Kingborough Council has announced significant improvements to its statutory planning functions, aiming to deliver better services to the community. The changes follow a comprehensive external review of the Council’s planning services, as confirmed by Acting Mayor Christian Street.
Acting Mayor Street stated that the report considered by the Council was the outcome of an extensive process, which included valuable community feedback and independent expert assessment. He highlighted the strong community interest in how planning provisions are developed and applied across the municipality.
A key aspect of this review focused on Specific Area Plans (SAPs) for Bruny Island and Bonnet Hill. The independent assessment found strategic justification for revised and simplified SAPs in these areas, while recommending the removal of the Blackmans Bay Bluff component of the Bonnet Hill SAP.
The review identified that the Bruny Island SAP was justified due to unique characteristics not adequately managed by standard provisions of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. These characteristics include the island’s low-density settlement pattern, existing infrastructure constraints such as wastewater management, and natural values of local, state, and national significance. Similarly, the Bonnet Hill SAP was deemed necessary due to the scenic amenity of its vegetated slopes, which form a backdrop to Kingston Beach, its low-density settlement, and wastewater infrastructure limitations.
In response to the review’s recommendations and community feedback, particularly from Bruny Island residents, the Council has redrafted the SAPs. These redrafted plans aim to align with the provisions currently in place under the Kingborough Interim Planning Scheme, while also introducing some additional flexibility. This approach allows for a smoother transition to the new planning scheme, manages key risks, avoids adverse impacts on landowners, and provides crucial time for further consultation and strategic work requested by the community.
Kingborough Council’s CEO, Dave Stewart, noted that the independent review found the SAPs for Bruny Island and Bonnet Hill were justified, and recommended their revision and simplification. Mr. Stewart emphasised that the Council has taken community feedback seriously, particularly the desire for more time and further consultation on longer-term planning matters.
Should the Council endorse the reviewed SAPs, they will be forwarded to the Tasmanian Planning Commission for consideration as part of the broader Tasmanian Planning Scheme. The Tasmanian Planning Commission is currently holding hearings to review Kingborough Council’s Draft Local Provisions Schedule (LPS), which sets zoning and land-use rules for the municipality, with a final decision expected around April 2027. This ongoing process underscores the Council’s commitment to robust and responsive planning for the Kingborough region.