Why do we need to make improvements?
What is included in the Project?
Release of the Response Report - November 2005
Tasmania’s land use planning system is largely established through the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 which sets out the way planning schemes are prepared and amended, and how the development assessment, appeal and enforcement provisions operate. This is supported by the State Policies and Projects Act 1993, the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal Act 1993 and the Resource Planning and Development Commission Act 1997.
Tasmania’s Resource Management and Planning System, or RMPS, has a broad focus and includes a wide range of resource management and planning activities, not just land use planning. For more information about the RMPS, see the Resource Planning and Development Commission's Guide to the RMPS.
The Better Planning Outcomes Project is considering improvements to keep the land use planning system up-to-date and ‘in tune’ with recent Government initiatives and policy directions.
It is now 10 years since the founding legislation was established. While during this time the legislation has been amended numerous times, many other things have also changed that have implications for land use planning. We have more information resources at our fingertips but also greater and more complex policy obligations at all levels of Government. For example, the Commonwealth Government’s interest and investment in natural resource management (NRM) has advanced the NRM information base and policy setting framework substantially over this time frame. It is important that the planning system is in step with this changing context.
The Project is considering legislative changes and other initiatives to improve the planning system.
It focuses on:
The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment is undertaking the Project. The Department is the State Government agency responsible for the maintenance of the planning system legislation and for providing land use planning advice to the Planning Minister, the Hon. Judy Jackson MHA.
The Department has established a Steering Committee to oversee the Project. This is chaired by the Department’s Deputy Secretary – Strategic Policy and Planning and includes the Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Association of Tasmania and Assistant Director – Policy Division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
The first major milestone for the project was the release of a discussion paper canvassing the breadth of improvements being contemplated. This indicated opportunities for improving planning outcomes but did not include drafting proposals for legislative change.
The discussion paper was publicly released and broad comment was invited. The Department has now considered the feedback received and in the process of releasing a Response Report, including an indication of the process and timing for advancing proposals for reform.
As legislative changes and other initiatives are progressed, further general consultation will also be required, such as to invite comment on a draft Bill.
Further Information
Contact: Better Planning Outcomes Project
Better Planning Outcomes Project
GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 3532
Fax: 03 6236 9744
Email: betterplanning@dpiw.tas.gov.au
