The organisation which campaigned against a proposed tourism development expansion in Freycinet National Park earlier this year has now set its sights on the draft State Planning Scheme.
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The Freycinet Action Network spearheaded a 600-signature petition earlier this year in response to a proposed extension of Freycinet Lodge, with proponents RACT eventually dropping the plans.
The network has regrouped amid fears national parks could be impacted by the State Planning Scheme, and will hold a public community awareness meeting at Hobart Town Hall on November 8 to discuss potential ramifications of the scheme.
Network member Sophie Underwood said the proposed changes represented a paradigm shift for all Tasmanians.
“The biggest issue is that it covers every single land title in Tasmania and it’s not actually providing any vision for the state,” Ms Underwood said.
“It’s going to lead to reduced public participation in the planning system and it'll lead to more market driven, ad-hoc development situations.”
Ms Underwood said the draft plan included changes to parks and reserves management which were “retrograde and undemocratic”.
“The proposed scheme I see is undemocratic and that's because it doesn’t guarantee any public comment on developments within national parks and reserves, and also it takes away appeal rights completely.
“Appeal rights are really important because they hold both the developers and the decision makers to account, and you often get better decisions when you have appeal rights because everyone gets a say.”
Planning Minister Peter Gutwein said the government would make no apologies for fixing a broken planning system.
“Our single statewide planning scheme will be faster, fairer, simpler and cheaper and it will encourage and support developments and investments that will grow the economy and create jobs,” Mr Gutwein said.
“People will still be able have their say and our reforms are about ensuring greater clarity around the planning scheme and getting the balance right.”
The Tasmanian Planning Commission will hold the last of 21 public hearings on the draft plan in Launceston on Tuesday, with the final report to be handed to Minister Gutwein on December 9.