SYSTEM THE SCAPEGOAT

THE claim by the Property Council (Sunday Tasmanian, October 3) that planning reforms will ease the housing shortage appear to have little factual basis. The council has not provided evidence to support its assertion that three “quick win” planning reforms will have any impact on housing availability or cost.

Where are the figures to show tightened statutory time frames will provide cheaper houses — rather than limit community involvement to the process? Providing for development applications to trigger referrals to streamline the process is a good idea, but much of this is already happening.

Our land use planning system is used as a scapegoat for the housing crisis in Tasmania. While there is no doubt many Tasmanians are struggling to access affordable housing, the factors leading to our current situation are complex.

The idea planning system costs and land supply are the major contributors to the problem is being discredited. Instead, the wider policy settings around population, the financial and taxation system and investment are more important long term factors, and potential future solutions, to the problem.

If residential land supply issues do exist, the property council might examine how its members could bring forward building on existing development-approved land.

Kerry Burns

Glebe