The Rockliff Liberal Government’s proposed planning reform to take the politics out of planning and help to address Tasmania’s housing crisis has been welcomed across the State.
Liberal Member for Prosser, Jane Howlett, said this initiative will allow for some planning decisions to be made by independent expert panels.
“Tasmania’s planning rules will stay the same, councils will undertake assessments and community will have their say – just as they do today,” Ms Howlett said.
“This will just allow councils and proponents a second decision making option under certain circumstances.”
Master Builders Tasmania Chief Executive, Matthew Pollock said:
“If we are going to meet future housing needs then we need to make it easier to get major housing developments off the drawing board. It’s not acceptable that local politics gets in the way of sensible projects in the middle of a housing crisis.”
Property Council of Australia State Executive Director, Rebecca Ellston said the reform has “the power to transform Tasmania.”
“A depoliticised planning system ensures that future housing delivery decisions will be professionally made and expedited. This move will secure a steady stream of new homes, keeping Tasmania affordable and accessible for the next generation of home buyers,” Ms Ellston said.
With the reform allowing councils to also refer decisions to the independent panels, councils have the opportunity to take on the important role of advocating for the community rather than decision maker.
Burnie Mayor, Teeny Brumby, told the Advocate the council was open to planning reform:
“The local advocacy role of councils does not always sit comfortably with the legal requirements to determine planning applications consistent with the relevant state law.
“Many people in the community do not understand this distinction in council roles and Burnie City Council has at times found it uncomfortable to be legally required to approve developments that are not supported by our community.”
Centacare Evolve Housing, Sarah Henley, outlined the exact problem that this reform will address, fixing the expense and time that can impact the delivery of critical affordable and social housing.
“If we get to the end of the process with council and we don’t get development approval it means we don’t have rooves to put over people’s heads.”
An example of this is the Centacare 18-dwelling residential project in Chigwell, in Tasmania’s south. This project was blocked by the Glenorchy City Council, despite being recommended for approval by the council’s inhouse planners. The decision was appealed, and overturned because the project met Tasmania’s planning rules.
