Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Housing and Planning, 16 October 2024
Taking action to support development
The Tasmanian Government is continuing to back in development across Tasmania, today introducing a Bill that provides greater support for complex developments to begin works.
The Land Use Planning and Approvals Amendment (Supporting Development) Bill 2024 will amend the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, allowing the Minister to approve an additional, one-off extension for complex or technical projects if that extension would allow the development to commence.
Minister for Housing and Planning, Felix Ellis, said the proposed amendment recognises that complex projects can require additional time to commence, more than the currently available 6-year time frame provided under the Act.
“Our Government does not want to see complex developments, that have been years in the making, fall over as they’re about to begin,” Minister Ellis said.
“This Bill recognises that some technical and complex projects may require additional time to meet substantial commencement under the Act.
“Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we’re enabling development to support local jobs and investment in our state.”
Janie Finlay MP, Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewables, 16 October 2024
Planning legislation for complex projects welcome
Labor welcomes proposed legislation allowing for extensions of planning timeframes for complex projects.
This legislation, which will support development of the Port Latta windfarm project, has only been tabled today as a direct result of Labor’s relentless pursuit of the issue.
This government display no urgency on energy matters.
Minister’s Duigan and Ellis have been MIA on the issue, and it has only been through Labor’s scrutiny that pressure has mounted on the government to finally act.
We have asked numerous questions in question time and doubled down during Estimates which has forced the Liberal minority government to act.
While the proposed legislation is welcome, the Liberal minority government needs to ensure that it does not use extensions to drag their feet and delay important projects like the Port Latta windfarm.
This government is famous for failing to deliver and they need to take a good hard look in the mirror and figure out how to buck that trend.
