A group of mayors in Tasmania has raised alarm over the proposed planning reforms, cautioning that the development approvals process risks becoming chaotic if the changes are implemented. The Tasmanian government is pushing for the establishment of independent Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) to oversee specific development applications, a move that may sideline local councils in decision-making processes.
The draft legislation outlines the criteria for which developments could be assessed by the DAPs, including applications with social or affordable housing components endorsed by Homes Tasmania, high-value proposals, and instances where conflicts of interest are identified. While the government argues that these panels would streamline the process and introduce unbiased expert assessments of applications, mayors like Brendan Blomeley and Paula Wriedt have criticized the reforms, labeling them as an overreach that could diminish community involvement in planning decisions. They have expressed concerns about the lack of avenues for appeals based on merit grounds and the potential for the planning minister to have increased influence in decision-making processes.