New Waterfront Bars part 2

The Commissioner for Licensing web page is a good source of information for liquor licence applications:

15 September 2014

Scott Paul Allen

Sush Train Ground Floor, Marine Board Building 1 Franklin Wharf HOBART TAS 7000

Hobart

On-Restaurant

20 September 2014, Mercury Sush Train

The applicant seeks an on licence to authorize the sale of liquor for consumption on the premises. The applicant proposes to sell liquor to diners and non diners of their sushi style restaurant with a seating capacity of approximately 55 people.

This is the same Marine Board building as Frank is going in.

17 September 2014

Syed Faizuddin Syed Rohan

No Eye Deer Lower level, 28 Davey Street HOBART TAS 7000

Hobart

On

20 September 2014, Mercury No Eye Deer

The applicant seeks the grant of an On licence to authorize the sale of liquor for consumption on the premises. The applicant proposes to sell liquor to diners and non diners in a bar environment which is capable of seating approximately 60 people.

Another bar in the waterfront area, close to The Telegraph.

New Waterfront Restaurant and Bar

Frank Restaurant and Bar by the Smolt people looks to be a welcome addition to Hobart's waterfront.

On the ground floor of the Marine Board building it will have plenty of space and views.

Website:  http://frankrestaurant.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankrestaurantandbar

Cable Car Commenter Contronversy

In a previous post, some comments on a Mount Wellington Cable Car story in The Mercury were mentioned.

Included was a certain Nathan Carswell.

Nathan Carswell of Dynnyrne
POSTED AT 11:36 AM TODAY 

Lynda, looking at the proponents team listed on the MWCC website I think they are pretty experienced!

The response here was: "There are still no plans, and as we've seen the first three companies listed under the "International Team" are all the work of Steven Dale. Then there's the issue of finance."

Aside from non-specific support for the cable car, he doesn't really go into much detail.

Tas Times now asks the questions: Who is Nathan Carswell?

It's an extensive story and worth a read. The upshot being: While Nathan Carswell isn't a real person, he has made a submission to the Wellington Park Management Trust, which then incorporated some of his suggestions.

As Bob Burton's article states:

The modification may have been relatively minor but it illustrated that the management planning process can be gamed by an internet fake.

Whatever the merits or otherwise of a cable car up Mount Wellington, the credibility of this specific project and its proponent is seriously questionable.

Myer Update - Some Details and Stages

Small update in today's Mercury. Main gist:

Mr Crawford, of Architects Designhaus, was reported as saying that of the three ­stages, the first would be open by the end of next year, if not sooner. 

“The current works on the hole in the ground will be followed by Myer decamping from Murray St into the Liverpool St site,” the minutes say. 

“The second stage will be the demolition of the Myer building, followed by the construction of the hotel. 

“Myer will occupy the first two floors of the new building in Liverpool St, with speciality stores above that, connected by escalators from the basement floor. The old Fletcher Jones store ... will become the hotel foyer.

UTAS CBD Student Housing Complex Updated Plans

Updated plans for the student housing complete in Melville and Elizabeth streets have been released. There are a lot of files so here are a few:

• Plans
• A few others

There's also a brief article in The Mercury.

Hobart City Council Refutes Claim of Cable Car Leak

Media release by Mayor Damon Thomas, in part:

Responding to allegations from the Mount Wellington Cable Car Company, the Lord Mayor said, “The information about the height of the proposed towers was not confidential. The Mount Wellington Cable Car Company had shown plans of a proposed 75 metre tower in a public presentation on 16 April 2014.”

 Regarding the document as a whole:

The Lord Mayor further added that the Mount Wellington Cable Car Company provided a confidential ‘Backgrounder’ document in late April. However, on 13 May this year, Mr Bold went on a local radio station to announce the existence of the document, thereby legally waiving the requirement that the document and its content remain confidential. 

Update 10/07/2014: Official media release now up.

Mount Wellington Cable Car Tower Heights

The cable car tower heights appear to have been leaked, presumably by someone inside Hobart City Council.

They range from a 75m tower at the bottom to a 36m tower above the Organ Pipes.

There's much online discussion on Facebook and elsewhere, with supporters focussing on the leak and alleged "lies" by groups publicising the content. Yes, that doesn't make a lot of sense. If it's a leak, presumably the content is accurate.

