There's a bunch of stuff going on in North + North West Tasmania. Not much compared to our mainland capital compatriates or even Hobart, but for this part of the world, it's enough to get the locals whinging, and it's a sign of progress considering what it was like here 10 years ago.

I can't find much on the 'net but I've seen plenty of drawings move through our office. I'll add to the thread as I find things and time permits. Some are proposals, some are for sale, some are under construction and some are recently completed.

LAUNCESTON
Gasworks Apartments
Reusing an existing circular gasworks frame into new development..
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9871/20068768152fsxe5.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3657/20068767957fshj5.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7977/20068767959fsgn1.jpg

Cimetere House
Tasmania's first 5 star green rated office building?
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/841/5308663al1187133748fc4.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4922/5308663ml1187133399qt8.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2786/5308663cl1187133401jt3.jpg
Harts Apartments
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/172/20071498641fsum2.jpg

BURNIE
Bay Renaissance Apartments 7st - $9M - Complete
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8402/apartmentdayapq4.jpg

PENGUIN
Nomicos plans knocked back (http://http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/nomicos-plans-knocked-back/776278.aspx)
http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/full/168182.jpg


Other News
Devonport development boom on horizon (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/development-boom-on-horizon/766817.aspx)
Burnie hotel proposals (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/city-could-see-two-big-hotel-developments/288691.aspx)

Launceston and the north region are going off! keep it up!

STRAHAN
Proposed Hotel Development, Regatta Point
http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/full/109987.jpg
More here (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/developer-offers-a-new-vision-for-regatta-point/373698.aspx)

Cimetere House
Tasmania's first 5 star green rated office building?
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/841/5308663al1187133748fc4.jpg

Is that Boags Brewery across the road (the green building)?

** double post **

There is also the $30 million Old Launceston hospital re-development.

:(http://www.hotelcharles.com.au/images/charles.jpg

CH Smith is for sale again sadly.

$200 million Musselroe resort is also being built, although this is on the north-east coast.

$200 million Musselroe resort is also being built, although this is on the north-east coast.

Any renders for this one?

Is that Boags Brewery across the road (the green building)?

No, that's a Spotlight store (you can just make out the sign over the footpath) the Brewery is about 1 block north.

Any renders for this one?
There's a whole website. (http://www.musselroe.com/)
Architects' site. (http://www.tzg.com.au/projects/musselroe-bay)
http://www.musselroe.com/images/MB_web_crop_02.jpg

BURNIE
Makers Workshop
Designs for exhibition displays underway (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/designs-for-exhibition-displays-underway/1340952.aspx)
http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/large/389750.jpg

DEVONPORT
Centre brings 400 jobs (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/centre-brings-400-jobs/1335852.aspx)
"FOUR hundred jobs are predicted to come with a mammoth $50m North-West Coast Homemaker Centre developers hope to open in Devonport in just a year..."

There's a whole website. (http://www.musselroe.com/)
Architects' site. (http://www.tzg.com.au/projects/musselroe-bay)
http://www.musselroe.com/images/MB_web_crop_02.jpg

thanks. it looks good

Would be awesome if there was a thread listing all the major projects in Hobart/Tasmania and even Canberra ;)

mg262/172/20071498641fsum2.jpg[/IMG]

BURNIE
Bay Renaissance Apartments 7st - $9M - Complete
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8402/apartmentdayapq4.jpg

Some pretty nice developments in Regional Tassie. I especially like this design, would look nice along the Adelaide coast like Henley Beach.

Other projects in Launceston

Loggia Apartments in Brisbane Street

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/0869/105030869mm1215158094.jpg
http://www.fairbrother.com.au/projects/images/Loggia001.jpg

$20 million Paterson Central Carpark

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/2166/5412166mm1214204051.jpg

$42 million Uni Village. I don't know whats happening with that as there seems to be no progress at the site.

http://www.univillage.com.au/Images/Structural/Page/hdr_Overview.jpg

$8 million Australian Technical College development at Inveresk in Launceston. Images at http://www.atcnt.com.au/development/dev_app.html

A $10million upgrade of Aurora Stadium and Invermay Park.

I believe There's more projects in Launceston than in Hobart.

Does Launceston have less strict rules than Hobart? From what I've heard Hobart has a very NIMBY government

Launceston Airport is even getting a $20 million makeover.

