State Government urged to meet with community over planned 470-lot housing development

A Liberal MP has been accused of using the coronavirus to avoid meeting with the community over plans for a controversial social housing development. READ THE BLOW-BY-BLOW >>

Huntingfield where a proposed new suburb is to be built. Pictured is a view of the site. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

• Huntingfield housing subdivision slammed despite crisis
• Concerns over density and consultation around planned housing development

A STATE Government Minister has been accused of using the coronavirus to avoid facing community members about a controversial social housing development.

The Government has said a final Master Plan for a 470-lot housing development at Huntingfield would be informed by feedback received during a consultation period before a development application is voted on by the Kingborough Council.

The land has been rezoned for residential development and the State Government has released a draft Master Plan for the 67ha site.

The Housing Land Supply Act 2018 – legislated after a housing summit under Will Hodgman’s premiership – aimed to help build more affordable homes in Tasmania by allowing for individual parcels of land to be rezoned under a “fast track” process.

Concerned local resident, Matt Jones and Kingborough Mayor, Dean Winter are pictured at Huntingfield where a proposed new suburb is to be built. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said it has been 14 months too long since Housing and Planning Minister Roger Jaensch commenced the “farcical fast-track development”.

“The longer this goes, the more laughable the ‘fast-track’ label becomes,” Cr Winter said.

“Greater Hobart needs more homes, but rather than speed up their development, this Minister’s process has slowed them down.”

Cr Winter said Minister Jaensch last October told him by writing he would attend a public forum – a meeting Cr Winter said the community was still waiting on.

“While we understood and accepted the Minister was unable to safely hold a public meeting earlier this year, COVID-19 restrictions have now eased to allow a public meeting to be held at our community hub for around 100 people,” he said.

“We have already held events there since restrictions eased.”

Blackmans Bay Community Association’s John Maynard said residents were “getting rather frustrated that the Minister seems reluctant to meet with the public”

When asked if he planned to meet with Kingborough community members, Mr Jaensch said the State Government had made special provision for access to information under COVID-19 restrictions including delivery of pamphlets to around 350 Huntingfield residents, development of an interactive website and a free call number for inquiries.

“The Government will continue to work closely with the community as we progress the development that is expected to inject around $19 million into the local economy and create over 140 full-time jobs,” he said.

Minister for Housing, Roger Jaensch Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Jaensch said the Government was working through the submissions received following the six-week public consultation period and would finalise the Masterplan once that process is complete.

Labor Housing spokeswoman Alison Standen said Mr Jaensch has “refused to attend a community meeting, and is using COVID for cover”.

“This is not a minor development, it’s an entirely new suburb, and a project of this nature requires consultation at an appropriate scale,” she said.

“At the same time, the community has been kept waiting for more than a year to see the government’s Channel Highway Corridor Improvement Plan, following consultation on that project.”