Say yes to a healthy democracy/Say no to the Liberals new planning panels

The Liberal Government proposed legislation to empower the Planning Minister to remove assessment and approval of developments from the normal local council process and have it done by planning assessment panels. This fast-track process would remove elected councillors from having a say on the most controversial and destructive developments affecting local communities. There would be no right for the community to appeal the final decision to the planning tribunal. The criteria being considered would enable virtually any development to be taken out of the normal local council assessment process and instead be assessed by planning panels, including developments already refused such as the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car, high-rise buildings in Hobart and new developments such as large-scale subdivisions such as the Skylands development at Droughty Point.

The Planning Minister could take a development assessment from councils mid-way through the development assessment process if the developer doesn’t like the way it is heading.

The Planning Minister would also have new powers to instruct councils to commence planning scheme changes, but perversely, only when a local council has rejected such an application.

Transparency, independence and public participation in decision-making are critical for a healthy democracy