'Super lots' revealed in next stage of Devonport Showground redevelopment

The planning application to subdivide the century-old Devonport Showground, creating 16 "super lots" for further development, has been advertised for public display. It comes two years after developer Simon Want, founder of Enrich Ventures, took over the site, which the Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society sold to allow for the largest private infill housing development in Tasmania's history.

 

By Libby Bingham

The planning application to subdivide the century-old Devonport Showground, creating 16 "super lots" for further development, has been advertised for public display.

It comes two years after developer Simon Want, founder of Enrich Ventures, took over the site, which the Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society sold to allow for the largest private infill housing development in Tasmania's history.

A development application has been lodged with the council to subdivide the old Devonport Showground into 16 super-lots for further development. Image supplied.

A development application has been lodged with the council to subdivide the old Devonport Showground into 16 super-lots for further development. Image supplied.

Mr Want said the subdivision is consistent with previously revealed plans to create "a village in a city" and build 200 homes, aged care, disability housing, a health and retail precinct, and generous public parkland.

Plans for the infill housing redevelopment at the Devonport Showground. Image supplied.

Plans for the infill housing redevelopment at the Devonport Showground. Image supplied.

The Devonport City Council advertised the first development application (DA) for the showground site for public exhibition on April 20.

"To deliver a site this big and a project of this scale, you have to break it down into subsequent pieces, and this is the first step in doing that," Mr Want said.

He said the DA followed the site's rezoning towards the end of 2022.

The century-old Devonport Showground. Picture file

The century-old Devonport Showground. Picture file

"This is a technical but important step in the journey to realise the project," Mr Want said.

"This application supports the project vision and masterplan of a great place to live, offering sustainable, attainable living options for people of all ages."

Mr Want said it built on the six years of collaboration with the community, business, council, and government and was "entirely consistent" with the existing masterplan the community helped create since 2019.

A development application for the Devonport Showground housing redevelopment has been lodged and advertised for public comment. Image supplied.

A development application for the Devonport Showground housing redevelopment has been lodged and advertised for public comment. Image supplied.

The 16 "super lots" are located around the showground perimeter.

The lots range from 1000 metres squared to 8000 metres squared and allow for the retention and community use of existing buildings, such as the grandstand and the old Forth School building.

Mr Want said some buildings set for demolition could get a second life.

The subdivision utilised more than 1000 metres of street frontages and services infrastructure around the showground.

Some parts of the city, including the airport, registered 160mm in less than 24 hours.

Mr Want said it created smaller development parcels to allow the delivery of homes, services and community facilities and enabled the project's multiple elements to progress in parallel across the site.

"This specific DA does not seek approval for any new buildings," he said.

"This will be subject to future DAs."

Mr Want confirmed that he was not selling off bits of the showground.

"We're just making it easier to organise the site and deal with developing a 10-hectare site," he said.

"We're establishing manageable areas where we can deliver specific themed things by having several titles and not one."

He said one lot was hopefully for a childcare centre; one was aged care and retirement activities, a health precinct, and a community centre around the grandstand.

Devonport Showground developer Simon Want with signs advertising the successful farmers market he runs with his wife Lisa at the site. Picture file.

Devonport Showground developer Simon Want with signs advertising the successful farmers market he runs with his wife Lisa at the site. Picture file.

He said the time the project was taking was consistent with expectations.

"We're making substantial positive progress and moving ahead," he said.

"We've only had the site for two years, rezoned it, and got our first DA going out for advertisement."

Mr Want said he'd had strong interest from "eager" specialist partners and the community.

"We are committed to ensuring the Devonport Showground is a positive part of the fabric of the city - one that can be enjoyed by everyone."

 
Lisa WhiteThe Advocate