Push for new planning power

HOBART  developers are calling for an independent body to take over planning control for major developments from councils.

generic aerials in Tasmania. Hobart CBD

HOBART  developers are calling for an independent body to take over planning control for major developments from councils in the wake of expensive failed bids for the CBD.

Long-serving Hobart Ald­erman Marti Zucco says he has gathered a large group of dev­elopers for a targeted approach to Planning Minister Peter Gutwein to push for the changes to be made as part of other planning changes alr­eady underway.

The Mercury understands that the developers behind the push include some of Hobart’s biggest local and overseas inv­estors.

Ald Zucco has written to Mr Gutwein asking for serious consideration to be given — as part of the Government’s statewide planning scheme — to the setup of a state planning authority to evaluate all applications that would normally need to be approved by elected representatives.

Applications would still be administered by council staff, but those which needed a decision from the council due to having representations or discretions against them would go to the independent body.

Representations for and against development applications must be received within a certain time frame.

Ald Zucco said that the key problem was elected members being lobbied by interest groups and then going against the recommendations of council officers.

“This does not provide certainty for any person who may have a $10,000 project or a $40 million project,” he said.

Developers have expressed similar concerns to the Mercury.

Another developer is taking his case to the Tasmanian Sup­reme Court after his application for a $45 million hotel development was refused by the planning tribunal on height and density grounds.

Mr Gutwein said yesterday that he was aware there had been concerns raised regarding the planning outcomes for a number of significant developments.

“We should be ensuring that sensible development can proceed and that we grasp the opportunities available to us as a state, so I will give the issues raised careful consideration,” he said.

One local developer hoping to meet Mr Gutwein is Jose Gasset who had a development application ref­used last year for four houses and a shop in Grosvenor St, Sandy Bay.

It was recommended for app­roval by council officers but was refused by aldermen because the shop was seen to be “more than a minimal intrusion of a non-residential use in a residential zone”.

The decision was later overturned via a mediation process.

“We’re seeing a fair bit more development in Hobart and this is highlighting where the holes are in the system,” Mr Gasset said.