Media release – Planning Matters Alliance of Tasmania (PMAT), 3 April 2023 

No consultative basis for Council amalgamations and stripping planning decisions from local representatives 

After consultation with ‘over 4000’ stakeholders, including receiving over 3000 submissions, just 2% of the submissions have been made public and an analysis of those demonstrates little support for the recommendations the Local Government Review Board are formulating.

The Planning Matters Alliance of Tasmania (PMAT) is deeply concerned about the likely Review Board recommendations to remove planning powers from local councils, force council amalgamations and mandate the sharing of Council’s core services.

In a newsletter released last week, the Review Board states that ‘As we conclude Stage 2, we have now met with or received one or more submissions from over 4000 members of the public, stakeholders, peak bodies and organisations, and members of Tasmania’s local government sector’.  

“The overwhelming majority of community and councils have not called for removing councils as a Planning Authority, forcing amalgamations or mandating the sharing of services,” said Sophie Underwood, state coordinator of PMAT. “No evidence to support these recommendations has been presented and it appears to have no basis in consultation.”

“Tasmanians should be under no illusion; these changes would represent a power-grab by the State Government and allow it to approve damaging and controversial developments that proper planning and decision making would reject or improve. The interventions by the Tasmanian Government on Skylands and Kangaroo Bay are examples of things to come if the Government gets their way.

“PMAT calls for all submissions to be made public.

“The key advocates for the radical reforms being mooted by the Review Board would appear to be vested interests wanting more development, irrespective of the cost, including disadvantaging communities and poor planning and development decisions.

PMAT is hosting a public meeting on planning and development decision changes this Tuesday (4 April) at 6 pm at the Rosny Bowls Club.