Launceston City Council has introduced a Development Opportunities Register on its web site to guide the future development of the municipality. The register, launched last year after an 18 month pilot project, is made up of selected commercial sites that have either a strategic location or potential for redevelopment.
The register describes their size, possible uses, development potential and planning scheme zoning. It gives contact details, an aerial photograph, and site plans for each location. Of 23 sites listed in the pilot, 13 have since been developed.
Council staff researched each site, contacted land owners, and compiled entries for the register. Council printed 50 copies for the public launch at $120 per copy and spent $300 updating its web site. Although it is easier, cheaper and more current to provide this information on Council’s web site, developers have preferred to own a hard copy of the register.
All the same, Council is confident of recovering its project costs through rates and increased employment that will result from the development of the sites. The Real Estate Institute of Tasmania has embraced the register and Councils from around Australia have shown interest in replicating it.
The Register can be viewed at www.launceston.tas.gov.au/upload/1734/development.pdf For further information contact Ian Abernethy on (03) 6323 3218.
