The Tasmanian Government is being urged to respect statutory planning processes in regard to its pet stadium project.
Hobart City Counci and the Planning Institute are raising their concerns after the Premier this week admittted he is looking at ways to circumvent proper process.
The Macquarie Point Stadium planning issues will be discussed at an upcoming Hobart City Council Planning Authority Committee next week.
This Wednesday, the Hobart City Council Planning Authority Committee will discuss the planning process for the Macquarie Point multipurpose stadium.
“Following the latest developments in the Tasmanian Parliament and release of the TPC Draft Integrated Assessment Report, council officers have recommended retaining the Project of State Significance process,” said Hobart City Council Planning Authority Committee Chair Councillor Mike Dutta.
“This will ensure that, like all projects in Hobart, the stadium development is properly assessed from a land use planning perspective and that the community has the opportunity to provide input and have their voices heard.
“While the Project of State Significance process removes the project requiring an approved development application from the Hobart City Council, the City of Hobart has been actively engaged in the process as defined in its role as an agency in the State Policies and Projects Act and has expended over $150 000 in seeking qualified advice to guide the council in its response.
“The Council made such an investment in good faith to provide an impartial response to the proposal in the knowledge that such information would be considered in the decision-making process.”
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Tasmania has similarly expressed concern over Premier Rockliff’s recent consideration of special legislation to approve the Macquarie Point Stadium.
Planners point out that the draft Integrated Assessment Report is currently out of consultation and raises relevant questions about the project and the site.
“This is the second project within four months where Parliament is setting aside a legislated approval process for a political decision,” said Mick Purves (MPIA), PIA Tasmania President. This reinforces our previous concerns about the ongoing lack of investment by the state in Tasmania’s planning system.”
The PIAT stressed that good planning outcomes require a strong social license in the decisions that are made, which in turn necessitates trust in the approval process and assessment criteria.
“Since Parliament clearly has concerns over the function of our planning system, they need to fund solutions to fix those problems for everyone,” noted Purves.
“The current legislative interventions for special projects risks a two speed planning system: one for those with political contacts and another for those of us without.
“Our planning system needs proper resources and regular updates to provide clarity and fairness across Tasmania. The current approach, relying on one-off legislative interventions, only reinforces PIA’s view of under-investment in the planning system and undermines confidence in planning decisions.”
“The Tasmanian planning system is effective in delivering significant projects that are supported by the community, as demonstrated by the Bridgewater Bridge project. One-off legislated projects set a concerning precedent for decision making that is inconsistent with the Government’s own guide to Good Governance for land-use planning.”
This announcement comes while a proposed Bill for Development Assessment Panels is under review.
“It’s ironic that this has happened a second time when they are claiming to remove politics from planning,” addedPurves.
PIA Tasmania stressedthat single-project legislation cannot resolve the deeper issues within Tasmania’s planning framework. The association urges regular investment in policy and strategic framework development to support consistent decision-making across the sate.
“We have confidence in both the hearing processes and decisions issued by the Tasmanian Planning Commission as an independent statutory authority,” said Purves.
“While PIA maintains confidence in the TPC’s rigorous assessment process, it reiterates its call for the government to invest in ensuring that we have up to date policies and strategies that instil public confidence and support a sustainable future for Tasmania.”
“The stadium is clearly a contentious project within the community. The POSS process being administered by the Commission will provide a degree of independent expert review and social license that ‘special legislation’ cannot.”
PIA Tasmania urge Parliament to allow completion or the current POSS process.
Editor’s note: the stadium planning issue will be discussed in the Hobart Town Hall council chambers from 16:00 on Wednesday 9 April and streamed live on the City of Hobart YouTube channel.
