A significant opportunity for reform

A significant opportunity for reformThe Executive Director of the Tasmanian Division of the Property Council Brian Wightman congratulated Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey and Launceston Mayor Albert Van Zetten on their Mayoral victories, and for their demonstration of strong leadership via comments to the ABC regarding the need to drive efficiencies across Local Government.”Ms Hickey and Mr Van Zetten have made an excellent start, providing clear statements of intent regarding the need for Council amalgamations in Tasmania”, Mr Wightman said.Division President, Tim Johnstone reiterated the fact that the Property Council of Australia has articulated the need for Local Government reform for a significant period of time.”Structural reform in Tasmania must remain a key agenda item.”Amalgamating Councils will deliver a more efficient and robust Local Government sector while also sending a clear message to investors that we are prepared to lead reform in order to deliver certainty and consistency,” Mr Johnstone said.Mr Wightman also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the State Government’s Planning Reform Taskforce in delivering amendments to the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the Local Government (Building and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 which should pass the House of Assembly today.”We are strong supporters of the State Government’s reforms in the planning space, particularly the move towards a single state-wide planning scheme. The raft of amendments before the House of Assembly provides what Tasmania desperately needs – consistency,” Mr Wightman said.However Mr Johnstone made it clear that he believed the State Government had missed an opportunity to deliver structural reform to the Tasmanian economy through amalgamating Councils which would have reduced the number of planning schemes immediately.”We are embarrassingly over-governed in Tasmania with 29 councils and even more planning schemes.”With a strong majority the State Government could have made the planning reform task much less complex through forcing the hand of Councils to amalgamate,” Mr Johnstone said.Executive Director Mr Wightman suggested that in four years’ time we should have made significant progress towards a greater Hobart and a greater Launceston Council.”The Tasmanian Division of the Property Council of Australia stands ready to work with all levels of Government in order to deliver this much needed reform,” Mr Wightman said.Mr Wightman concluded that it has been a very positive week for jobs and economic growth in Tasmania underpinned by the property and construction industries.”The University of Tasmania, Penny Royal, North Bank, streamlining planning processes and Mayors championing amalgamations are fantastic initiatives for our State. Let’s maintain the momentum,” he said.Media contacts:Brian Wightman, Executive Director Tasmania 0429 073 773