Planning

The Tasmanian Planning Commission Act 1997 (the Act) established the Tasmanian Planning Commission (the 'Commission') as a statutory body to be Tasmania's peak planning body to play a key role in the State government's planning system.

From 1 September 2009, the Commission assumed the functions of the former Resource Planning and Development Commission and the Land Use Planning Branch of the Department of Justice.

The Commission oversees the State's planning system, is responsible for state of the environment reporting, assesses public land use issues and projects of State significance, and reviews water management plans.  Recent amendments to the Act have added the following functions:

• to provide advice and support to the Minister in relation to the performance of his or her functions, and the exercise of his or her powers, in relation to land use planning under this or any other Act;
• to provide advice to the Minister in respect of matters related to land use planning;
• to plan for the coordinated provision of transport, and of infrastructure, for land development;
• to provide advice to local government in relation to planning schemes under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the functions of local government under that Act; and
• to review, and advise the Minister in respect of, State and regional strategic land use planning matters.

Membership of the Commission represents a range of community, industry, conservation and Local and State Government interests and comprises a full-time Executive Commissioner and seven part-time Commissioners.

A new website for the Tasmanian Planning Commission will be launched shortly.  In the meantime, information about the current activities of the former Resource Planning and Development Commission and Land Use Planning Branch can be found on the existing websites of those organisations.