camry reversing into their reception area.

The vehicle's driver, who had been working on a building site nearby, is believed to have suffered a medical condition while moving his vehicle on Castray Esplanade, near Salamanca Place, about 12.30pm today.

Witnesses say the sedan suddenly reversed at high speed, smashing through Opteon Property Group's glass frontage and stopping just centimetres from the reception desk.

Opteon director Charles Brothers said it was a big relief none of the 30 staff members had been injured.

"Luckily our receptionist was out on her lunch break at the time," he said.

"It sounded like a bomb going off.

"It's just a good thing no one was in the boardroom or reception."

The driver was taken to hospital for treatment as his builder colleagues quickly went to the business's aid.

They removed the broken glass and twisted metal and boarded up the frontage so staff could get back to work.

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Near-misses on Targa day two

SLIPPERY conditions have caused several near-misses on day two of Targa Tasmania.

At least four cars crashed out of the 200-strong field as the tarmac rally wound its way through eight stages in the state's North-East. All crews escaped without injury.

Two cars rolled over, including Peter Avery's Mitsubishi Evo 8.

Avery lost control on the Elephants Pass stage, rolling off the road and into the bush.

The car came to rest upright, with the driver and his navigator, Trent Avery, emerging with barely a scratch.

The Targa recovery crew had to use a chainsaw to free the badly damaged vehicle.

Today's racing, which began in Rossarden, was due to wind up with the traditional Longford street stage this afternoon.

The accident-prone day follows an event opening marred by tragedy.

Newcastle driver John Mansell, 71, died yesterday when the Porsche Cayman he was driving hit a tree near Deloraine.

Tristan Catford, Mr Mansell's 26-year-old navigator, was seriously injured in the crash.

Read the full coverage in tomorrow's Mercury

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Mum's a legend, says Laura

RAISING four children, looking after a sick husband and travelling around the Midlands caring for others as a child health nurse ... it's all in a day's work for Tasmanian Mother of the Year Michele King.

The Campbell Town mother-of-four was nominated for the Barnardos Australia award by her teenage daughter Laura King-Grey.

Laura, a boarder at Newstead College in Launceston, said it was not until she left home this year to attend Year 11 in the city that she realised how much she depended on her mother.

"My mother is a legend," she said. "She has raised a large family in very difficult circumstances, with a sick husband."

Laura said her father was dealing with a neurological disorder and her younger brother Alexander was born with a heart condition and was not expected to survive infancy but, after multiple surgical operations and with the love and support of his family, had grown up to be a thriving Year 7 student.

Her mother had coped with all that as well as travelling far and wide caring for other mums and children as a child health nurse.

Ms King said her nomination was a total surprise.

"I feel quite humbled," she said. "Generally the work of mothers is not acknowledged. It was very nice of Laura to nominate me. I'm very fortunate to have fabulous teenagers."

The other nominee at today's ceremony, Annette Bennett, had her name put forward by 11-year-old daughter Selamawit, who was adopted from Ethiopia at the age of three.

In a tearful tribute, Selamawit said her mother had "saved my life" and given her the opportunity to love life and the courage to live her dreams.

"Family is not whose blood you carry but who you love and who loves you," she said.

Both mothers were presented with flowers and prizes by Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas at the ceremony at MONA.

Ms King and Laura head to Sydney next month, where the Australian Mother of the Year is to be announced on May 10 -- just before Mother's Day.

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Chopper exercise over Hobart

The Westpac Police Rescue helicopter in action.

HOBART residents should not be alarmed by helicopters flying overhead tonight, police say, with a training exercise planned between 8pm and 10pm.

A similar exercise last year caused significant concern in the community, with low-flying helicopters angering some Hobart residents.

A police spokeswoman said this time around disruption to the general public was intended to be minimal and there should be no cause for alarm.

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DPP still recovering from crash

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis, SC, will not return to work for several months until a police investigation into a fatal road crash is finalised, says Attorney-General Brian Wightman.

Mr Ellis was seriously injured in a road accident on the Midland Highway near Oatlands on March 24 in which a Launceston woman was killed.

He was released from hospital last week.

Mr Wightman said Victorian Coroner Judge Ian Gray had been appointed to conduct the inquest into the death of 27-year-old Natalia Pearn in the crash.

"I have recommended the Governor make this appointment on the advice of the Chief Coroner of Tasmania," Mr Wightman said in a statement.

He said Mr Ellis would not be back at work until he had recovered from his injuries and the police investigation was complete.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions ... has advised that he will not be fit to return to work for several months due to injuries sustained in a recent motor vehicle accident.

