Packed meeting rejects corrupt planning proposal

Phil Lohrey Who was the most disturbed – Launceston City Council or the audience? I couldn’t tell …
ON Tuesday night, Launceston City Council packed about 150 people into a meeting room to be told that planning was, in essence, to be taken out of the hands of the citizens of Tasmania.

The elephant in the room was the pulp mill.

The tone was urgent. This was the one single chance for public input to the State Government’s ‘Proposed Changes to Planning Legislation’. Public comments would close within three shameful days following Easter. To read the document that so disturbed the meeting, follow this link:
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/images/uploads/Consultation_Draft_-_Principles_of_Legislation__final_.pdf).

Alderman Jeremy Ball’s one-word alert as the meeting started: ‘Stop!’. Meaning: stop this loaded, fast-tracked process. Stop this sham public consultation. Stop the unprecedented ministerial power-grab. Stop the demise of the RPDC and other planning structures. Your government’s sweeping proposal will have massive, long-running implications!

Equally disturbed members of the audience linked the imminent demise of independent planning and the end to meaningful consultation with – you guessed it – prospects that remain for the Tamar Valley pulp mill.

They asked what would have happened to Council determinations on the proposed Dilston Bypass. Worried Council representatives welcomed the question. It was scribbled on a white board. The question would be passed on – with a host of others raised at the meeting – to the State Government (within three working days of Easter).

You are urged to read the draft consultation document per the link here. You will be as alarmed as councillors and others at the town hall meeting. Try these dot points of the document…

A new Tasmanian Planning Commission will be established by ‘combining’ government planning staff with those of the RPDC. It will be the key adviser to Government. It will be subject to directions from Minister Llewellyn. It will assess ‘Projects of Regional Significance’ (PORS).

There will be a four (4) month timeframe for assessment!

Oh, yes, the Minister may extend this.

The Minister, a Council or a developer may nominate a project to be declared a PORS. The Minister may determine this – within just fourteen (14) days. Then, other planning processes that exist no longer apply!

And what’s more? You guessed it. The decision of the appointed Development Assessment Panel (DAP) is final!

Still quoting from the Government’s draft document: ‘…there is no right of appeal…’…’but an appeal to the Supreme Court is available on a matter of law’.

Off to the highest court, or forget it!

Tuesday night’s meeting was told that the range of projects subject to this sham process would be as broad as the sweeping new laws handing power to the Minister.

The meeting looked at ‘Minister Call In Powers’, a sub-heading of the draft document. Cynical laughter erupted as it was quoted: ‘…There is a perception that planning matters are being politicised and Councils blur their statutory planning responsibilities with their broader role as advocates of the community.’

…The hide of them!

Just to rub it in, the document clarifies that if the Minister thinks that a council shows bias on a project the Call In powers apply.

…Not forgetting that the new process overrides previous planning provisions!

The audience named a number of highly controversial projects that would be called in. Council and ratepayer concerns would be redundant. After all, they had been ‘biased’!

A host of hot topics of concern had been posted on the Council’s white board. They would be passed on to Government within the coercive timeframe. The meeting drew to a close. Councillor Jeremy Ball asked for a general indication of trust or distrust for the Government’s sweeping proposals.

The all-round jeer was unmistakable.

Do you want your council to comment? You’d better be quick. And your council will have to be off the mark in a flash!

Or, do you agree with Jeremy Ball? Do you simply want this power-grab to Stop?

To read the horror draft document, follow the link above.