This latest twist in the long-runnng story was revealed at last night's Derwent Valley Council meeting, when two senior council officers confirmed that lawyers representing developer Roostam Sadri had advised that the application approved by the council two months ago was likely to be withdrawn.
General manager Stephen Mackey said Mr Sadri had informed him on Wednesday that his solicitor would be advising the Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal that his application was to be withdrawn. Municipal planner Martyn McCance said the council was continuing to prepare for the hearing set down for early May, until advised otherwise.
Mr Mackey said Mr Sadri's legal advice was that he "stood a better than 50% chance to win the case," but he went on to say Mr Sadri did not want to be tied up in a court process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars and take two years to resolve.
Mr Sadri and his brother Raif Sadri are also behind the Gateway Housing Estate as well as a motel being established in the multi-storey former nurses home on the Royal Derwent Hospital site at New Norfolk. Their proposed shopping centre elsewhere on the same site includes:
- A large supermarket with baker, butcher and delicatessen
- Seven retail tenancies
- Petrol station
- Takeaway shop
- Future tenancy
- Five warehouse/showrooms