"I am advised that while he is hopeful that the police investigation into this accident will be completed within that time, he has indicated that it is his intention not to return to his office until such time as the investigation has been finalised and the outcome is known."

A police spokeswoman said investigations into the crash were continuing.

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Meat pie off menu, says Rudd

Former PM Kevin Rudd had plenty of advice for Tasmanian tourism chiefs today on the burgeoning Chinese market. Picture: LEIGH WINBURN

LEARN Chinese and take the meat pies off the menu -- that's the message from Sinophile Labor MP Kevin Rudd to Tasmania's tourism chiefs.

Addressing the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania meeting in Hobart today, Mr Rudd gave his perspective on ways the industry might cash in as the burgeoning Chinese middle class catches the travel bug.

Mr Rudd said he had never worked in the tourism industry and his advice was in the form of friendly observations to boost the industry in Tasmania.

Unspoiled nature, seafood and high-standard accommodation were key strengths Tasmania must use to its advantage he said.

"Tasmania is potentially a very good and great brand in China," he said.

"When they think of a place like this, what are its three essential assets? It's clean, it's green and it's blue -- there's a blue ocean out there and the skies are also blue.

"If you're living in downtown Beijing, you might have seen the news in the last 12 months that it hasn't been the cleanest of environmental experiences.

"In fact, that can be said of most if not all of China's major cities.

"Therefore the intrinsic appeal of being able to get out and experience a clean environment with decent first-class accommodation and being able to experience something of the natural environment is frankly up there at the top of the pops."

But some of the attractions that appealed to domestic tourists would not be a Chinese tourist's cup of tea.

"I wouldn't seek to advertise Tasmania's colonial architectural heritage. People like us would enjoy that (but) I don't think the Chinese would give a bugger about it to be honest," the former prime minister said.

"If you think mum's home-baked meat pie is the way through, think again. It does not translate, it does not compute."

He said lashings of Tasmania's famous seafood, access to fast broadband and improving language skills among hospitality workers were further keys to success in the Chinese market.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Who's carrying the can?

A young Audrey Williams with her bike and her trusty Bucky can. Picture: LIFE MAGAZINE

HAVE you seen this bucket?

Otherwise known as a "Buckby can", these brightly painted pails were used as water buckets, wash basins and for a variety of other uses on board British canal boats.

Now the hunt is on to find the Buckby can once owned by Hobart resident Audrey Williams.

Mrs Williams used to be a river boat steerer during World War II, ferrying supplies to and from British factories at a time when most able-bodied men were away fighting.

She now lives in Hobart but prior to moving in to the Vaucluse Gardens retirement village in 2000 she held a garage sale and one of the items sold was her Buckby can.

The 91-year-old is the subject of an upcoming book by British writer Tim Coghlan and he hopes to find and buy the can so it can be placed in a museum.

The can and dipper (similar to a ladle) were sold at a garage sale in Lachlan Drive, Mt Nelson, in 2000 to an unknown woman.

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Plastic bags to get the boot

Legislation will be tabled in State Parliament today to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags by November this year.

THE State Government is forging ahead with plans to ban non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags in Tasmania.

Legislation will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow morning in a bid to have a ban in place by November this year.

Environment Minister Brian Wightman today said the timing was right for a ban on the non-biodegradable bags mostly commonly used in supermarkets.

"We need a ban that keeps our communities and waterways clean, and our wildlife protected," he said.

"We've worked very closely with environmental campaigners, and with businesses, to develop a ban that's effective, fair on business, and safe for consumers.

Tasmanian shoppers will still be able to use biodegradable plastic bags, heavier "boutique-style" plastic bags that can be re-used, and re-usable "green" bags.

The Tasmanian Greens, who first called for the ban in 2010 with tripartisan support, have welcomed the legislation.

Information on the proposed ban can be found at www.plasticbags.tas.gov.au

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Rev up for life in fast lane

Jason and John White will be aiming to defend their Targa Tasmania crown this year.

IT is one of motorsport's great challenges.

Each year professionals, weekend racers and car enthusiasts come from far and wide to test themselves and their machines on Tasmania's roads, and they leave saying Targa Tasmania, the state's beauty and our road system are a remarkable combination.

Held every year since 1992, Targa Tasmania took up where the European tours of yesteryear left off Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Coup des Alpes and Tour de Course.

Targa Tasmania is now the world's premier touring tarmac rally, and this year about 210 cars, each with a driver and navigator, will tackle the 42 stages from one end of the state to the other.

This year's event is the 22nd instalment of the five-day, 600km rally that starts in Launceston on Wednesday and finishes in Hobart on Sunday.

