Kingborough Council is reviewing how the Landscape Conservation Zone was applied in its draft Local Provisions Schedule, following community concerns.
To support this process, Council has engaged IreneInc Planning, an independent planning consultancy, to examine the LCZ mapping across the municipality and consider whether some areas may be more appropriately zoned differently.
Council is also in the final stages of appointing another independent consultant to review the Specific Area Plans (SAPs).
Undertaking the reviews with two consultants at the same time will help Council meet required timeframes and avoid further delays to the hearings.
Kingborough Acting Mayor Clare Glade-Wright said the consultants would also attend ongoing Tasmanian Planning Commission hearings on behalf of Council to hear evidence being provided by landowners relevant to the reviews.
“Council understands some landowners are not happy with the application of LCZ in Kingborough, and we committed to obtain an independent review of this rezoning.
“The consultant will look at whether some areas might be better suited to other zones, such as Rural Living Zone,” Cr Glade-Wright said.
“Once this is complete, recommendations will be used by Council to guide our next steps as we continue through the Planning Commission process.
“The rezoning was driven by State Government planning reforms which aimed to deliver uniformity in planning across the state.
“Under the reforms, some previous zones could no longer be used, and new zones, like LCZ, have been introduced.
Acting Mayor Glade-Wright said Council had written to landowners potentially affected by the introduction of a LCZ to outline the steps Council was taking while the Planning Commission’s hearings continued.
Council staff will remain the direct point of contact for responding to community questions and providing updates as the reviews progress.
In the meantime, hearings that are unrelated to the Landscape Conservation Zone and the two SAPs under review will continue.