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/uploads/images/term%20walkthroughsep06%20010.JPG

There's also the $200 million Launceston Airport Business Park. But construction seems to have stopped because of financial problems.

Does Launceston have less strict rules than Hobart? From what I've heard Hobart has a very NIMBY government

Same government but Hobart City Council are a lot slower with planning approvals than Launceston City Council, even though Launceston's not great.

A $26.3 million Aquatic Centre is also currently under construction and is expected to be completed in March next year.

Many of these development's might not seem big for many people living in large cities, but for a small city like launceston, it's big news.

wooo for launnie. at least there is some part of tassie that isn't going stale like hobart

Which is a shame because Hobart has major potential of being something special.

Some low/mid rise apartments with cafes, shops, restaurants and bars along the Hobart CBD waterfront with the backdrop of Mount Wellington would be amazing.

And to top it of with Hobart's stunning elegant architecture, Hobart would be one hot destination.

Could not agree more about the potential for Hobart.

However, the Hobart City Council is essentially paralysed with competing interests and has no real strategy for growth - unless you include organising bike lanes and kite festivals...... It is without doubt the most anti development capital city in Australia. It has no development vision at all.

Good to see some work up north but Launceston has never had the commerical pressures Hobart has so it has retained most of its Victorian architecture. A lot of substantial Hobart buildings were demolished in the 60s and 70s to make way for rather dull 4 and and 5 storey Government Offices. As a result the Heritage/Green lobby in Hobart is very strong and the Hobart City Council is senstive to any commercial development likely to change the character of the city.

Construction wise though Hobart still has more major projects on the go/ approved than Launceston viz;

Menzies Centre - $48 million
RACT Offices - $8 million
New Centrelink Offices Liverpool Street - $5 milliion
Hadleys Hotel Extension - $35 million
Sultan Hotel Collins Street - $20 million
Montpeilor Retreat Battery Point - $40 million
Liverpool Street Retail and Offices - $40 million
Collins Street Offices - $5 million
DFO Hobart Airport - $80 million
New Museum of Modern Art Berridale $50 million
Airport Hotel and related developments - $15 million
Homemaker Hub - Cambridge Park - $30 million

Plus a host of smaller developments (up to $1 milliion) close to starting.

Of course if the new Royal Hobart Hospital gets underway in the next year or so that will be worth at least a billion dollars and will no doubt lead to a cluster of new buildings including hotels, private medical centres and related developments right across the waterfront site.

Also the State Government still has plans to spend up to $100 million on the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the above list does not include what might yet come out of the Parliament Square redelopment proposals.

The credit crunch might delay some of the above projects but preliminary work has already begun on most of them.

Hobart really could be the most stunning capital city in Australia but it just needs to grow a bit more, embrace the future architecture wise and not let its "future be a prisoner of its past".

:)

^^

Oops!! :ohno:Forgot to inlcude the following Hobart projects to the above list;

Hampden Road Apartments - $2 million
Extension to Centrepoint Carpark - $5 million

Thanks for that, some of those projects sound promising.

Interesting to hear Hobart is getting a DFO

Launceston is finally moving forward after many years of nothing.

Hobart should be one of the most stunning cities in Australia, but the CBD looks rather ugly. Some parts of the Launceston CBD looks really good while some 6-7 story brick buildings make the city look like a dump along with the CH Smith area. I hope those 20 odd meter old brick buildings get demolished but they never will, well not for a long time.

The northern half of the city center looks a lot better than the southern.

Does anyone know how much the Loggia apartments are expected to cost?
Launceston Projects Values:


Launceston Gasworks $35 million
Cimitiere House $10 million
Uni Village $42 million
Hotel Charles (Old Launceston Hospital) $30 million
Paterson Central (Car Park and 5 retail facilities) $20 million
Upgrade of Aurora Stadium and Invermay Park $10 million
Launceston Regional Aquatic Centre $26.3 million
Launceston Airport re-development $20 million (Fastest Growing Aiport in Tasmania by the way)
$200 million Airport Business park

nice list optomistone, and don't forget all the happenings at kingston

Could not agree more about the potential for Hobart.

However, the Hobart City Council is essentially paralysed with competing interests and has no real strategy for growth - unless you include organising bike lanes and kite festivals...... It is without doubt the most anti development capital city in Australia. It has no development vision at all.

