Premier Jeremy Rockliff has acknowledged community concerns over plans to develop housing on Penguin’s former football oval but says the project is still moving ahead.
Speaking on the north-west coast this week, Rockliff addressed the tension surrounding initial proposals for the affordable and social housing development.
“There will always be views when it comes to housing developments and people’s views will be differing,” he said. “It’s a matter of bringing people together, getting them around the table.”
Homes Tasmania said community consultation carried out last year showed general support for affordable and social housing in Penguin, with many concerns focused on housing density rather than the development itself.
In response to that feedback, a revised master plan has now been released for public consultation, open until the end of March.
The updated plan includes a nearly 20% reduction in lot density from 55 to 45 lots, two-storey height restrictions, a 48% increase in minimum lot sizes for single dwellings and expanded public green space.
“What I am keen to see is the community uniting to ensure that we put more roofs over Tasmanians’ heads,” Rockliff said, stressing the “fundamental right of every Tasmanian to be safe and have a roof over their heads”.
According to the latest housing dashboard, there were 4,933 applicants on the state’s housing waitlist as of January.
The Penguin oval redevelopment is part of the state government’s wider push to tackle Tasmania’s housing crisis, with similar projects underway across the state to boost housing supply.
