[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Govt Persists in Ramming Through Planning Changes_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

GOVT PERSISTS IN RAMMING THROUGH CONTENTIOUS PLANNING CHANGES

Ignores Greens Compromise Move

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Thursday, 20 August 2009
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today attempted to have the contentious Land Use
Planning and Approvals Amendment (State and Regional Strategies) Bill
withdrawn and redrafted in order to split it into two separate Bills,
but the Bartlett government used its numbers to vote this move down.

Greens Leader and Planning spokesperson Nick McKim MP accused the
Minister of ramming the legislation through despite the Greens proposing
a compromise mechanism which would have provided further time for proper
consultation and analysis on the contentious introduction of Projects of
Regional Significance.

Mr McKim also said that there are serious concerns about the powers
provided to the Minister under the proposed Projects of Regional
Significance, which enable the minister to call in any such developments
and remove local councils from the assessment process, and the absence
of any form of appeal mechanism.

"Labor's Bill consists of two major but essentially unrelated
components, one of which is the relatively uncontentious regional land
use strategies and interim planning schemes which the Greens support,
and the other is the very contentious introduction of Projects of
Regional Significance which has caused alarm amongst stakeholders and
local councils," Mr McKim said.

"Neither the Planning Institute of Australia, nor the Local Government
Association of Tasmania, support the Projects of Regional Significance
process, which is hardly surprising given that it rips planning
assessments away from local communities."

"The state government seems hell bent on antagonising the local
government sector by ignoring its valid concerns about the radical
changes contained in some parts of this Bill."

"We put forward the constructive proposal of splitting this Bill into
two so that the components dealing with regional land use strategies and
interim planning schemes could be debated promptly, while allowing more
time for stakeholder consultation regarding the contentious introduction
of Projects of Regional Significance."

Mr McKim had also requested that the government refrain from debating
this legislation this week to enable sufficient time to consult with
stakeholders, but the government failed to do so without providing any
justification.




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