Good to see some work up north but Launceston has never had the commerical pressures Hobart has so it has retained most of its Victorian architecture. A lot of substantial Hobart buildings were demolished in the 60s and 70s to make way for rather dull 4 and and 5 storey Government Offices. As a result the Heritage/Green lobby in Hobart is very strong and the Hobart City Council is senstive to any commercial development likely to change the character of the city.

Construction wise though Hobart still has more major projects on the go/ approved than Launceston viz;

Menzies Centre - $48 million
RACT Offices - $8 million
New Centrelink Offices Liverpool Street - $5 milliion
Hadleys Hotel Extension - $35 million
Sultan Hotel Collins Street - $20 million
Montpeilor Retreat Battery Point - $40 million
Liverpool Street Retail and Offices - $40 million
Collins Street Offices - $5 million
DFO Hobart Airport - $80 million
New Museum of Modern Art Berridale $50 million
Airport Hotel and related developments - $15 million
Homemaker Hub - Cambridge Park - $30 million

Plus a host of smaller developments (up to $1 milliion) close to starting.

Of course if the new Royal Hobart Hospital gets underway in the next year or so that will be worth at least a billion dollars and will no doubt lead to a cluster of new buildings including hotels, private medical centres and related developments right across the waterfront site.

Also the State Government still has plans to spend up to $100 million on the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the above list does not include what might yet come out of the Parliament Square redelopment proposals.

The credit crunch might delay some of the above projects but preliminary work has already begun on most of them.

Hobart really could be the most stunning capital city in Australia but it just needs to grow a bit more, embrace the future architecture wise and not let its "future be a prisoner of its past".

:)


Quite an impressive list (for a small city) when they're listd like that.

What's the liverpool St retail and offices about. Have I missed something??

yes and also which one is the collins st offices project?

Quite an impressive list (for a small city) when they're listd like that.

What's the liverpool St retail and offices about. Have I missed something??

^^

That is the 9 storey Sultan development approved for the corner of Liverpool and Argyle Street - directly opposite from the Royal Hobart Hospital. The development also includes an extension to the Hobart City Council Car Park. I am pretty sure there will be some work starting on that site in the New Year - Ali has most of his contractors still finishing off his Hoabrt Airport developments.

I also forgot to mention a slew of aged care and residential projects underway as well in Hobart ( the final stage of Vaucluse Gardens and Mount St Canice) and the Brighton Interchange and Cargo Hub ($80 million) and as Ordex mentioned there are at least 3 significant projects underway in Kingston.

:)

yes and also which one is the collins st offices project?

^^

Ordex - this is a new development submitted just 3 weeks ago for the old Red Line Coach depot. The plan is to completely re develop the building by installing a new mezanine floor and creating Hobart's largest open plan floor space. New windows, skylights and rendering is also planned at a cost of $5 million. It is a pity that the building envelope won't be altered (another ground scraper) but it will tidy up what is an eyesore. I suspect it will go ahead as it is proposed by the same developer building the new Centrlelink Offices next door.

I also forgot to mention the proposed 4 storey residential development planned for the car park adjacent to the Mercure Hotel in Bathurst Street. It intitally got knocked back by the Hobart City Council at 5 stories but the developer got approval in the Planning Tribunal for 4 stories earlier this year - not sure when (if) it will get a start. value is around $5 million.


:)

they weren't allowed to build a 5 story block next to the mecure which is what...6 or 7 stories? how ridiculous.
if I were a developer down here and I wanted to build something I'd just tack on a few more stories than what I actually wanted...watch it get knocked back...then resubmit at the value I originally wanted ;)

they weren't allowed to build a 5 story block next to the mecure which is what...6 or 7 stories? how ridiculous.
if I were a developer down here and I wanted to build something I'd just tack on a few more stories than what I actually wanted...watch it get knocked back...then resubmit at the value I originally wanted ;)

^^

"If I were a developer down here....." I would need lithium, industrial quantities of alcohol and regular electric shock treatment to keep me sane:nuts::nuts::cheers:

haha good call.

No, that's a Spotlight store (you can just make out the sign over the footpath) the Brewery is about 1 block north.

Oh yeah, should have looked at the photo more closely! :lol:

It looked familiar - my wife and I stayed one(?) block to the south of there in Cameron Street for a couple of nights back in April, and I remember going for a walk around that area.

