Tasmania’s Planning Minister says he will not apologise for labelling mayors ‘NIMBYs’ and accusing them of self-interest in their opposition to proposed planning reforms.
Greens planning spokesperson Helen Burnett criticised Ellis’s comments in Parliament on Wednesday, saying they show “contempt” for mayors and “completely dismiss” communities and their concerns.
“You’ve also sledged residents and community groups who are concerned about the local places around Tasmania they want to protect,” she said.
“Will you apologise for your arrogance and disrespectful comments?”
Ellis responded with a firm “no” and proceeded to blast Burnett, a former Hobart City Councillor, accusing her of being “anti-everything”.
“Just on Sunday, Ms Burnett, I was at a development that you blocked when you were on council,” he said.
“That is still an empty lot filled with vandalism and graffiti. You know what could be there right now today? 40 homes for Tasmanians. A childcare centre for Tasmanian children. Retail precincts for Tasmanian jobs.”
“You know who blocked it? You and your council, Ms Burnett. Even worse than that, it was recommended for approval by your expert planning staff because it complied with the planning scheme.”
The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal recently overturned the council’s 2020 decision to reject the development at 202-206 Macquarie Street, the site of a former service station.
It was refused by councillors Helen Burnet, Anna Reynolds, Jeff Briscoe, Damon Thomas, Bill Harvey, Mike Dutta, Jax Fox and Zelinda Sherlock over height and privacy concerns.
Councillors Marti Zucco, Peter Sexton, Simon Behrakis and Will Coats followed the recommendation for approval and supported the build.
Ellis said the planning reforms, which will create an independent panel to assess certain projects, will prevent other developers from going through “four years of legal lawfare [and] a whole bunch of rubbish”.
“I am sorry, Ms Burnett, if I have upset your delicate sensibilities, but I can say that this government backs in jobs, we back in housing,” he said.
“The real question here today … is whether Labor will get off the barbed wire fence … [and] support our Development Assessment Panel Bill.”
More on this story: All the major developments approved and rejected by the City of Hobart
