Devonport Showground racing infrastructure set to get demolished

It has been a year since the century-old Devonport Showground was sold to pave the way for the largest private infill housing development in Tasmania's history without many visible changes at the site. However, developer Simon Want of Enrich Ventures said his plans to create "a village in a city" and build 200 homes, aged care, and disability housing, a health facility, and public parkland at the showground were still on course.

 

By Libby Bingham

Updated April 28 2023 - 9:58PM, first published 5:00PM

It has been a year since the century-old Devonport Showground was sold to pave the way for the largest private infill housing development in Tasmania's history without many visible changes at the site.

Developer Simon Want at the Devonport Showground where he plans to build 200 homes as part of Tasmania's biggest private infill housing project. Picture by Rodney Braithwaite.

However, developer Simon Want of Enrich Ventures said his plans to create "a village in a city" and build 200 homes, aged care, and disability housing, a health facility, and public parkland at the showground were still on course.

He said the time taken was not unusual for a project of this nature.

He said the demolition of obsolete racing infrastructure was about to happen this year.

Mr Want dismissed the rumours circulating on social media that the showground is up for sale again.

Hwever, some of the showground buildings were available for lease.

"What we will see is a gradual evolution of the showground site happening in different places," Mr Want said.

"Some of the buildings will go, but you get one chance. As soon as you rip it down, it's gone.

"We want to retain aspects of the site's character and history if possible."

A concept image for the Devonport Showground mixed housing precinct master plan. Picture contributed.

The revamped Cheers function centre will become part of the community precinct, and the historic Forth schoolhouse will get refurbished as a cafe or used for something else.

The successful farmers' market selling Tasmanian produce had been embraced by the community, with up to 1300 people attending, and would remain a fixture at the site.

Mr Want said the master plan developed in consultation with the community hadn't changed to create a mixed-use urban renewal precinct with various housing options, including aged care, medical facilities, childcare, affordable homes, a community centre, central parkland with a lake, offices, and other services.

The Devonport Farmers Market selling Tasmanian produce has become a popular fixture at the Devonport Showground. Picture Facebook.

The Devonport Farmers Market selling Tasmanian produce has become a popular fixture at the Devonport Showground. Picture Facebook.

To achieve this, he said he frequently meets with aged care, NDIS, and childcare providers to discuss the types of housing required on the site.

"To deliver a village inside a city you have to work with people," he said.

"We have detailed weekly workshops mapping it all out, and once that high level of agreement gets reached we move into commercial agreements.

"By the end of 2023 I'd like to have the agreements with those organisations in place."

Consultation for the showground project began in 2017 before the sale contract was signed in March 2019 and settled in March 2022.

Showground developer Simon Want has plans to revamp the old Forth schoolhouse for use as a cafe or something else. Picture file.

The rezoning approval was granted at the end of 2022.

"Where we're at now with the development process after settlement and rezoning is taking the next steps to get it right," Mr Want said.

In the meantime, the aged care, NDIS and childcare sectors were going through a period of "enormous change", he said.

"The housing crisis has become an even greater issue since we started this project.

"We're talking with organisations that are in the process of working out their future strategic direction.

"It's not a matter of desire, interest or demand which for specialist housing is skyrocketing it's simply timing and working out what their needs are going forward."

Mr Want said the plan was still to design homes to suit people's needs.

He said some housing would include long-term tenured rentals and key worker housing.

 
Lisa WhiteThe Advocate