Plan to ban third-party appeals branded ‘anti-democratic’ by planning body
The government’s plan to ban third-party appeals against development approvals are “some of the most anti-democratic laws the state has ever seen”, Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania says.
Tasmania
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The government’s plan to ban third-party appeals against development approvals are “some of the most anti-democratic laws the state has ever seen”, Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania says.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced legislation to change the rules around who could appeal to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
He said the changes were intended to prevent cashed-up mainland activist groups from slowing major developments.
An estimated one per cent of development applications in Tasmania are subject to appeal and 80 per cent are resolved by mediation.
The change is expected to affect around half a dozen developments a year, but Mr Rockliff said those could include major developments such as housing or those associated with mining which would drive employment.
Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania director Sophie Underwood said the changes would rob the community of its voice in shaping development.
“The state government’s clear intention is to remove the community’s right to planning appeals and their voice,” she said.
“The public will have very limited right to appeal. Only those who are neighbours and are directly affected by a development will be able to lodge an appeal.
“Developments on both public and private land like skyscrapers in our cities or cable car proposals on reserved land such as kunyani/Mount Wellington and Cataract Gorge will not be able to be appealed by the community.
“The planning change announced by the Government makes it clear that they want it easier for developers to do whatever they like – while it fails the community completely.
Ms Underwood said there was a concern that property developers could have too much of an influence.
“We are also one of the few states that still allow political donations from property developers,” she said.
“We cannot let a group of business developers make deals with our politicians behind closed doors in an attempt to silence and sidestep the actual people who live in Tasmanian neighbourhoods.
“Rights of local communities to have a say about developments that impact on their own home, their local streets and town, local parks and their most treasured National Parks and Reserves will effectively be removed.
“This is what Felix Ellis is proposing. They want to ensure the property industry can do whatever they want.”
PMAT has scheduled public meetings across the state to discuss the government’s plans:
in Launceston on February 12, at Rosny Feb 18 and in Glenorchy on March 4, with more planned.
Originally published as Plan to ban third-party appeals branded ‘anti-democratic’ by planning body
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