Industry Calls for Genuine Planning Reform

11 February 2014

Master Builders Tasmania (MBT), the peak employer body representing the building and construction industry, has echoed the HIA’s calls for all sides of politics to review the planning system and provide it with a major overhaul.

Mr Michael Kerschbaum, MBT’s Executive Director said, “Master Builders believes that the planning system requires a thorough review, not just an ad hoc solution. The planning system is now twenty years old and requires a thorough review from a practitioner’s standpoint. It doesn’t matter how much sound policy or reason is behind a Planning Scheme if it is unworkable and impractical, it will stifle development. The planning system needs to be re-engineered to be an enabler not a blocker, as is the current situation.”

Mr Kerschbaum added, “One of the reforms that Master Builders is urging politicians of all persuasions to consider is the concept of two stage planning approval. Currently, in order for a developer/proponent to receive planning approval for a project, they need to demonstrate compliance with all facets of the planning scheme up front. This often requires an applicant to provide full disclosure of the technical details of an application when they lodge it. Inevitably, the applicant is required to commission a number of costly and lengthy expert reports and opinions in exchange for an uncertain outcome. This front end loading of projects not only adds cost and time, but it creates no additional certainty for the developer. Applicants can provide all of the necessary documentation up front at great personal expense only to find that the project is deemed inappropriate and rejected on planning grounds at great personal expense to the proponent.”Mr Kerschbaum concluded, “The approvals process is now at a point where it takes as long to get approval as it does to build the structure and something needs to change.”

For further comment contact Michael Kerschbaum on 0438 343 810

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