Kingborough Council forced to review controversial zoning plans after community backlash
Community pressure has forced Kingborough Council to review zoning changes that could dramatically restrict property rights for more than 1,500 landowners across the municipality. The latest:
After months of community angst, Kingborough Council is reviewing controversial zoning changes that were set to affect more than 1,500 properties.
Spokeswoman for the Kingborough Land Users organisation Alison Rogers said public pressure from rural and semi‑rural residents has driven the council to commission the review but emphasised that the group is “still not feeling heard” and is calling for balance and a truly independent review of proposed changes.
She said communities outside Kingston have felt under‑represented and are seeking a balanced assessment of LCZ against how people live on and use their properties, including expectations around clearing, sheds, extensions and subdivision.
Kingborough Land Users is in the process of becoming an incorporated organisation.
On Friday the council announced it had engaged IreneInc Planning to examine properties proposed for LCZ and to determine whether more appropriate zones should apply, and is finalising the appointment of another independent consultant to review Specific Area Plans (SAPs).
Consultants will attend Tasmanian Planning Commission hearings on the council’s behalf to hear landowner evidence relevant to the reviews.
“Council understands some landowners are not happy with the application of LCZ in Kingborough, and we committed to obtain an independent review of this rezoning,” Kingborough Deputy mayor Clare Glade‑Wright said.
“The consultant will look at whether some areas might be better suited to other zones, such as Rural Living Zone.”
Ms Glade‑Wright said the rezoning was driven by state government planning reforms “which aimed to deliver uniformity in planning across the state”.
“Under the reforms, some previous zones could no longer be used, and new zones, like LCZ, have been introduced,” Ms Glade‑Wright said.
Ms Rogers said the review was sparked by a community‑backed motion at a town meeting in Margate, later amended after a council workshop and legal advice.
While the land users organisation accepted the change on the understanding the process would be independent and overseen by councillors, Ms Rogers said confidence has been tested by the expanding scope of appointments and previous public comments from consultants allegedly supporting the application of the zone.
The LCZ proposals stem from state planning reforms that replaced several former rural and environmental zones.
In Kingborough, many bushland and rural‑residential titles were earmarked for LCZ to prioritise landscape values, native vegetation and hazard management.
Affected owners argue the change would tighten rules on clearing, outbuildings, house extensions and subdivision, and could influence property values.
Ms Rogers said members want a genuinely balanced view, contending that earmarking around 28 per cent of the municipality for LCZ represents overreach.
She said the organisation supports conservation and habitat protection, but maintains it must be balanced against residential living and future use expectations.
At the council AGM on Saturday, members passed motions requesting LCZ‑affected areas be assessed for the Rural Living Zone where appropriate, and seeking clearer policy settings on biodiversity offsets and the tree by‑law.
Despite reservations about independence, Ms Rogers described a recent meeting with Council’s CEO as productive and said further discussions are planned, with the Kingborough Land Users reserving judgment until the independent review reports and findings are tabled.
Ms Glade‑Wright said the council had written to landowners potentially affected by the introduction of an LCZ to outline the steps Council was taking while the Planning Commission’s hearings continue.
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