Housing Tasmania submitted its development application to Clarence City Council – 10 minutes east of Hobart – for the heritage site last week.
But local group Friends of Wirksworth House says the design of the facility does not “reflect the heritage, environmental and community values of the site,” and is concerned that many trees would be removed in the process.
Housing Minister, Roger Jaensch, has assured concerned parties that the existing Wirksworth House “would be preserved in accordance with Heritage Council regulations,” the facility would only take up a third of the site, and inject $30 million into the local economy – creating more than 30 full-time jobs for aged care staff.
TasCOSS, Shelter Tas and Council on the Ageing Tasmania have all welcomed the facility.
Even the Government has to fight for a development application.
