Ms BURNET (Clark) – Honourable Speaker, last night’s Hobart planning committee considered the zip line proposal which consisted of a 25-metre high tower rising from The Springs near the heritage-listed gardens, the line itself running 1.2 kilometres and having vegetation clearance for the landing at Strickland Falls. This proposed zip line was modelled on another in New Zealand by the same proponent – part of a theme-park approach for Kunanyi. It was rejected by a majority decision by the City of Hobart last night at their planning committee.
This was the latest such scheme designed to turn this special place into a theme park. The Greens expect that it will not be the last. Almost 800 submissions reached the planning committee, the vast majority in opposition. Then some deputations spelled out those planning considerations pitted against the proponent and their witnesses. To have almost 800 representations is a very large interest in a proposal. It is important to hear from the public to frame your response – not only considering the professional planning advice of the application. That is what the people on the planning committee would have had to consider. I thank those who took the time to make their voices heard. As a former member and chair of Hobart’s planning committee, I took my role very seriously. Hearing those voices would have been very important for the planning committee members as well.
The large number of representors were placing their trust in a democratic process. They were having their voices heard on planning matters. They were placing their faith in the chance to be heard, to be represented by their local government elected representatives – just like they did with the last cable car debate considered in early 2020. It was appealed at TASCAT in November 2022. If this zip line decision is appealed – and I suspect it may not go to appeal, we will have to wait and see – it would be heard through the TASCAT process.
Parties can be heard, it can be considered, it can even come out with a mediated process. However, the Liberals want to take away that right for a third-party appeal. They do not like seeing democracy at work; they are scared by the prospect, even with something as precious and as important as Kunanyi is to many Tasmanians and not only those who are direct neighbours.
Mr Felix Ellis, the minister, also wants to create, through his development assessment panels, a parallel process for developers like the proponent of the zip line or any cable car proposal that might roll in, no doubt supported by the Liberals. It gives greater emphasis on assessment panels and takes more out of the hands of the community who should be heard loud and clear.
With the minister, Mr Abetz’s, review of the mountain due later this year and the minister’s capacity as minister for Business, the Greens are concerned there will be all manner of spurious development recommended for the mountain, designed to hand yet more public land over to profit-seeking entrepreneurs.
Last night’s decision was a great example of why community voices in planning decisions and the right to object to projects that will affect everyone are so important. It demonstrates again why development assessment panels would do irreparable damage to the functioning of local government. It is important that everyone who will be affected by developments has the right to have their say, to protect our important landscapes such as Kunanyi.
