MEDIA RELEASE ... PLANNING MATTERS

You can also download the media release pdf version here.

An Interim Planning Directive unilaterally imposed by Planning Minister Roger Jaensch without any consultation with the community, Councils and professional planners, will radically change planning standards with regards to residential developments.  This will impact the liveability of our cities, towns and suburbs and undermine the promised roll out of the state-wide planning scheme.

On 10^th February 2021, Minister Jaensch issued Interim Planning Directive No. 4 – Exemptions, Application Requirements, Special Provisions and Zone Provisions, a directive that comes into effect today, blindsiding professional planners, councils and community advocates for better planning in Tasmania.
 
“Peter Gutwein, as the Minister who bought in the state-wide scheme, always lead us to believe that we would be able to protect local character through each Council’s Local Provisions Schedules but this directive undermines that commitment by circumventing the local process”, said Sophie Underwood, spokesperson for Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT).
 
The planning directive also affects local residential standards including:

• No maximum limit on impervious surfaces (concrete or roof space) leading to increased potential flooding issues and hotter living environments;
• No requirement for sunlight into habitable rooms or gardens;
• Bigger sheds allowed with no permit required; and
• Removal of rear boundary setbacks impacting privacy and shadowing.

“We’ve always said planning scheme changes will lead to a loss of local character and an increase in conflict amongst neighbours but this directive will accentuate these issues and take them to another level.

 “Land use planning rules govern how our communities look and how we interact and they need review and strengthening. Instead they are being weakened by unilateral government decisions that weaken protections and do not meet community expectations.

“As Tasmania’s post COVID appeal leads to population growth and massive pressure on coastlines and peri-urban areas we should be taking steps to protect the things that make Tasmania special. This directive does the exact opposite.

“This directive circumvents the Local Provision Schedule process, where local councils work with the community to establish planning rules to protect natural and cultural values and local character. While that process was promised as a means to involve community and protect local values, it appears to have been abandoned by government.

For Comment
Anne Harrison - State President - PMAT - 0419585291
Sophie Underwood - State Coordinator - PMAT - 0407501999

PMAT was awarded the 2020 Planning Champion prize at the national Planning Institute of Australia awards. This national award recognises non-planners for their advocacy or for making a significant contribution and lasting presence to the urban and regional environment.

You can also download the media release pdf version here. 
 

Kind regards,
Sophie

Sophie Underwood
PMAT State Coordinator
www.planningmatterstas.org.au/donate
sophie_underwood@hotmail.com

LAUNCESTON'S COUNCIL AND COUNCILLORS ALLERGIC TO CONSULTATION PROCESSES

Launceston's mayor believes the remaining eight Tasmanian tiger statues in the Brisbane Street Mall are safe if you look where you are going. ................................... Earlier this month two of the thylacine statues, which caused the most community concern, were removed and placed into storage until a new placement plan was developed for all 10 statues. ................................... Coffee Republic owner Robin Smith raised concerns about the remaining eight statues at the last City of Launceston council meeting. He asked if the council considered them to be safe. ................................... "My observation, having worked in the mall for 20 years now, [is] people don't seem to have trouble with anything that's standard height," he said. ................................... "Certainly the Thylacines that remain in the mall today are also too low to be considered safe." ................................... Mayor Albert van Zetten said he believed the remaining statues were safe. ................................... "I think the ones there are safe if you look where you're going," he said. ................................... A risk assessment of the bronzed statues to foot traffic was undertaken by the council, after a number of people had fallen or tripped over them. ................................... The review was first announced in April 2020 and took more than eight months to be finalised. ................................... Mr Smith also asked why all of the plans from the 2015 concept for the mall upgrade were not implemented. ................................... The council's chief executive Michael Stretton said there was extensive consultation with mall retailers during installation that saw changes to those plans. ................................... "Not all elements of the mall, as it was constructed was entirely with what the initial approved plan was," he said. ................................... "The best balance in terms of trying to meet the needs of retailers versus the approved plan was what was sought." .... https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7125738/remaining-tiger-statues-are-safe-if-you-look-where-you-are-going-mayor/get-your-daily-morning-wrap-from-the-examiner/

IS THIS ABLEISM OR IS IT SIMPLY DISCONNECTIVISM AT WORK?

 From: JotForm <noreply@jotform.com>

Date: 14 February 2021 at 5:53:52 pm AEDT

Subject: We have received your response for Letters to the editor

Reply-To: gstone@austcommunitymedia.com.au

TEXT FIXED ..... The community has been short changed in relation to the design features and facilities promised/expected for the Mall.................. The scant consultation undertaken made it very clear that the community wanted a lush shady and aesthetically-pleasing environment, and this would attract people to the place and provide a welcoming environment for shoppers and visitors to the central area. However, Council managers employed Adelaide-based consultants with pre-conceived ideas about design, and the result we have is what you get. ................... The management operates under the radar of Councillors who in the end have to just "suck it up" and either expose themselves of claims of interfering in day-to-day management affairs, or keep their mouths shut. ................. Electors expected their representatives to speak up....to represent them....but no, after all "snouts in troughs" is a very comfortable place to exist. Yum! 

 Lionel Morrell President, Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Inc.

NOT PUBLISHED YET

WHAT IS AT WORK HERE?

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAUNCESTON?