*Graphic: Aberdeen City Council here
The Greens will move to defer the bill that enables a statewide planning scheme until the government releases the full scheme, and it has been properly consulted upon.
Minister Gutwein is asking us to sign off on legislation that doesn’t have any real detail. It is fundamental that Parliament has all the information before it is asked to pass a bill into law.
The Minister would have the final say on local planning decisions and on what areas can be protected. Minister Gutwein is asking MPs and MLCs to give him the power be Tasmania’s planning overlord.
Under the proposed scheme, local councils would have a say on what the new rules look like, but any decisions could still be over-ruled by the Minister. It would mean political agendas running Tasmania’s planning system.
The government and their Planning Reform Taskforce have spent a year redesigning the planning system to suit their needs. The Taskforce has been hand-picked by the Minister, and has operated completely outside of the normal planning process.
The government has an agenda to open Tasmania up to developers. We need to be wary that in the rush we don’t lose the character of Tasmanian towns.
EARLIER on Tasmanian Times …
• John Green: Removing the democratic right of the people of Tasmania to influence planning approvals
• Will Hodgman: Planning reform vital for unlocking our economic potential and creating jobs
• John Hawkins in Comments: This is a gold plated charter for corruption over due process. A property developers’ dream. A tick from a bent Minister then all is approved you pass Go and collect the millions. Done and Dusted. An ICAC in Tasmania would be a Ministerial nightmare, you might even end up in the slammer but then in Tasmania you can always nobble the judge. Expect many more third rate Councillors to stand, third-rate Lib/Labs with a strong desire to cash in on this potentially very thick and juicy gravy train.
TUESDAY, October 13 …
• Rosalie Woodruff: Statewide Planning Scheme Adjournment Defeated
THURSDAY, October 15 …
• Rosalie Woodruff: Groom Reveals Arm End Entitlement
• Elizabeth Viney in Comments: The Libs must hate Tasmanian Times. Broadcasting their tricky dicky agendas for public awareness and debate before being set in concrete must give them the irrates. #7 It helps when a favourite developer mate is appointed Chairperson of the Tasmanian Heritage Council. How many of these about to be delisted heritage places will be ‘developed’ in the not too distant future. Local city councils will have the power of discretion for demolition approval.
• Cassy O’Connor: Public Process Needed on Future of Arts School Tasmanians must have a say in the future of the Hunter Street Arts School before the Liberals make any unilateral decisions about handing it over to private developers. In its rush to transfer valuable public assets to private interests, the Liberal Government needs to avoid making backroom deals with private developers that shut out the true owners of these assets – the people of Tasmania. Generations of arts’ students have earned their degrees at the historic waterfront Arts School. They should be given an opportunity to have a say in the building’s future …