The field will gather at Symmons Plains tomorrow for final scrutineering, then converge on George Town on Tuesday for the traditional Prologue, a 5km blast through the streets to seed the field from slowest to fastest.

After the Prologue, the first-day action on Wednesday will be in the North, with stages at Sheffield, Mt Roland, Nook, Paloona, Moriarty and Merseylea.

Day two takes the field to the East Coast and North-East, starting at Rossarden and heading through stages at Elephant Pass, Pyengana, Weldborough Pass, Moorina, Legerwood and The Sideling, before finishing with the traditional Longford street stage.

The field on day three heads for Strahan on the West Coast via stages at Mole Creek, Cethana, a new stage south of Penguin named Isandula, Castra, Oldina, Hellyer Gorge, Plimsoll and Rinadeena.

The day four course is a loop that includes Burnie and the testing Reece Dam, Pieman and Murchison (Hellyer Gorge in reverse), Mt Black and Rosebery stages.

Day five is the charge from Queenstown to Hobart, and includes the Mt Arrowsmith stage, winding Tarraleah stage, with a lunch-stop at Bothwell where the public can view the cars, before stages at Woodsdale and Grasstree Hill, and the gala finish at Wrest Point Casino from 3pm.

Where to see Targa

ROAD closures for Targa Tasmania (first car expected one hour after road closure time)

PROLOGUE

Tuesday: Kayena 10.29am; Prologue 11am.

LEG ONE

Wednesday: Deloraine 7.40; High Plains 8.02; Sheffield 8.51; Nook 9.13; Moriarty 9.34; Merseylea 9.52; Railton lunch; Paloona 11.04; Mt Roland 11.42.

LEG TWO

Thursday: Rossarden 7.18; Elephant Pass 8.17; St Helens lunch; Pyengana 10.19; Weldborough 10.30; Moorina 10.45; Ledgerwood 11.16; The Sideling 11.58; Longford 1.06pm.

LEG THREE

Friday: Mole Creek 7.30am; Cethana 7.57; Castra 8.32; Ulverstone lunch; Isandula 10.01; Oldina 11.01; Hellyer Gorge 11.26; Plimsoll 12.24pm; Rinnadeena 1.06.

LEG FOUR

Saturday: Reece Dam 7.40am; Pieman 8.10; Murchison 8.55; Burnie lunch; Natone 10.35; Gunns Plains 11.27; Riana 12.11pm; Mt Black 12.46; Rosebery 1.13.

LEG FIVE

Sunday: Strahan 6.43am; Queenstown 7.17; Mt Arrowsmith 7.39; Tarraleah 8.54; Bothwell lunch; Woodsdale noon; Grasstree Hill 12.59pm.

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Rail property price boost

A LIGHT rail link for Hobart's northern suburbs could increase local property values between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, research suggests.

Research led by Curtin University's James McIntosh analyses the effect of passenger rail on other cities, using Perth and Melbourne as case studies.

A survey of academic work on property values in rail catchment areas indicates that proximity to rail services generally increases property values across residential and commercial sales.

It also increases leases between 5 and 25 per cent.

Hobart-based Mr McIntosh found the case study of Perth provided compelling evidence of the well-established link between rail access and increased land value.

A link between Hobart and Glenorchy using the existing railway line has support from all sides of politics, however, funding for the $100 million project has not been committed.

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Adrian Kelly said the northern suburbs were one of Hobart's biggest growth areas.

Mr Kelly said public transport was a big consideration for the increasing number of city professionals buying homes in the northern suburbs.

"I have no doubt that light rail would improve property values. It certainly would make those suburbs more attractive for people to buy in, it would make them far more desirable places to live," Mr Kelly said.

While Sustainable Transport Minister Nick McKim is advocating a Hobart-Glenorchy link, a light rail lobby group wants it to go all the way to Brighton.

A report on Hobart's urban growth corridor through the northern suburbs by Hobart architects Paul Johnston and Wesley Hindmarch also predicts the benefits that come with light rail.

The researchers from transFORM urban design say the light rail project would increase the number of potential sites for affordable housing development and create a string of high-value communities and economic activity along the length of the rail corridor.

Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group president Ben Johnston said the new research added to the mounting body of expert opinion in support of light rail.

Independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie said the research showing the potential benefits of light rail was exciting and further strengthened the case for light rail link to be funded.

"Around the world vibrant commercial and urban hubs have sprung up in rail catchment areas with all the jobs and economic opportunities that increased commercial and social activity brings," Mr Wilkie said.

"Hobart could experience real urban renewal as a result of the light rail project."

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