Clarence City Councillors last night voted to support Council’s submission to the consultation on the draft Land Use Planning and Approvals Amendment (Development Assessment Panels) Bill 2024.
During the debate on Monday night, Councillors described the draft Bill as “unworkable”, “incompetent”, “absolute garbage” and a “power grab”.
Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the draft Development Assessment Panels Bill is exceedingly poor legislation.
“This Bill undermines the democratic processes that have underpinned planning decisions in Tasmania for decades,” said Mayor Blomeley.
“It limits or removes community and stakeholder engagement on planning decisions in the absolute favour of developers who wish to ensure their projects are not subject to public scrutiny, accountability, and from what we’ve recently seen, the appeals process.
“This centralises power and bypasses local councils, which are closer to the communities they serve and are more attuned to their specific needs, expectations, and concerns.
“The hyperbolic comments made by the government show just how out of touch they are with Tasmanians.
“Whether by accident or by design – the proposed DAPs are not subject to the planning scheme or any assessment guidelines.
Mayor Blomeley said as much as there are flaws in the current planning scheme, it is far better to have criteria in place, and not just whatever the Minister at the time decides.
“As my colleague Councillor Hulme aptly stated during the debate, this is a solution looking for a problem.
“If some of the recent decisions made by the Minister are an example of what we will see if he is given all the ultimate planning power, I have great fear for our communities.
“This legislation does not provide any mechanism for the community to appeal decisions made by Development Assessment Panels. This should give rise to significant concern from all fair-minded Tasmanians.
“It is completely feasible that a DAP could allow for an abattoir to be built next to a residential property, and there would be nothing anyone can do about it.
“The government has taken too long to deliver the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, planning policies and land use strategy reviews.
“And now, as a distraction, it is spending its time devising legislation to benefit a few.
“The state government is undermining land use reform in Tasmania with their politics and poorly informed interference.”
“This bill needs to go the same way as the failed Fire Service Levy.”
Watch the Monday 11 November council meeting here.