Project Description
Client: Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania
Year: 2012-2013
JMG in conjunction with BPSM Architects were engaged to develop and implement a long term site master plan for the Royal Hobart Showgrounds. The Master Plan was developed to provide a vision for the sustainable future of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania at the Hobart Showgrounds.
A detailed analysis of the site’s facilities, requirements and opportunities found that the existing use of the site was inefficient. Ad-hoc development over time resulted in inefficient use of the site and the site’s ageing buildings meant prohibitively costly maintenance. Furthermore, new functions expected of contemporary show facilities necessitated improved infrastructure.
The Master Plan provided adequate space allocation for all aspects and future needs of the Royal Hobart Show, improved flexibility of site usage to increase community uses and improved site infrastructure and access arrangements. By improving the efficiency of land use on the site, the Master Plan was able to open up part of the site for new commercial development, thereby generating a source of revenue to fund the capital works program.
To implement the Master Plan it was necessary to obtain approval for an amendment to the current planning scheme. The amendments included the insertion of site specific use and development standards, designed to ensure that future development is of high quality and in accordance with the long term vision for the site. The development controls also provide certainty for surrounding residents with respect to the type and form of future development on the site. The planning scheme amendments were introduced at a time of state-wide planning reform and so had to be consistent with the new statewide template for planning schemes but also work within the context of the current planning scheme.
