Public must have time to check new planning scheme

The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Minister for Planning, Bryan Green, to ensure that before he signs off on the Planning Zone Template, that it will be made available for public scrutiny, to reduce the risk that unforeseeable mistakes will not enshrined in the process.

Greens Planning spokesperson Tim Morris MP said the way the process stands currently, would see the Template being approved by the Minister, bringing it into force, and then being made public for scrutiny, creating potential for unforeseeable problems to be identified but not corrected as it has already been approved.

“The Minister needs to ensure that the Planning Zone Template follows a logical path through public scrutiny, and checking by the Planning Commission before any potential mistakes are enshrined by the Minister,” Mr Morris said.

“As it stands, if someone identifies a clear planning error, either administratively or practicably, nothing can be done about it as the Minister will have already signed off on the process.”

“It is unheard of that you would approve a public planning scheme before giving the public the chance to scrutinise and offer opinion for correction before becoming a legal planning scheme.”

“That the Minister appeared to not understand what was a simple question, suggests that he is not across his critically important Planning Portfolio.”

“Minister Green clearly didn’t understand the intent of the question, which highlights to the Greens that even more scrutiny is now needed to ensure that Tasmanians aren’t disadvantaged by hasty and sloppy planning processes,” Mr Morris said.