Laws allowing for the fast-tracked rezoning of government land for affordable housing will be relied upon as part of the state government's promise to build at least 1000 social housing premises over the next three years.
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The Housing Land Supply Act was introduced in 2018 following a housing summit, and has since been applied in Newnham, Devonport, West Moonah and Rokeby, while its use for a proposed large-scale site at Huntingfield encountered community opposition.
The laws mean the rezoning is not publicly advertised and can bypass councils, which then consider the development application later on. It only applies to government-owned land.
Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the laws "will be used as and where it is needed to rezone land faster" for affordable housing.
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"The government aims to have the new agreement with the community housing providers in place early next year and the houses delivered over the next three years," he said.
"Delivery will focus on areas with highest demand. These houses will be social housing dwellings that will house applicants from the housing register."
Social housing is incorporated into general housing developments.
The government also plans to provide a further 300 house builds over 18 months, brought forward as a result of the waiving of the state's historic housing debt. The details of these constructions are expected to be finalised in the coming months.
Government-owned land described as "potentially suitable" for rezoning in Launceston included Lilydale Road in Rocherlea, Wildor Crescent in Ravenswood and Penquite Road in Norwood.
Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania co-ordinator Sophie Underwood said the government needed to be transparent with communities over its plans, which she said did not occur at Huntingfield.
"Any proposed developments by government must be publicly advertised with consultation at both the rezone stage and the master plan stage, otherwise the community is sidelined and so is local council," she said.
"The best way forward is for them to go thru the standard process which is what they've used for the past 25 years."
There were 3478 applications on the Tasmanian housing register with an average waiting time of 65 weeks in the December quarter.