New research from the Residential Development Council (RDC) and the Property Council of Australia (PCA) shows Australia’s development assessment processes aren’t making the grade, with Tasmania at the bottom of the class.
The RDC/PCA’s Development Assessment Forum (DAF) Reform Implementation Report Cards identify progress on development assessment reform across the country as well as the steps required to implement the 10 Leading Practice Principles developed by the DAF.
Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia (Tasmania Division) Mary Massina said Tasmania scored 5.2 out of 10 on its report card.
“If Tasmania implements its existing proposals this will only increase to 6.6, meaning Tasmania will still lag behind,” Ms Massina said.
“Tasmania’s low score card highlights the need for further planning reform and all political parties must make a strong commitment to implement all DAF principles as a matter of urgency.
“While the State Government should be recognised for its efforts in recent years to improve the state’s planning and development system, through the introduction of development assessment panels for regionally significant projects, the template schemes, regional planning and a commitment to a Residential Code of Development, there is so much more to be done to bring the Tasmanian planning system into the 21st century.
“Tasmania cannot continue to have a planning report card such as this.
“The reform agenda is very clear. In addition to existing proposals, we must redouble our efforts to fully eliminate parochial politics from development assessment decisions through the implementation of development assessment panels which puts the decisions in the hands of independent experts.
“It’s vital that we have clear strategies such as metropolitan plans for greater Hobart and Launceston to ensure we can continue to attract investment and provide a clear vision as to how we wish to see our urban areas grow underpinned by the provision of infrastructure.
“All this needs to be detailed in a reform agenda with clear timelines for achievement and adequate funding to ensure its success.”
Ms Massina said the current election period provided an ideal opportunity for the Tasmanian Division of the Property Council to argue for ongoing reform, and the Division is calling on all parties to announce their plans for bringing the state to the fore in planning and development reform.
“I call on all political parties to make contemporary best practice planning reform a priority in the upcoming March election,” she said.
“Its important that we have a strong commitment from the new Government to a clear reform agenda that takes us from the bottom of the class to the top.”
