Media release – Greater Hobart Mayors, Published on The Tasmanian Times 13 November 2024

Greater Hobart Mayors unite against State’s controversial planning bill

The four Greater Hobart Mayors have expressed strong opposition to the State Government’s draft Development Assessment Panel (DAP) bill, citing major concerns about its potential impact on Tasmania’s planning system.

The mayors – Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley, Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey and Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt – believe the proposed legislation undermines longstanding democratic processes and shifts the balance overwhelmingly in favour of developers, at the expense of community engagement and accountability.

The mayors urge the government to amend the bill to ensure that DAPs must operate within clear planning guidelines to protect public interest and maintain trust in the planning process.

Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds (City of Hobart)

“We’re very concerned that if this draft law passes unamended it will see Tasmania become a bit of a ‘wild west’ for planning and development.

“No other state in the country allows their DAPs to approve what they like without reference to planning laws.

“This Minister needs to amend his law to make it crystal clear that these panels must follow the planning rules that have been drafted in the public interest.”

Quotes attributable to Mayor Brendan Blomeley (Clarence City Council)

“The draft Development Assessment Panels Bill is exceedingly poor legislation, undermining the democratic processes that have underpinned planning decisions in Tasmania for decades.

“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 is a thinly veiled attempt to centralise power and bypass 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 ordinary Tasmanians.”

Quotes attributable to Mayor Sue Hickey (Glenorchy City Council)

“This change is going to cause a lot of grief for local government.

“It is philosophically bankrupt, resource hungry and is hanging councils out to dry.

“It will deprive people of their appeal rights and will further politicise the planning system.

“The process is Byzantine and it will allow applicants to forum shop their own planning adventure.”

Quotes attributable to Mayor Paula Wriedt (Kingborough Council)

“We would like to see more information as to how DAPs will be managed so that we can understand the full implications of the Bill.

“The lack of detail is concerning, and we do not have assurance that the process will not be subject to political influence.

“At a minimum, clarification on definitions, eligibility criteria and evidence required to meet the criteria is needed.”

Brendan Blomeley is the Mayor of Clarence City Council, Sue Hickey is the Mayor of Glenorchy City Council, Anna Reynolds is the Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart and Paula Wriedt is the Mayor of Kingborough Council.