Alderman Marti Zucco said today that; “I welcome and support the much needed planning reforms that are proposed across the State by the Minister Peter Gutwein. A clear planning scheme across the State will deliver some certainty irrespective of municipality but more reforms are needed”
He also said that “The planning reform is merely one step towards this certainty; there are two components to streamlining development that must also be seriously considered. That is Local Government reform (amalgamations) and an immediate review of the building code that is also a strain on builders and developers; a constant message I am confronted with”
He also said that “I urge the Minister to start the process to setup an advisory body similar to the Planning reform group that will consider options for Local Government reform (amalgamations) and another body that will look at and review the building code anomalies. I have no doubt that the building industry will partake in this review”
Alderman Zucco pointed out that; “Since being on Council most complaints arise from planning and the other is the building regulations that constantly change and add costs to development”
To provide an example in the latest changes in that a Commercial kitchen must have hand washing facilities for its kitchen staff. This is acceptable but the issue is that the latest regulations require the sink to have a bowl capacity of 11 liter’s of water. This is requirement is unnecessary in many ways as it would not be appropriate for a person to fill the sink to wash their hands and then pull a plug out of the dirty water. Running warm/hot water is the appropriate manner to wash hands. Secondly with larger hand washing facilities it may lead to kitchen staff using the designated hand basins as general sinks to maybe wash a lettuce which is against the regulations. Thirdly it is a waste of water as no person would need 11 liters’ of water to wash their hands under general kitchen working duties. This is a case of bureaucracy implementing and changing regulations without really understanding the industry.
Alderman Zucco also said that “After being involved with kitchen for near 50 years this new regulation is only one small component of many others that builders and developers have to deal with on a regular basis and is a constant complaint I am faced with”
The proposed statewide planning reform does not deal with the fact that we will still have 29 sets of local Government representatives involved in the planning process. Amalgamations are imperative to a statewide reform process and would be a component of reform that is needed as with the building code changes to make development streamlined.
Even though we may have the planning reform we will still have 29 Councils that developers have to deal with.
According to the Planning Minister reform commenced in 2004 and may take another 18 months so it is time that amalgamations and reforms to the building code were initiated as based on the planning reform timeline we have years to wait for other reforms to occur.
Ald Zucco said “The time had come to reduce the number of local councils in Tasmania and if councils didn’t act then the State Government should intervene. Council amalgamations should be managed in an appropriate manner with serious consideration of all issues,” Ald Zucco said
“Consultation needs to be based on big picture benefits and what’s best for each region increased sophistication in service delivery and provision of amenities has outstripped the colonial boundaries of our current local government jurisdictions,” he said.
“We need to look at amalgamations with an open mind. The State Government says it will leave it to local government to determine but it must act and take the lead on this issue or the status quo will ensue Unfortunately, I can’t see local government representatives electing to vote themselves out of their roles”
MARTI ZUCCO – City of Hobart – Alderman