You didn't walk to the brewery and sample a few did you? lol

You didn't walk to the brewery and sample a few did you? lol

I didn't unfortunately.

http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/full/399316.jpg
Luxury resort to rival best NZ lodges
BY LORETTA JOHNSTON
11/11/2008 9:59:00 AM

A NEW resort on Tasmania's East Coast will compete against the finest of New Zealand's lodges, Federal Group managing director Greg Farrell said yesterday.
Saffire will be the State's most expensive resort, with rates ranging from $1000 to $3000 a night.


Mr Farrell said the resort, which is due to be open by December 2009, would herald a new era in Tasmanian tourism.


"Tasmania will be attractive, we feel, to more discerning visitors to the State," he said.


"Our award-winning architects, Robert Morris-Nunn and Associates, have created a truly unique coastal sanctuary that introduces a new level of luxury to Tasmania that is of an equivalent standard to any of the world's finest five-star properties.


"Saffire will include a world- class day spa and gym, guest lounge, premium meeting facilities and will showcase Tasmanian fresh produce and exceptional wines in the fine dining restaurant."


Mr Farrell said the inspiration behind the resort's name came from fire and water and that it was a reference to a deposit of natural sapphires at Coles Bay.


The total investment by the company is more than $32 million and Mr Farrell said Federal Group had worked with Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council and the State Government to address water shortage issues.


"Essentially we've quadrupled the source of the catchment area for fresh water for Coles Bay," he said.


Saffire is replacing the former Hazards development.


Mr Farrell said marketing research indicated there was greater demand for a boutique development, rather than a larger scale development such as the Hazards proposal.

[sauce] (http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/economy-business-it-finance/luxury-resort-to-rival-best-nz-lodges/1356709.aspx)

Sounds fantastic! :)

DEVONPORT
Centre brings 400 jobs (http://nwtasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/centre-brings-400-jobs/1335852.aspx)
"FOUR hundred jobs are predicted to come with a mammoth $50m North-West Coast Homemaker Centre developers hope to open in Devonport in just a year..."
This project has been recently approved (http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/council-approves-home-centre-in-111-vote/1386968.aspx) by council.

Burnie: Harris Scarfe is moving out (http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/burnies-harris-scarfe-to-close-28-jobs-lost/1385339.aspx), so the developers are looking at developing (http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/big-dollars-to-be-spent-on-cbd-site/1386970.aspx) the CBD site.

Ulverstone Showground redevelopment (http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/showground-tenders-goahead/1386969.aspx) to tender...

and we're in a financial crisis.

There doesn't seem to be a lot happening at the Loggia, Gasworks and Uni Village sites.

^^

Ordex - this is a new development submitted just 3 weeks ago for the old Red Line Coach depot. The plan is to completely re develop the building by installing a new mezanine floor and creating Hobart's largest open plan floor space. New windows, skylights and rendering is also planned at a cost of $5 million. It is a pity that the building envelope won't be altered (another ground scraper) but it will tidy up what is an eyesore. I suspect it will go ahead as it is proposed by the same developer building the new Centrlelink Offices next door.

I also forgot to mention the proposed 4 storey residential development planned for the car park adjacent to the Mercure Hotel in Bathurst Street. It intitally got knocked back by the Hobart City Council at 5 stories but the developer got approval in the Planning Tribunal for 4 stories earlier this year - not sure when (if) it will get a start. value is around $5 million.


:)

Well this is happening all of a sudden. I work out of the City so don't see much action - I rely on the Mercury instead!

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/03/11/60441_tasmania-news.html

Hot ideas for cool old building
CHARLES WATERHOUSE

March 11, 2009

THE former Redline coach depot in Hobart is being transformed into state-of-the-art offices.

The building in Collins St was originally used by Australian electrical manufacturer Astor.

The architect for the redevelopment of the 1950s building, John Button of Heffernan Button Voss, believes the site was used to assemble televisions and radios.

"It is amazing to think of this in Hobart," he said. "This would have been round the time of the advent of television (in Australia in 1956)."

The Health Insurance Commission will take up the 2500 sq m ground floor.

The 800 sq m mezzanine level - formerly a backpacker premises - will be leased.

There will also be two levels of car parking at the rear of the building's Liverpool St end.

