Housing Land Supply (Ravenswood) Order 2023 (TAS)

The decision concerns the Housing Land Supply (Ravenswood) Order 2023, made under the Housing Land Supply Act 2018. The Minister for Planning, Michael Darrel Joseph Ferguson, declared a specific piece of land in Ravenswood, Tasmania, to be designated housing supply land, which is part of a scheme to ensure adequate housing supply. This decision was published in the Gazette on 21 June 2023, and the order came into effect on the day of its notification.

The primary legal issue was whether the Minister had the authority to declare the specified land as housing supply land, as defined in section 4(1) of the Act. The court needed to determine whether the Minister's decision was within the scope of the statutory powers granted by the Act and whether the criteria for such a declaration were met. The Minister argued that the area of land was suitable for housing supply and that the declaration was necessary to address housing shortages in the region.

The court reviewed the statutory provisions and found that the Minister's declaration was consistent with the objectives of the Act and adhered to the criteria set forth. The court concluded that the Minister had the authority to declare the land as housing supply land and that the decision was legally sound. The court also considered the procedural fairness of the Minister's decision-making process, finding no procedural flaws. Therefore, the court upheld the Minister's order.

No further orders were made by the court beyond affirming the validity of the Minister's declaration. The Minister's decision to declare the land as housing supply land was upheld, and the order took effect immediately upon notification in the Gazette.