Roger Jaensch,Minister for Local Government and Planning
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is delivering on a commitment to release more land for residential development, including social and affordable housing.
Last night the Legislative Council passed the Housing Land Supply Amendment Bill unamended.
The Housing Land Supply Act was an important Government initiative to respond to Tasmania’s housing pressures, which, since it commenced in 2018, has proven effective in providing a more direct and efficient process for the rezoning of suitable Government-owned land for residential development, including provision of social and affordable housing.
Five Housing Land Supply Orders have already been progressed, providing over 40 hectares of land for residential development, creating the potential for around 600 new housing lots, but more needs to be done to meet demand.
The amendments improve upon the Act to allow a greater range of land to be considered for the making of Housing Land Supply Orders, adding to the supply of residential land in high-demand locations at a time when it is most needed.
Previously, Orders could only be used to rezone surplus land that was already owned by the Government. The amendments allow Orders to be used to rezone land purchased or acquired by the Government since the Act was created, allowing a more strategic approach.
All land rezoned under Housing Land Supply Orders must meet all normal assessment criteria for determining the suitability of the land for residential development, including being as far as practicably consistent with relevant land use strategies.
The amendments also expand consultation, providing for 28-day public comment period for all draft Orders.
These amendments demonstrate the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s commitment to deliver more housing land and build more houses for Tasmanians than ever before.
