Article
The Planning Tangle
On November 20 last year, Tim Morris MP Greens Planning spokesperson, wrote:
The Tasmanian Greens today raised concerns that the state’s planning reform process is showing serious signs of collapse at the eleventh hour, after revealing there appears to be a stand-off between the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) and some northern councils.
Greens Planning spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that while the Greens have long supported the need for appropriate planning reform, serious cracks were beginning to show.
“The heart of the issue is that councils believed their new rural living zone is consistent with the regional planning strategy, however the Commission is of a different opinion,” Mr Morris said.
“For over a month now, neither side appears willing to budge, which has in fact created a Mexican stand-off situation. There does not appear to be any imminent resolution in sight.”
“This is only one of the problems facing planning reform that is facing the Minister, Bryan Green, at the moment.”
“The Greens have recognised the need for these planning reforms, on the understanding they would be implemented in a timely manner, and we have been very patient and constructive over the period of time it has taken so far.”
“A constructive solution to this impasse is needed. However the Liberals keep saying the solution to any planning problem is a single state-wide planning scheme, which just demonstrates their ignorance on planning matters.” (TT here)
On Saturday in The Examiner, Alison Andrews wrote:
BRIDGENORTH man Chris Austen has just about given up on his dream to have his son and family living on the farm next door.
The family came so close to realising the dream that Mr Austen’s son drew up plans for a house and secured a builder on stand- by to start work more than two years ago as soon as the new West Tamar planning scheme was signed off.
But Mr Austen’s plans, like many others, were put on hold while the council waited for its scheme to be declared by Local Government and Planning Minister Bryan Green.
West Tamar, Northern Midlands and Meander Valley councils have so far refused to make proposed changes to their draft schemes sent to Mr Green late last year to make them compliant.
They say that the changes would alter the schemes so that they would not deliver what their communities had been looking for from planning for nearly a decade.
Mr Austen is not a big developer.
Following an earlier story:
Law change plan to satisfy councils:
PLANNING Minister Bryan Green has signalled a possible circuit-breaker to the planning reform deadlock gripping several Northern councils.
Mr Green said he was considering changing the legislation that was effectively blocked the planning schemes of Meander Valley, Northern Midlands and West Tamar Councils.
Mr Green admitted it had deteriorated to a “stand-off” scenario after his rejection of the schemes followed by the councils then refusing to change them.
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