Developer TGDH Holdings Pty Ltd is aiming to secure a four-star green rating and a 4.5 NABERS rating - a performance-related rating based on a building's operational impacts on the environment.

Because it had been a factory, the building was largely column-free, which suited the conversion to office space, and the original saw-tooth roof, allowing natural lighting, would be retained, Mr Button said.

In fact, the exterior of the building would change little, he said.

The displacement air-conditioning system would be unusual for Australia, he said.

Most buildings have air-conditioning ducts in ceilings, pushing air downwards. In Tasmania, there is generally a greater need for heating, rather than cooling.

The building will have a system in which air will be pumped through grilles in a false floor 0.5m above the existing floor. This means the old roof trusses can stay exposed.

Mr Button said the system was a first for a Hobart office building.

The redevelopment should be completed in September.

Cheers Rover - thanks for the up-date from the Mercury.

I walked past it early in the week and it looks like a bomb site at the moment!

I will try and get a photo or two of the redevelopment work some time next week.

Haven't got any photos of the old Red Line Coach depot refurbishment but here a couple of snaps of a new small hotel development in Hampden Road, Battery Point. I think the operator might be Doherty's which also owns Hadleys.

This has been on the go since April last year!! And is still at least a couple of months away from completion. Not a scraper (Battery Point Planning Scheme is very tough re building heights) but adds a little bit of density and is a good location for Salamanca Place and the Hobart waterfront.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4885/photos2023.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos2023.jpg)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4859/photos2022.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos2022.jpg)

Great to see these photos!

http://www.fairbrother.com.au/projects/images/CimitiereHouse0301.jpg

David Bartlett, MP

Premier

Tuesday, 31 March 2009


Environmentally Sustainable Cimitiere House Opened

The Premier, David Bartlett, today officially opened Cimitiere House in Launceston, which has been designed and developed as an environmentally sustainable commercial office building.

“The building uses natural light, recycled water, solar-generated heating and Tasmanian recyclable building materials,” Mr Bartlett said.

“There’s a low level of power usage and reduced air emissions, making use of natural ventilation.

“For cycling enthusiasts, there are bike racks. For everyone, there are multiple shower facilities, a common room café and meeting space.

“Developments like this one will help to reduce Tasmania’s greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment.

“The Government is currently developing a sustainability policy for new and existing government buildings (leased and owned), including office buildings, hospitals and schools.

“We’ll be training tenancy officers to help tenants to increase their energy efficiency and we’re installing installation in public housing.

“Buildings which consider environmentally sustainable design are also usually healthier homes and healthier workplaces with increased productivity.”

The Premier said that buildings like Cimitiere House were an important contribution towards Tasmania achieving a 60 per cent reduction in emissions of 1990 levels by 2050.

“I congratulate the project team for demonstrating that environmentally sustainable buildings are not just viable in large cities, but also that more regional centres like Launceston can afford to build environmentally sustainable and commercially viable buildings.”

Glenn Smith & Associates is the overall Project Manager for the development. The project team includes Enmore Enterprises Pty Ltd (project developers), Pitt & Sherry (project engineers and green star rating accredited professional) and Fairbrother Pty Ltd (builder). Engineering Solutions Tasmania provided advice on energy efficiency measures for the development.

The development has been registered as a Five Star Green Star development under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating tool (Office Design).

The Green Star assessment process evaluates building projects or existing buildings against eight environmental impact categories (management, indoor environment quality, energy, transport, water, building materials, land use and ecology, emissions). The assessment process also takes innovation into consideration.

The Launceston Airport development is set to be completed in October.

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/asp/watermarked_gallery_manager_view.aspx?img=23.02.09%20069.jpg&width=350

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/asp/watermarked_gallery_manager_view.aspx?img=23.02.09%20070.jpg&width=350

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/asp/watermarked_gallery_manager_view.aspx?img=23.02.09%20076.jpg&width=350

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/asp/watermarked_gallery_manager_view.aspx?img=Picture%20046.jpg&width=350

http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/bloogoocms/asp/watermarked_gallery_manager_view.aspx?img=19.01.09%20006.jpg&width=350

More Images here: http://www.launcestonairport.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=551&originalCat=0

^^
Good summary Tassieboy.