The original ABC article is all that's worth linking to as follow up articles generally cover the witch-hunt to find the origin of the leak.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-06/fears-mount-wellington-cable-car-towers-tall-as-wrest-point/5575034

Other sites all have their own bias. Those opposed to the cable car have posted misleading photos with images of buildings on the mountain where pylons or towers would be, along with other allegations and implications that don't bare repeating without evidence.

Those supporting it generally don't like any dissent so responses tend to range from personal attacks to sweeping generalisations about nebulous groups for which they've chosen labels to marginalise, belittle and denigrate.

From shonky to nasty, the public process of this development isn't pretty. We've seen what happens with such divisive projects in the past. 

Montpelier Retreat, Brooke Street Pier

Here's a quick update to say there isn't really an update. Local rag The Mercury has done the old one two to talk up the possibility that Ali Sultan might be thinking about perhaps sometime in the future considering the possibility of resubmitting a DA for his Montpelier Retreat development to Hobart City Council.

Part 1 in essence:

Mr Sultan, pictured, told the Mercury yesterday he was ready to build his long-awaited Montpelier Retreat multi-use development in Salamanca. 

“I want to put my signature there. We are very close to going to have a chat with the Hobart City Council,’’ he said.

Read the full article for his thoughts on the revised design, parking and security. The article also contains general waffle about other construction goings on in Hobart town, mainly shuffling existing businesses around.

Part 2, predictably, is the gushing response from certain Hobart hoteliers and restaurateurs. While it's great that the neighbours support this project, it'd be even more great if there was actually some movement on the development front.

Also big news today is an article about the Cartela heading to Franklin, which, along with its planned refurbishment, is also to make way for the Brooke Street Pier development:

The vessel will leave for Franklin, south of Huonville, to make way for the pier redevelopment.

No further mention was made of the development.

Toll Warehouse at Brighton Transport Hub Nearing Completion

There hasn't been a lot of fanfare regarding the Brighton Transport hub of late leading many to believe it had died off completely.

However, Toll will be moving there in July:

AUSTRALIA’S largest mover of freight, Toll Group, is on track with the construction of its multi-million dollar custom-designed warehouse and facilities in the Brighton Transport Hub. 

The development is still on track for completion mid June this year with the facility being fully operational from July 1.

Toll Shipping operates between Burnie and Melbourne, so transporting containers by rail to and from Brighton makes a lot of sense.

Cable Car Comments

Comments are up!

Charles Gregory of Hobart POSTED AT 12:19 AM TODAY 

Wow... don't forget, this isn't a vote on a specific plan or for development approval - this is a vote on the general concept. Not blanket approval to build, just a nod to the proponent to say "go ahead and do further studies" - and they still can't pass it? Please tell us who voted against it - it looks like some Aldermen will be losing their seats later this year!

It's still unclear what exactly there is to "pass" here.

Alderman Burnet explains why HCC feels it shouldn't have to do MWCC's work for them:

Alderman Helen Burnet of Hobart POSTED AT 5:35 AM TODAY 

My decision last night was to take no further action on setting parameters for Mr Bold's cable car. The Wellington Park Management Plan exists, and there is no reason for Council to list all the requirements for a proposal that is in no concrete form. My concerns also included that this is a concept, which seems very unclear to me as to its financial viability. I wonder when there will be something that I can consider as part of Council, either as landlord or planning authority.

A quote from another comment perhaps indicates a level of confusion between concrete plans with signed-up backers and big ideas:

Nathan Carswell of Dynnyrne
POSTED AT 11:36 AM TODAY 

Lynda, looking at the proponents team listed on the MWCC website I think they are pretty experienced!

There are still no plans, and as we've seen the first three companies listed under the "International Team" are all the work of Steven Dale. Then there's the issue of finance.

This project certainly has some problems, but they aren't anything to do opposition to it or the Hobart City Council.

Cable Car: Council Vote to do Nothing

Business as usual:

Aldermen last night voted 5-5 – meaning a no vote – on a motion outlining what the criteria the developer needed to meet, for example, cost estimates, plans, associated infrastructure and preliminary environment and social impact assessments. 

The information would be the minimum needed before the council granted “owner consent’’ for any development on the land.

This was to be the next step for Adrian Bold, however it looks like he'll need to provide a development application after all:

Ald Ruzicka foreshadowed an alternative motion that later won six votes to four – to take no action and consider a development application as it would for any other project. 

She said the council had no power to consider any development not consistent with the Wellington Park Management Plan.

