“This announcement is consistent with public statements made by HIA during the March election highlighting the real opportunity this move would create in easing housing pressures in Greater Hobart,” said Stuart Collins, HIA Executive Director Tasmania.
 
“For many years, Tasmania’s demand for housing has not been met with sufficient supply, resulting in significant stress on families and households in both the private and public housing market.
 
“Increasing supply is the key to addressing the housing and rental market problem and we need policies that support this.
 
“Attempts to block the release of the UTAS Sandy Bay campus for sensible residential development that could support a mix of housing including medium density, presents a significant backward step in solving Tasmania’s housing supply issues.
 
“The UTAS’ 2021 Sandy Bay site master plan included the development of practical and thoughtful precincts, featuring 2,500 homes, retirement living and aged care, tourism and a bushland reserve. The site is also able to utilise existing infrastructure, speeding up the development process and saving cost.
 
“The residential construction sector is ready and equipped to continue to build the housing of the future for Tasmanians, to meet the demand for new homes and to ease the crisis impacting many Tasmanian families but we need more ‘shovel ready’ land to achieve this,” concluded Mr Collins.

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