The Property Council of Australia has been a strong advocate for a single statewide planning scheme in Tasmania, but how long must we remain patient? On May 17, 2014, the state government announced: "A single statewide planning scheme is a key component of the Liberal Government's long-term plan to make Tasmania more attractive for investment and to create jobs".
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"I am pleased to announce the membership of the Tasmanian Planning Reform Taskforce which will be responsible for providing me with advice on the development and implementation of a single statewide planning scheme which is fairer, faster, cheaper and simpler," the Treasurer said.
More than five years on, the economic landscape has changed dramatically in Tasmania, yet the scheme is still not active. There's been a flurry of economic indicators, reports, scorecards and statistics that all point to the broader Tasmanian economy being in relatively good health. The latest CommSec's State of the States rankings showed Tasmania scored second behind Victoria in terms of economic performance. In terms of state final demand, our economy is the fastest-growing economy in the country and the Sensis Business Index shows that Tasmania's small and medium-sized businesses are the most confident.
One of the main drivers of these results is Tasmania's booming population. The construction and development sector have stepped-up in response to provide more diverse accommodation options from residents and tourists alike. However, the finalisation of the scheme must occur to streamline the provision of housing. A lack of state government resources has contributed to the delay, continuing inconsistencies and red tape impediments which prompted the planning overhaul in the first place.
Complex and inefficient approval processes across several regulatory bodies outside the planning system add to the time taken to deliver new housing to the market. Delays encountered when installing essential services such as water and electricity only add to the frustrations of home builders and developers, dissuading potential investors.
Co-ordinating the different approvals required to build a house is a mammoth task. A month-long delay on approval for one aspect of design can contribute to many further delays down the track, adding months to the overall building process.
The state government must increase planning resources and finalise the Tasmanian Planning Scheme as a matter of urgency.
- Brian Wightman is Property Council of Australia Tasmania executive director.
