Shelter Tas appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Draft Residential Housing and Supply Bill 2018 and supports the proposition of releasing suitable parcels of Crown Land for the
development of affordable housing. As the peak body for housing and homelessness in Tasmania we applaud the Government’s commitment to ongoing engagement with the sector on these initiatives.
We are encouraged that legislation in support of the development of affordable housing is being proposed. While the Bill applies only to Crown Land, it highlights the relevance of the planning system to the supply of housing and affordable housing. Across Australia progressive approaches to addressing housing needs are being pursued through planning systems. This initiative provides an opportunity for Tasmania to also begin to modernise its planning system to help deliver much needed affordable housing. It is also a feature of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement currently under negotiation. We therefore repeat our call in previous submissions to the reform of Tasmania’s planning system to make it clear that planning matters should include providing for housing diversity, social mix and housing affordability. Read more…