Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Member for Bass
The Minister for Planning and Local Government failed to provide any reassurance to Launceston residents today that he won't intervene on behalf of the Fragrance Group to fast track their proposed skyscraper development opposite City Park.
We asked if the Minister would rule out using his powers to help Fragrance Group get its Launceston skyscraper off the ground. He wouldn't make that commitment.
Mr Gutwein crows about how the Liberals’ new statewide planning scheme is 'faster and cheaper' and it will send the message that 'Tasmania is open for business'.
Clearly the Fragrance Group got the message and the red carpet treatment from the Liberals in government. They have been emboldened by the Liberals to put forward skyscraper developments that have no respect for the culture and heritage of both Hobart and Launceston.
The weakened provisions in the new statewide planning scheme are designed to enable exactly the sort of inappropriate developments the Fragrance Group is proposing for Hobart and Launceston.
Under the draft Major Projects legislation, Mr Gutwein knows he could either accept the developer's request to call in the skyscraper developments or decide to do so himself.
Either way, the entire system has now been set up for and on behalf of developers, with residents of Hobart and Launceston completely shut out of the process.