Arabic version: مجلس هوبارت يطلب إعفاءً من رسوم «بلانبيلد»
According to ABC News, Hobart City Council has unanimously backed a motion describing Tasmania’s PlanBuild planning portal as “unfit for purpose” and seeking an indefinite waiver of its annual $83,000 fee while problems with the system are fixed. Hobart was the first council to adopt the portal when it went live in 2024.
PlanBuild was intended to replace paper-based building, plumbing and development applications with a streamlined online system for Tasmania’s 29 councils. The council said the rollout had frustrated staff, residents and industry, while its administration acknowledged the launch had been “very difficult for officers and applicants”.
Councillor Louise Elliott, who introduced the motion, said the system had brought reputational consequences for the council and created another barrier to housing. Housing Industry Association Tasmanian executive director Benjamin Price said industry had initially supported the proposal but members now considered the portal difficult to use and not delivering the promised efficiencies. A Hobart-based builder said it preferred to use a planner to lodge City of Hobart projects rather than use PlanBuild directly.
The program began in the 2016-17 financial year with a $9.7 million budget, including expected Commonwealth funding. In June, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services executive director Robyn Pearce said the budget had risen to $12.8 million, largely because rollout delays reduced expected revenue from other councils. Only $3 million of an expected $6.4 million in Commonwealth funding was received. The Justice Department said spending to date was just more than $11.6 million and further council rollout remained on hold while enhancements were completed.
A remediation plan agreed in May aims to address Hobart’s concerns by February 2027 before a statewide rollout. Justice Minister Guy Barnett said an additional $2 million had been committed in the recent state budget and his department had been asked to work with Hobart as a high priority to correct system bugs.