Have managed to get a few shots of the redevelopment of the old Red Line Coach Depot in Hobart's West End...unfortunatley will not add any height to the street but will tidy up what was a pretty much derelict building (which, belive it or not - used to be the Astor Television factory in the early 1960s.)

When finished it will be the new Hobart home for the Department of Veteran's Affairs...should be finished by December.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5540/photos4011.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos4011.jpg)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1390/photos4013.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos4013.jpg)

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3092/photos4014.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos4014.jpg)

PLUS AS AN EXTRA BONUS...a shot of the recently completed Hobart Centrelink Headquarters...not much from the outside but it is absolutely massive inside.a real groundscraper..which is adjacent to the above development. Built by the same developer too...and filled in what was for many years an empty car park lot.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2765/photos4015.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photos4015.jpg)

Great photos! Launceston Aquatic is coming along well! Went for a look yesterday and it's a lot bigger than i thought. Still a long way of completion though..

Photos of construction of Launceston Aquatic. I took these photos from my phone so quality not very high. The centre is set to open on May 25. Next Month!! Photo size too large so I didn't post them on this site.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Launceston_Aqautic_indoor.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Launceston_Aquatic_view_fx.jpg

Nice photos Tassieboy.

And its bigger than the Hobart Centre as well so that will keep the Northern Mafia happy.....

The great thing about it is that it's got an outside section unlike Hobart's! Can't wait for it to open.

The great thing about it is that it's got an outside section unlike Hobart's! Can't wait for it to open.

...and during those brisk Launceston winter's you might be able to ice skate on part of it.....:)

Haha good call. Got a virtual frost here the other morning. :ohno:

http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/full/399316.jpg
Luxury resort to rival best NZ lodges
BY LORETTA JOHNSTON
11/11/2008 9:59:00 AM

A NEW resort on Tasmania's East Coast will compete against the finest of New Zealand's lodges, Federal Group managing director Greg Farrell said yesterday.
Saffire will be the State's most expensive resort, with rates ranging from $1000 to $3000 a night.


Mr Farrell said the resort, which is due to be open by December 2009, would herald a new era in Tasmanian tourism.


"Tasmania will be attractive, we feel, to more discerning visitors to the State," he said.


"Our award-winning architects, Robert Morris-Nunn and Associates, have created a truly unique coastal sanctuary that introduces a new level of luxury to Tasmania that is of an equivalent standard to any of the world's finest five-star properties.


"Saffire will include a world- class day spa and gym, guest lounge, premium meeting facilities and will showcase Tasmanian fresh produce and exceptional wines in the fine dining restaurant."


Mr Farrell said the inspiration behind the resort's name came from fire and water and that it was a reference to a deposit of natural sapphires at Coles Bay.


The total investment by the company is more than $32 million and Mr Farrell said Federal Group had worked with Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council and the State Government to address water shortage issues.


"Essentially we've quadrupled the source of the catchment area for fresh water for Coles Bay," he said.


Saffire is replacing the former Hazards development.


Mr Farrell said marketing research indicated there was greater demand for a boutique development, rather than a larger scale development such as the Hazards proposal.

[sauce] (http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/economy-business-it-finance/luxury-resort-to-rival-best-nz-lodges/1356709.aspx)

Even the ever-dry east Coast has copped some major rain... From today's Mercury online:

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/15/103535_todays-news.html

Rain delays resort building

THE distinctive roofline of the Federal Group's new resort is well advanced, despite heavy rains hampering construction.

The $32 million Saffire resort was scheduled to be completed by December.

But wet weather has delayed construction by 11 weeks. The company now hopes to welcome the first guests to its new Coles Bay resort by February next year.

Video: A fly-through of what the Saffire resort will look like

Gallery: Take a look inside the Saffire resort

In September, Treasurer Michael Aird extended the resort's construction deadline because of rain delays.

The building of the luxury resort was a requirement of the exclusive deal granting Federal the right to operate Tasmania's 3680 poker machines until 2018. The company now has until April 30 2010 to complete the development.

However, Federal Group corporate affairs manager Brendan Bromeley said the resort was "well advanced" and should open well ahead of the new deadline.

"We have every intention and are on track for a February 2010 opening," he said.

When completed, the 20-suite resort at Coles Bay will offer guests five-star accommodation for $1000-$3000 a night.

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The fly-through and gallery is worth viewing...

Looks like regional Tassie has kept quiet for some time...again.