Tasmanian Planning Commission rejects Chinese-backed consortium’s plans for resort overlooking Freycinet National Park

A controversial Chinese-backed multi-million-dollar tourist development in Tasmania has been blocked by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which found the application to rezone 3,000 hectares of agricultural land was not supported by the necessary paperwork.

The proposal from Australian-listed company Cambria Green to build a resort with 550 accommodation units and hotel rooms, two golf courses and an 80-bed health spa overlooking Freycinet National Park, near Swansea on the state’s east coast was rejected on Friday.

In a scathing decision published on Friday, the Planning Commission said the proposal did not have evidence it had the consent of all of the Hong Kong-based landowners to make the rezoning application, and had failed to comply with the Corporations Act in the letter of consent for the one title owned by Cambria Green.

The proposed development covered 12 titles owned by seven companies and two individuals. 

All but one of the companies - Cambria Green Agriculture Development Pty Ltd - are incorporated in Hong Kong.

In a scathing decision published on Friday, the planning commission said the proponent failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove it had the consent of all of the Hong Kong-based landowners to make the rezoning application, and had failed to comply with the Corporations Act in the letter of consent for the one title owned by Cambria Green.

The rezoning application was narrowly supported by Glamorgan Spring Bay Council in November 2018.

The mayor, Debbie Wisby, who voted against the application, said the Council accepted the Planning Commission’s decision, noting “where (the plan goes) to from here will depend on the proponents.”

The decision means that to resurrect the development, Cambria Green will have to re-submit its rezoning application to Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, starting the two-year process from scratch.

The proposed 3,185 hectare development area covers the old Cambria estate, centred around a heritage-listed 1821 homestead. The land abuts the Moulting Lagoon, a significant wetland and important black swan breeding site, and stretches across 12 titles, which were purchased by nine different entities from April to August in 2015.

Image: Shows the Cambria estate.