‘Councillors don’t get it’: State planning reform wins Labor support

A Labor MP says councilors “don’t really understand” how to enforce planning schemes, throwing his support behind the State Government’s proposal to strip councils of some planning decision-making powers.

Former Central Coast councilor Shane Broad spoke in favor of the government’s bill to establish independent development review panels in Parliament on Thursday.

Using the case of a former adult store proposed for Ulverstone’s high street while on the council, Broad said the somewhat controversial proposal had resulted in a refusal that “completely ignored” the planning scheme.

“There was such incredible pressure put on councilors to vote against the planning scheme,” he said.

The appeals process took three months and eventually the claimant ran out of money and moved.

“Councillors, especially new councillors, often don’t really understand how to … apply the planning scheme,” Broad said.

“You have two hats. You have the hat which means, metaphorically, that you represent the feelings, the passions of your community and that you put things in place for the benefit of the community.”

“But the moment you determine a planning application, you have to throw it away and you have to become a planning bureaucrat to enforce the planning scheme.”

He acknowledged that councils are generally considered to be good planning authorities, but said they can make “wrong decisions”.

“I’m just making this point to say that if anyone claims that boards always make perfect decisions, I think they’re wrong,” he said.

The government’s proposed planning reforms were passed by the House of Assembly on Wednesday evening.

Under the changes, which were rejected by the Local Government Association of Tasmania, independent panels will assess certain large developments or those deemed potentially controversial.

Planning Minister Felix Ellis said the panel would provide greater safety for developers and the community.

“It’s about creating jobs, creating opportunities and telling Tasmanians if your proposal meets the planning rules then you should get a fair deal,” he said.

“Our DAPs will deliver more homes and be a force for positive change and progress across the state.”

The bill was supported by both the Liberals and Labor.

He was opposed by The Greens, Lambie MP Andrew Jenner and independents Miriam Beswick, Craig Garland, David O’Byrne, Rebekah Pentland and Kristie Johnston.