by Adam Holmes and Isabella Podwinski, ABC
Droughty Point development close to Hobart CBD that could house 2,500 homes knocked back by council
A housing development on Hobart’s eastern shore for 2,500 homes, described by council as “the most significant development in Australia”, has hit a major hurdle but could still proceed with help from the state’s planning minister.
The Skylands development at Droughty Point has been described by council officers as transformative “in terms of its potential to impact on the character of a capital city”.
The project is unusual in that it is a significant parcel of undeveloped land — about 240 hectares — and close to the CBD of a capital city. It is about a 25-minute drive to Hobart’s city centre.
The land is privately owned by the Carr and Lilly families, who engaged urban design firm DPZ to come up with the development design.
The proponents wanted the Clarence City Council to lift a restriction on building — known as the urban growth boundary — from 70 metres up the hillside to 110 metres, but that has been knocked back at a council meeting on Monday night.
Read the full story here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-07/tas-skylands-development-rejected-by-council/102061002.
Media release – Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Local Government & Planning, 7 March 2023
Lack of planning clarity stopping houses being built
Last night’s Clarence City Council decision to refuse a development for thousands of lots, lands at the feet of Planning Minister Michael Ferguson.
The proponent of Skylands Greg Carr has announced this morning that he will now walk away from the project, won’t sell the land and only develop 10 houses a year on the land.
What a wasted opportunity because the State Government has sat on its hands and has not delivered the planning reforms they said they would.
Tasmania desperately needs land to build houses for people. Tackling homelessness is multi-faceted and having clear and unambiguous planning schemes is critical to putting roofs over people’s heads.
There are also signs the building industry in Tasmania is slowing and access to land is critical to assist the industry.
Both sides of the Council debate expressed frustration on the lack of action and policy ambiguity under the Liberals on the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) when making their decision.
The UGB came into effect in 2011. It was supposed to be reviewed in 2016 but like so many things under the tired Liberals, it’s overdue with no end in sight.
This lack of leadership – along with no policies to combat land banking – has led to councils and developers treating the UGB like a rubber band.
If the UGB was reviewed properly seven years ago when it was due, we would not be seeing critical housing refused by councils like Clarence because the rules would be clear.
Labor respects the decision and reasons given by the Council as a Planning Authority and I was pleased to attend the meeting.
But ultimately, there are 1700 lots at Droughty Point within the UGB which will not hit the market because of this tangled policy and lack of action from the Liberals.
Developers, councils and communities will remain in limbo until there is Government leadership on the UGB and clear rules to play by.
Only one person can sort out the Urban Growth Boundary – the Planning Minister Michael Ferguson.
Today Labor’s question to Minister Ferguson is clear and he must answer it: when will the Urban Growth Boundary be reviewed and updated?
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Planning, 7 March 2023
Progressing Droughty Point development to build more homes for Tasmanians
The Rockliff Liberal Government is getting things done and unlocking more land to build more homes for Tasmanians.
Minister for Planning, Michael Ferguson, said the State Government is very disappointed in Clarence City Council’s astonishing decision to refuse to endorse the proposed Skylands Master Plan.
“Skylands represents an exciting and innovative opportunity to deliver around 2,500 homes at Droughty Point, an area long identified for housing: providing six interconnected walkable neighbourhoods with nearly 70 hectares of public open space including a hilltop park and waterfront reserve.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another occasion where, for whatever reason, the elected members of a Council have voted against the expert advice of their own planning department.
“At a time when we need to deliver as many houses for Tasmanians as we can, this is an extraordinary vote against common sense, good planning, and due process.
“It is astonishing that a such a large-scale, complex proposal should be dismissed by the elected members of a Council rather than being allowed to be properly considered on its merits by the independent Tasmanian Planning Commission through the standard planning scheme amendment process, which includes public exhibition and public hearings.
“The Government supports the right of proponents to have their proposals considered through an appropriate assessment process. We will now seek advice on how we can help that occur for the Skylands proposal.”
Media release – Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Local Government & Planning, 8 March 2023
Hypocrite Ferguson rejected urban growth extension only last year
Planning Minister Michael Ferguson’s thinly-veiled attempt to shirk responsibility for Skylands rejection reeks of hypocrisy.
Despite attempting to shift the blame for the Skylands rejection to the Clarence City Council, it was only last year that Mr Ferguson refused an Urban Growth Boundary UGB extension for new housing in Lauderdale.
As detailed on Clarence City Council’s website, in February 2021 council resolved “to support the proposed expansion of the UGB to include the land at 52 Richardsons Road, Sandford and requests the Minister for Planning to approve the necessary amendment to the Southern Tasmanian Regional Land Use Strategy.”
A letter from the Minister for Planning Michael Ferguson MP, dated 25 May 2022, outlines the Minister’s view that “… an amendment to the UGB prior to finalisation and endorsement of the Greater Hobart Plan, and completion of other associated studies… would be both premature and potentially undermine the Greater Hobart Plan and its implementation.”
The Minister referenced this position again in the attached letter regarding Skylands, which is a further admission of his planning failures.
The time for action on the UGB was seven years ago, yet Ferguson continues to do nothing expect attempt shift the blame – all while Tasmania’s housing crisis worsens.
Ferguson has again proved he takes forever to get things done. His ability to find ways to delay projects is unrivalled, as evidenced by his failures on the underground bus mall, Tamar River Bridge, fifth Southern Outlet lane and Northern Suburbs rail.
If the UGB was reviewed properly seven years ago when it was due, we would not be seeing critical housing refused by councils like Clarence because the rules would be clear.
Labor respects council’s decision and rather than wait for another Ferguson workaround, urges all parties to come to the table to figure out a way to unlock this potential housing sooner rather than later.
