OUTGOING Property Council director Mary Massina has been appointed head of the state government's Planning Review Taskforce. Ms Massina said it was vitally important Tasmania implemented a ``fit-for-purpose'' planning system to drive investment and create jobs. ``It's been no secret I've been a fierce advocate for reform of the planning system in Tasmania,'' she said. Ms Massina said pushing for the forced amalgamation of local councils - of which she was a strong, passionate supporter in the lead-up to the state election - was beyond her prerogative in the new role. ``I've been charged with responsibility for driving planning reform and that is the start and the finish of my focus and attention for the next four years,'' Ms Massina said. The Liberal and Labor parties both hold long-standing positions against forced amalgamations. Ms Massina said she was looking forward to working with local governments and the business community to achieve consensus on reform. ``It's actually really important that we get buy-in and we get responsibility for driving change from all key stakeholders, and local government is obviously very important to that,'' she said. Opposition Leader Bryan Green said he wished Ms Massina well in her new role, saying it had been a ``massive, complicated task'' for his government to progress Tasmanian planning reforms to their current position. ``Obviously she believes she can reform the planning laws in Tasmania to a greater extent than we've already changed them,'' Mr Green said. ``To simply bring in one planning scheme across the state I don't believe is viable unless you amalgamate councils and take planning authority away from councils,'' he said. The government has signalled other members of the taskforce will be announced in the near future.
OUTGOING Property Council director Mary Massina has been appointed head of the state government's Planning Review Taskforce.
Ms Massina said it was vitally important Tasmania implemented a ``fit-for-purpose'' planning system to drive investment and create jobs.
``It's been no secret I've been a fierce advocate for reform of the planning system in Tasmania,'' she said.
Ms Massina said pushing for the forced amalgamation of local councils - of which she was a strong, passionate supporter in the lead-up to the state election - was beyond her prerogative in the new role.
``I've been charged with responsibility for driving planning reform and that is the start and the finish of my focus and attention for the next four years,'' Ms Massina said.
The Liberal and Labor parties both hold long-standing positions against forced amalgamations.
Ms Massina said she was looking forward to working with local governments and the business community to achieve consensus on reform.
``It's actually really important that we get buy-in and we get responsibility for driving change from all key stakeholders, and local government is obviously very important to that,'' she said.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green said he wished Ms Massina well in her new role, saying it had been a ``massive, complicated task'' for his government to progress Tasmanian planning reforms to their current position.
``Obviously she believes she can reform the planning laws in Tasmania to a greater extent than we've already changed them,'' Mr Green said.
``To simply bring in one planning scheme across the state I don't believe is viable unless you amalgamate councils and take planning authority away from councils,'' he said.
The government has signalled other members of the taskforce will be announced in the near future.
