Like 'the Spirits': Hobart council slams new 'unfit for purpose' planning portal
The rollout of a new planning portal meant to speed up development approvals has turned into a Tasmanian government debacle that has been likened to the Spirit of Tasmania fiasco.
A new online planning portal, called PlanBuild, was intended to streamline development approvals for Tasmania's 29 councils, but its trial in Hobart City Council has proven a costly failure. The system, which was meant to replace time-consuming paper-based applications, has been labeled "unfit for purpose" by the council, causing frustration among staff, residents and industry.
Hobart councillor Louise Elliott introduced a motion calling for an indefinite waiver of the $83,000 annual fee until the system is fixed, supported by the council administration and members of the Housing Industry Association. The project, conceived over a decade ago under former Premier Peter Gutwein, has witnessed a $6.5 million cost increase and delays, leading to increased costs for builders and potential extra charges for architects, designers, and plumbers.
Despite a planned remediation project, the system is still in a clunky state, causing additional expenses and frustrations for all parties involved.
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