Bold may be running into difficulty, however:

Monitoring of the Mt Wellington Cableway Company’s (MWCC) social media sites by ROCC over the past five days found that statements it has secured ‘300% of the financing’[1] for the proposed project as well as ‘written landowner consent from the Cascade Brewery’ have now been removed from its site.[2]

 What did that editorial say again?

Questions are now being asked about the financial backing for the Mt Wellington cable car project — version two.

In the past many of the mooted multi-million developments that have promised to be a magic bullet for the state’s ailing economy have been supported and promoted by governments for political reasons — bread and circuses built on hot air that create the impression of activity.

Update 28/05/2014 - the next day: Glenorchy City Council wades in again. The move may look good for GCC but it isn't particularly significant. It doesn't have to actually do anything and the current preferred route is from Cascade Brewery in Hobart. Also, GCC have no say whatsoever about the pinnacle zone.

Myer Preliminary Works

More good news...perhaps:

HOBART’S new Myer store finally appears to be on its way. 

Seven years after the CBD retail icon was destroyed in a fire, work is about to begin on its replacement. 

Developers Kalis group has promised a $130 million, 12-storey tower, with a two-floor Myer super store with three floors of premium retail space below and a hotel above. 

Hobart City Council and Kalis Properties yesterday confirmed preliminary works on the Liverpool St site would start today.

Some would argue "preliminary works" had already started. Most of the article could be copy and paste from previous ones hyping up the potential development, but let's not get too cynical.

In amongst the supportive platitudes from the usual suspects, there's one key sentence:

A spokeswoman for Kalis Group said the construction timetable for the site would be revealed in coming weeks.

If true, (the spokesperson isn't actually named) then this information would be the best indicator in many years that something may actually be going ahead.

Reporting by the ABC is somewhat more restrained:

The Hobart City Council is removing the walkway between the Cat and Fiddle arcade and Liverpool Street. 

A timeframe for the development is expected to be finalised next month.

That's pretty much the gist of it, but more information was sought:

Myer has declined to make any public statement. 

The developer, Kalis Group, has been contacted for comment. 

Update 28/05/2015 - the next day: Looks like the old 1 - 2 for our local rag. The follow up story has even less information and basically covers the same ground as the ABC article. Except for actually asking Myer or the developer for comment.

Mercury Editorial on Development

There's an editorial talking up the Brooke Street Pier development and promoting the idea of similar scale developments.

TASMANIA’S economic future may be best served by chasing small, quality, achievable, dreams than by wasting time, effort and money in pursuing big, multi-million dollar developments that have little chance of getting off the ground. 

The state has had its share of grand designs — big projects announced in a blaze of publicity that often failed to materialise.

An interesting introduction, considering The Mercury's vocal support for pretty much all of these large-scale failed projects.

Questions are now being asked about the financial backing for the Mt Wellington cable car project — version two.

Also interesting, both because of The Mercury's high profile support for the cable car project and because people have been questioning the financial backing, and capacity to build it, for quite some time.

The question of the capacity of a "consortium" of one man and his companies was always left unanswered.

The lack of proactive, investigative journalism in this case could probably be explained by the need for the local paper to support big ideas, but it does give the impression it's not quite on the ball.

The new Liberal Government would do well to instead concentrate on creating a development climate for projects that are achievable and sustainable. 

A number of successful, smaller developments can easily add up to create a vibrant economy, jobs, and a future for coming generations — a big dream come true.

Indeed.

Brooke Street Floating Pier Progressing

Some good news at last:

Construction of the pontoon level of the pier, which will sit below water level, is 40 per cent complete. The entire structure is expected to be in place by November — ready for the summer influx of tourists to Sullivans Cove

It's an interesting article which goes into the design and construction of the pier in more depth than any previous story.

It's worth noting the four levels included in the design, with the lowest to be underwater:

Some 2000 tonnes of concrete had already been poured into the vast pontoon structure, which will be an underwater space for public toilets, kitchen preparation and storage, Mr Ashton-Jones said.

And the rest:

She said the second storey – the level above the underwater pontoon level – would be called the “Berth Deck” and include an outdoor deck at water level. 

The Berth Deck will be a departure lounge by day and function space by night for up to 800 people. It will also have cafe and retail space. 

The third storey Main Deck, will offer the market spaces for boutique businesses. The top level, called the Crow’s Nest, will house a restaurant and offices.

There's also an editorial talking it up and promoting the idea of similar scale developments.

Brooke Street Ferry Terminal

There's been no recent news on the floating Brooke Street Ferry Terminal, but it looks like it's scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014, in time for the summer season.

