Opposition grows to Tasmanian Government’s proposed “fast track” rezone at Huntingfield

Opposition to a proposed “fast track” rezone by the State Government at a southern Tasmanian suburb is mounting, with hundreds expected to attend a public meeting this week.

Anne Harrison from the Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania and local resident Matt Jones at a proposed rezone site at Huntingfield on Sunday July 21, 2019.

OPPOSITION to a proposed “fast track” rezone by the State Government at Huntingfield is mounting with hundreds expected to attend a public meeting.

Kingborough Community Hub will host the rally on Thursday night — facilitated by Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania — to call on the Government to stop its proposed housing supply land order for 1287 Channel Highway.

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The order has proposed to rezone vacant government land about 3.5km from Kingston into inner residential, open space and local business, including additional provisions for affordable housing. About 500 individual lots have been slated for the 67.69ha site.

Huntingfield resident Matt Jones said locals were frustrated, annoyed and felt like they had been locked out of the process.

He said the access points and density and the impact of a lack of infrastructure, medical services and schools were the major concerns for residents.

Kingborough deputy mayor Jo Westwood and mayor Dean Winter in front of their council chambers in Kingston. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“We feel that’s probably a problem that’s just going to be left to local government and residents to deal with — it needs to be fully addressed before any rezoning can happen,” Mr Jones said.

“It’s not the fact there is housing going in. We’re talking about not knowing what the proposed make up of this development is going to look like — there’s a lack of communication and understanding.”

Alliance president Anne Harrison said they would also call on the Government to repeal or significantly alter the Housing Land Supply Act 2018 at the meeting.

The legislation became effective in July 2018 following a housing summit hosted by Premier Will Hodgman and aimed to help build more affordable homes in Tasmania by allowing for individual parcels of land to be rezoned under a “fast track” process.

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“Unless we look at the reasons for the housing crisis and there are many, land supply by itself will not solve that problem, especially when land is released for private developer,” Ms Harrison said.

Acting Treasurer Elise Archer said the Government couldn’t increase supply in affordable and social housing unless they had more land available for building those properties.

She said Government-owned land was impacted only, and the Act created a more efficient way to rezone it.

Ms Archer said development applications for the proposed lots would require further consultation.

Kingborough Council last month unanimously passed a motion noting its disappointment at the length of time and scope of consultation with the community.

They also requested the Government ensure relevant infrastructure was fully funded and in place before the completion of the proposed development.

“In addressing one problem, the State Government needs to be careful not to create other problems that land in the lap of Local Government,” Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood said.

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