Planning Commission Rejects $140m Tourist Resort Plans

A controversial large-scale tourist development on Tasmania’s east coast has been rejected by the state’s planning commission because the developer failed to meet the required landowner consents.

The Hong Kong-backed developer, Cambria Green, lodged plans to rezone more than 7,500-acres of agricultural land at Dolphin Sands, which received approval from the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council in late 2018.

The proposed “eco-resort” would bring to market 70 short-term accommodation villas, 240 units and an 120-key luxury hotel built across the 3,000-hectare site owned by Cambria Green. The massive site, which is located between the small town of Swansea and Dolphin Sands, sits across 12 separate titles of land.

The commission found that consent forms, submitted by Melbourne-based developer and Cambria chief executive Ronald Hu, were invalid and concluded that a decision on the rezoning amendments could not be made.

The commission described Hu as “defensive and evasive” in his responses and considered his evidence was “not credible”.

A spokesperson for Cambria Green said that the group is reviewing the decision and considering its options.

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Among the developer’s options is returning to the drawing board to lodge plans that meet current zoning, resubmitting to council to amend the planning scheme with new—valid—landowner consents or applying for judicial review of the commission’s decision.

The plans, which attracted controversy in the local area, were approved by 4-3 vote in council in November 2018.

The 3000-hectare site was acquired by nine different entities in 2015 and overlooks Freycinet National Park.

Development plans submitted in April 2018, showed the project will include the heritage-listed Cambria homestead and covers a number of registered Aboriginal sites.

The project was also set to feature a large village, two golf courses, functions and conference facilities and an 80-bed palliative-care unit.