It's certainly a major improvement over existing infrastructure: http://www.circamorrisnunn.com.au/brooke-street-ferry-terminal/

Further information:

• http://macquariepoint.com/about/brook-street-pier/
• https://www.facebook.com/BrookeStreetPier

Council's Cable Car Capers

Further shenanigans for the Mount Wellington Cable Car project:

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/query-over-hobart-lord-mayor-damon-thomas-letter-backing-mt-wellington-cable-car-plan/story-fnj4f7k1-1226924676869

Despite his public assertions over the past few weeks the council would not provide in-principle support before the lodgement of a development application, Ald Thomas, right, has written to cable-car proponent Adrian Bold providing his personal backing for the concept.

Lord Mayor Damon Thomas is either getting ahead of himself, or he knows something other Aldermen don't:

Ald Jeff Briscoe obtained a copy of Ald Thomas’ letter to Mr Bold through a Right to Information request.

At least they're aware of the letter.

Yesterday, Tuesday the 20th of May 2014, it was reported:

Hobart City Council meets today to decide what information it needs from Mr Bold before considering whether to give landowner consent for the project.

Yet in the comments on this article, written after the Hobart City Council's meeting, Ald Jeff Briscoe states:

Today, I received the 50 page document that contained the request to the HCc by Mt Wellington cable car company - only minutes before the HCC meeting on the issue. Mr Bold stated on abc radio he had given the document to the council to consider. 

I only gained the document thru’ a right to information request following external legal advice that I was entitled to have it. Strange days when an HCC alderman cannot have the materials required to make decisions and needs to revert to the law to gain it. 

This whole current cable car process needs more transparency. The document itself lacks detail - a significant part of it are letters of support including one from The Lord Mayor. I have called tonight for Lord Mayor to consider his position. 

Posted by (ALD) Jeff Briscoe on 20/05/14 at 08:39 PM

So has Bold already decided what HCC need? Or was he just handing over a bunch of supporting letters?

I imagine the next step is HCC stating exactly what they need from from the Mount Wellington Cable Car company to be able to offer "in-principle support", whatever that actually means.

Some related reading: Cable car company to be sold to Canadian investor

Update: Commenting on the comments of the most recent article: It seems some people are still labelling anyone who questions the business case, backers or approvals processes as "anti-everything" and/or "NIMBYs", often attacking the aforementioned "dinosaur" based on any irrelevant attribute without adequately addressing any of the points. 

Should there be development at any cost or no development ever? I don't think anyone is advocating either of those viewpoints, so why accuse them of it?

Myer No Progress Report

Another article from The Mercury regarding the Myer non-development:

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/we-just-want-hobart-store-built-says-myer-boss-admitting-to-deep-concerns/story-fnj4f7k1-1226903952358

Myer boss Bernie Brookes:

“I have been speaking to government people in the last few days about my concerns because it seems like nothing is moving,” Mr Brookes said yesterday. 

“We are encouraging the Government to try and get it going.”

Developer Kalis Group spokeswoman Alexia Kalis:

“The Kalis Group is extremely committed to this project,” she said. 

“We want to get it done for Hobart and Tasmania and we are working with the State Government and local govern­ment and Myer to make this happen. 

“We agree with all of the Myer terms and we are pushing to get it done.

Cocktails all round then! Although as The Mercury's Matt Smith states:

It is unclear what the State Government could do to get the project up and going.

This development is much needed and I suspect articles like these are just to remind us it hasn't been totally forgotten. The general public aren't privy to the details of the hold up so it's easy to become weary of these non-updates.

Cable Car "Investors impatient"

Another day, another step in the campaign by Adrian Bold and The Mercury:

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/investors-impatient-says-proponent-as-tensions-rise-on-cable-car/story-fnj4f7k1-1226900239148

Some choice quotes in this article:

CABLE car proponent Adrian Bold will hold a meeting with potential investors in Zurich and Toronto tomorrow night to discuss the future of the $37 million project. 

“It’s quite clear their pat­ience is being tested — they need to consider their opt­ions,” Mr Bold said.

An interesting introduction, but who is testing their patience? A council with due process or a self-proclaimed "developer" not wanting to follow procedures?

He has been at odds with the Hobart City Council over the process surrounding the Mount Wellington cable car project.

His choice. He's only "at odds" because he wants to make his own rules.

“Council are well aware of the implications but are adamant about the process — they simply don’t appreciate the uniqueness of the project,’’ Mr Bold said.

