Tasmania’s dormant development sites could finally see progress under a new plan from the state’s Labor opposition, with a dedicated agency proposed to unlock stalled housing projects and cut through red tape.
Labor leader Dean Winter this week announced Renew Tasmania, a government business enterprise backed by $20 million in seed funding that would fast-track development-ready land and partner directly with builders to deliver much-needed housing stock.
“After 11 years of the Liberals, we’ve got a housing crisis in Tasmania,” Winter said.
“We’ve got land lying dormant all over the state, unable to actually get built.”
The RenewTas agency would acquire Crown land, purchase underused private sites, and manage the complex planning issues that often halt early-stage development.
Once those hurdles are cleared, land would either be released back to market in a shovel-ready state or developed through public-private partnerships to deliver housing outcomes.
Labor’s housing spokesperson Shane Broad said the initiative is aimed squarely at removing the risks that hold private developers back from engaging with high-potential but complicated sites.
“What we’ve seen around the state is great development parcels stay dormant for too long,” Broad said.
“RenewTas would acquire land, consult on master plans with local communities, and then see it through the planning and development phase—giving builders and investors the certainty they need.”
Industry leaders say the plan couldn’t come at a better time.
Rebecca Elston from the Property Council of Tasmania said developers are often stuck in limbo due to extended planning timeframes and utility connection delays.
“Best case scenario is around six months. But we’re hearing cases of around 18 months for a standard residential home, which is just insane at the moment,” Elston said.
“When you add in utilities, you’re looking at 24 months to get anything off the ground.”
James Collins of Ronald Young and Co Builders, speaking on behalf of the Housing Industry Association, said the construction industry is ready and waiting.
“We’ve got materials, we’ve got workforce, we’ve got HIA, we’ve got the high-vis army and youth build bringing through the next generation of ready-to-work workers.
But we need access to the land.”
The Planning Institute of Australia’s Tasmanian president Mick Purvis noted that every other state in the country already has a state-based renewal agency in place. Tasmania, he said, has been left behind.
“This is something we’ve long pushed for,” Purvis said.
The $20 million in initial funding would come from Labor’s claimed $500 million in budget savings. Importantly, the new agency would operate as a not-for-profit and reinvest any profits into future housing and urban renewal projects.
If implemented, RenewTas could provide certainty to builders, unlock critical land, and bring much-needed momentum to Tasmania’s housing pipeline.
Want to learn how RenewTas could impact your building business or open new project opportunities in Tasmania?
Reach out to The Good Builder, we’d love to hear your perspective.Tasmania’s dormant development sites could finally see progress under a new plan from the state’s Labor opposition, with a dedicated agency proposed to unlock stalled housing projects and cut through red tape.
Labor leader Dean Winter this week announced Renew Tasmania, a government business enterprise backed by $20 million in seed funding that would fast-track development-ready land and partner directly with builders to deliver much-needed housing stock.
“After 11 years of the Liberals, we’ve got a housing crisis in Tasmania,” Winter said.
“We’ve got land lying dormant all over the state, unable to actually get built.”
The RenewTas agency would acquire Crown land, purchase underused private sites, and manage the complex planning issues that often halt early-stage development.
Once those hurdles are cleared, land would either be released back to market in a shovel-ready state or developed through public-private partnerships to deliver housing outcomes.
Labor’s housing spokesperson Shane Broad said the initiative is aimed squarely at removing the risks that hold private developers back from engaging with high-potential but complicated sites.
“What we’ve seen around the state is great development parcels stay dormant for too long,” Broad said.
“RenewTas would acquire land, consult on master plans with local communities, and then see it through the planning and development phase—giving builders and investors the certainty they need.”
Industry leaders say the plan couldn’t come at a better time.
Rebecca Elston from the Property Council of Tasmania said developers are often stuck in limbo due to extended planning timeframes and utility connection delays.
“Best case scenario is around six months. But we’re hearing cases of around 18 months for a standard residential home, which is just insane at the moment,” Elston said.
“When you add in utilities, you’re looking at 24 months to get anything off the ground.”
James Collins of Ronald Young and Co Builders, speaking on behalf of the Housing Industry Association, said the construction industry is ready and waiting.
“We’ve got materials, we’ve got workforce, we’ve got HIA, we’ve got the high-vis army and youth build bringing through the next generation of ready-to-work workers.
But we need access to the land.”
The Planning Institute of Australia’s Tasmanian president Mick Purvis noted that every other state in the country already has a state-based renewal agency in place. Tasmania, he said, has been left behind.
“This is something we’ve long pushed for,” Purvis said.
The $20 million in initial funding would come from Labor’s claimed $500 million in budget savings. Importantly, the new agency would operate as a not-for-profit and reinvest any profits into future housing and urban renewal projects.
If implemented, RenewTas could provide certainty to builders, unlock critical land, and bring much-needed momentum to Tasmania’s housing pipeline.
Want to learn how RenewTas could impact your building business or open new project opportunities in Tasmania?
Reach out to The Good Builder, we’d love to hear your perspective.
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