Representatives from eight Northern Tasmanian councils will meet on October 4 to potentially decide the fate of a $450 million urban development.

Ridgeside Lane is a major new development planned for Evandale. It includes more than 600 new residential blocks, retirement living and aged care services, an early learning and child care centre, a 4-5 star hotel, wellness centre, eco-resort, AFL-size oval, artisan village and hospitality training centre.

Its future hinges on a major amendment to the Northern Tasmanian Regional Land Use Strategy to allow for the rezoning of the site purchased for the development.

The Northern Midlands Council has approved the application to consider an amendment and it must now convince its neighbouring councils of the development’s benefits to the greater region as a state significant project.
The councils will all need to agree to amending the strategy to facilitate the rezoning of the site, which sits to the north east of the existing Evandale township with access planned from White Hills Rd.

If the other councils support the proposal, a recommendation will be made to the Tasmanian Planning Commission that the zoning of the site be amended from its existing agriculture status to future urban.

The project is being proposed by developers Traders In Purple, which has also committed to a $300 million investment at the old Kingston High School site, and the $100 million redevelopment of the AMC site at Beauty Point.

CEO Brett Robinson said it was an extensive and complicated process to achieve planning approval, but he was hopeful that it would be supported, with building work scheduled to start by 2021.

The entire development would be rolled out over a 15 to 20 year period.

“Traders In Purple remains committed to delivering a vibrant, inclusive community over 15 to 20 years,” Mr Robinson said.

“We believe that Ridgeside Lane will become a benchmark project for future community developments throughout Tasmania.
“It is not a standard residential subdivision. Our vision is to create a whole-of-life residential and tourism centre – including a 100-room hotel and conference facilities, and world- class botanical gardens – to build one of Australia’s most environmentally, sustainable, life-style communities.”

Mr Robinson said the Councils had convened a meeting for October 4 to discuss the request.

“There is no time-frame on a decision, but we anticipate it will be this side of Christmas,” he said.

“Traders In Purple have offered to present to all the councils, either collectively or individually. Those invitations went out last week and we are waiting on a response.”