It's hard to know what Bold is trying to achieve here. He's unlikely to convince anyone with this approach.

But back to that first line:

CABLE car proponent Adrian Bold will hold a meeting with potential investors in Zurich and Toronto tomorrow night to discuss the future of the $37 million project.

Switzerland: That'd be this company, listed as a partner on Bullwheel's website:  http://cable-car.net/

There's some fairly generic information on the site, but it all sounds rather familiar.

Checking the domain: cable-car.net

Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: Steven Dale
Registrant Organization: ---
Registrant Street: 219 carlton st.
Registrant City: Toronto
Registrant State/Province: ON
Registrant Postal Code: M5A 2L2
Registrant Country: CA
Registrant Phone: +1.4165245056
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext.:
Registrant Email: steven.e.dale@gmail.com
Registry Admin ID:
Admin Name: Steven Dale
Admin Organization: ---
Admin Street: 219 carlton st.
Admin City: Toronto
Admin State/Province: ON
Admin Postal Code: M5A 2L2
Admin Country: CA
Admin Phone: +1.4165245056
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin Fax:
Admin Fax Ext.:
Admin Email: steven.e.dale@gmail.com

Steven Dale's name pops up again. It's also a relatively recent site and company, formed in June 2013.

The Toronto based connection would be Steven Dale's  Bullwheel International Cable Car Corp:  http://bullwheel.ca

Steven Dale makes no secret of the fact he's involved with both these companies and more:

• Chief Executive Officer at Bullwheel International Cable Car Corp.
• President at Creative Urban Projects Inc.
• Managing Director (Co) at Cable Car Consultants GmbH

Mount Wellington Cable Car Proposal Stuck

No surprises again, the Mount Wellington cable car proposal is stuck at (first) base:

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/mt-wellington-cable-car-stuck-at-base-as-hobart-council-says-no-to-inprinciple-support/story-fnj4f7k1-1226898729425

The reasons are a little different for this one: the developer Adrian Bold doesn't seem to have done his homework.

The issues raised in the article have been discussed before, Alderman Ron Christie even wrote a letter which was published in The Mercury on Saturday April the 26th outlining the processes a developer is required to follow:

1. Talk to the Wellington Park Trust regarding extending the pinnacle zone to allow for development.
2. Then lodge a development application with the Hobart City Council

See agenda item 18 for more detail: http://www.hobartcity.com.au/files/95ae22a5-e17a-465d-9357-a316010872cd/280414_Open_Council_Agenda.pdf

The council can't give "in-principle" support to anything without plans, this has been clear for quite some time.

Are the investors wary of committing to the project if it isn't certain it will go ahead? This is understandable, but there must be some element of risk accepted by the developer and investors.

The investors appear to be an outfit called Bullwheel International Cable Car Corp: http://bullwheel.ca/

It's hard to find much information about them. Two projects listed on their website are yet to be commenced, while a third is "To Be Announced".

Bullwheel's partners include CUPS ( http://creativeurbanprojects.com/ ), which is another site by Bullwheel's CEO Steven Dale.

The CUPS website then links to another of Steven Dale's websites:  The Gondola Project ( http://gondolaproject.com/ ). This appears to be quite a comprehensive resource devoted to "cable-propelled transit".

The Bullwheel website has a brief bio on Steven Dale, which includes the line:

Steven has managed and developed projects around the globe; is frequently profiled in major media outlets; has co-published several peer reviewed journal articles; and travels constantly in order to help educate people about the unique value that cable transit systems can offer urban environments.

While it's hard to fault the in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm of the backers, the lack of publicly accessible information regarding developments funded by the investor Bullwheel International Cable Car Corp and projects completed by Steven Dale make it difficult to determine their experience with such developments.

The lack of proper plans by MWCC could also be a sticking point. Perhaps they're waiting for approval first.

Parliament Square Development Stalled

Old news by now, but once again a development in Hobart has stalled.

It could be related to asbestos:

http://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/union-claims-asbestos-find-halts-parliament-square-work/story-fnj64ocs-1226885624026

Or perhaps pay and conditions:

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/cfmeu-workers-walk-off-job-at-hobarts-parliament-square-development/story-fnj4f7k1-1226880582351

I can't wait to read some happy news about a worthwhile development actually being completed. Perhaps the carpark + more on the corner of Argyle and Bathurst will be the next to be finished.

There's some very good information and discussion on Parliament Square (and other developments) on SkyscraperCity.