In a new low, the Liberals have announced that next week they’ll be bringing forward legislation which will facilitate the Stony Rise development in Devonport.
Just a day after the Stony Rise proponent took out a full-page ad asking the Rockliff Government to help them bypass planning laws, the Liberals have jumped to their aid. This is a classic move from the Liberals’ playbook, giving special treatment to developers to bypass planning laws.
Planning laws exist for a reason – to ensure a fair process for considering developments, and outcomes which benefit the community. The Stony Rise Village’s rezoning application was also rejected for a reason. The Stony Rise proponents should vent their frustration towards the Liberals who have not acted to update Regional Land Use Strategies.
Special treatment is not the way planning should work. Whether it’s the best development or the worst development, it should be considered using the existing framework that applies to everyone. The last thing we need is interference from the Minister and government.
This is yet another attack on a planning system which the Liberals have already tried to weaken through their major projects legislation, flawed stadium assessment process and now they are hell bent on introducing Development Assessment Panels.
The Premier seems to be making a lot of promises to his corporate mates. First, he’s ditched the pokies pre-commitment card at the behest of the industry lobbying. Now he’s promising developers he’ll help them bypass the planning system.
Premier Rockliff seems to have forgotten it’s Tasmanians he’s meant to work for, not big business.
