Kingborough residents accuse council of ‘gas-lighting’ in contentious rezoning dispute
Kingborough residents remain unconvinced by council's response to controversial rezoning plans affecting 1500 properties, with some accusing it of ‘gaslighting’. Read the latest.
A stoush over rezoning in the Kingborough municipality is no closer to being resolved with some residents saying the council is still “downplaying” their concerns.
Residents will hold another public meeting on Tuesday to consider forming a registered body to continue to put forward their concerns that more than 1500 properties could be rezoned as Landscape Conservation Zone (LCZ).
Residents fear the changes to LCZ would restrict development and potentially reduce property values.
Kingborough mayor Paula Wriedt said the council had started an expression of interest process to engage an independent planning consultant to review its proposed zoning and had written to residents to update them.
But Tinderbox resident Alison Rogers, who is spearheading the residents’ campaign said the letter from council was “too little too late”.
“At the end of the day the general response from the majority of the group has been that they’re downplaying the issue,” she said.
“They’re saying some residents (are affected). It’s not some of the residents, it’s a huge portion of the people that have been earmarked for rezoning who are not happy.
“The reality is that what they’re saying in the letter, that they’re listening to us – well they’re not listening to us.
“People are still worried, and they actually did consider that letter a little bit of gas-lighting by the council and they still think that that letter is misleading.”
Ms Wriedt said the council was finalising the project scope for an independent review of its proposed rezoning as part of the State Government’s planning reforms.
She said an independent planning consultant reviewing the proposed zoning would attend Tasmanian Planning Commission hearings on behalf of council as well as reviewing its proposed zoning submitted to the Commission.
“We have heard the concerns of property owners regarding the implementation of the Landscape Conservation Zone, which was why an independent review was being sought.
“Fundamentally, Kingborough Council wants to provide owners with certainty around their property.
“We want a planning scheme which gives property owners certainty by supporting development while balancing the protection of important natural values.
“Council will continue keeping people informed about Kingborough’s planning scheme implementation and encourages people to register via our website for regular updates.”
Ms Rogers said Tuesday’s meeting at the Snug Hall from 7pm to 9pm would consider the council’s letter and update.
“Basically, at the end of the day, it’s not going away.
“The council is still saying ‘oh we tried to do the right thing by you’, so they’re still using that as their little white flag to say we tried to make a difference.
“They have manipulated the words in the letter to downplay this zoning and we’ve got more than enough evidence to prove that these changes are detrimental to landowners.”
Ms Rogers said a survey would be conducted giving residents the chance to voice their concerns about the council.
Originally published as Kingborough residents accuse council of ‘gas-lighting’ in contentious rezoning dispute
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