Known Errors Could Exist for Many Months

The Tasmanian Greens today called for urgent clarification by the Minister for Planning, Bryan Green, of any checks and balances which will be put in place to ensure that any property owners are aware of, and can have assessed any major changes to zonings on land they own or which Is adjacent to them, ahead of the imminent introduction of the Interim Planning Schemes (IPS).

Greens Planning spokesperson Tim Morris MP said the current process could see any one of the council planning schemes enacted after being approved by the Minister, but before going to public consultation, where, if an error is identified after being enacted, the IPS cannot be corrected for many months.

“Minister Green must reassure Tasmanians that the appropriate checks and balances are in place to correct unintended, or any, errors being made which could potentially impact negatively on their lives,” Mr Morris said.

“The Greens believe that once the IPS has been drafted, it should be released for public consultation to enable major zoning changes to be identified prior to being brought into force by the Minister, this is particularly important for those who will have the zoning on land they own, or live on, or is next door to, changed substantially.”

“A consultation process that advises at least the affected landowners and neighbours before enacting the Interim Planning Schemes will increase confidence in the reform process and ensure that inappropriate or unintended developments do not get rushed through whilst the schemes are still interim.”

“Errors could also delay developments that are intended to be permitted in a particular area until a very lengthy process to correct them is completed.”

“The Greens support in principle the idea of the changes to the state-wide consistent zonings, however there are some serious concerns regarding the process of implementation, and the Minister should address these before planning schemes begin to be enacted,” Mr Morris said.