Protecting and Advocating for Tasmania's Future through Better Planning.

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania is a growing network of over 70 diverse community groups from across lutruwita/Tasmania. Our Alliance members recognise land use planning impacts every inch of Tasmania. They are united in common concern over the current Tasmanian state planning laws and what they will mean for Tasmania’s future.

We hold that good planning is fundamental to supporting both people and nature to thrive and underpins a healthy democracy and how we respond to climate change. 

PMAT’s vision is for Tasmania to be a global leader in planning excellence. We believe best practice planning must embrace and respect all Tasmanians, enhance community well-being, health and prosperity, nourish and care for Tasmania’s outstanding natural values, recognise and enrich our cultural heritage and, through democratic and transparent processes, deliver sustainable, integrated development in harmony with the surrounding environment.

A Critical Moment for Democracy: Make a Submission to #ScrapTheDAP

Submissions close 12/11 @5pm

The Tasmanian government has released draft legislation to empower the Planning Minister to remove assessment and approval of developments from the normal local council process and have it done by Development Assessment Panels (DAPs). This fast-track process will remove elected councillors from having a say on the most controversial and destructive developments affecting local communities. There will be no right for the community to appeal the final decision to the planning tribunal. The criteria being considered would enable virtually any development, except for industrial and mining developments regulated by the EPA, to be taken out of the normal local council assessment process and instead be assessed by DAPs, including developments already refused such as the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car, high-rise buildings in Hobart and new developments such as large-scale subdivisions like Skylands development at Droughty Point. 

The Planning Minister can take a development assessment from councils mid-way through the development assessment process if the developer doesn’t like the way it is heading. 

The bill currently out for public comment will provide a new fast tracked DAP process to provide a permit for developments on both private and public land including World Heritage Areas, National Parks and Reserves. The government also intends to introduce new legislation that will provide fast tracked approvals under the National Parks and Reserves Management Act for developments in reserved land.

The Planning Minister would also have new powers to instruct councils to commence planning scheme changes, but perversely, only when a local council has rejected such an application. 

Transparency, independence and public participation in decision-making are critical for a healthy democracy – please make a submission to say no to DAPs.

Save Tasmania's Coasts

The Tasmanian Government  released a State Coastal Policy Position Paper for public comment to fast-track changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy that closed Monday 21 October 2024. Note this was a separate process to the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 which we expect to be debated in the Legislative Council on 30 October 2024.

Our Work

The Our Work section is a work in progress. New topics will be progressively added covering issues such as State of the Environment Reporting, the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, State Elections, climate change and mitigation, housing, residential standards and urban amenity, transparency and democracy, geodiversity, population, Regional Land Use Strategies, heritage buildings and landscapes. 

Keeping Local Councils Local

PMAT supports keeping local councils local - looking after local planning decisions and services for local people with local jobs. PMAT does not support the State Government takeover of local councils or the bypassing of councils by property developers.

National Parks & Reserves

Commercial tourism development, along with many other Permitted uses, can be approved in most national parks and reserves with no guarantee of public consultation and rights to appeal over public land on almost 50% of Tasmania.

Aboriginal Heritage

The Tasmanian Planning Scheme does not mandate the consideration of impacts on Aboriginal Heritage, including Cultural Landscapes, when assessing a new development or use that will impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Community Guides

PMAT works to educate, raise awareness and inspire engagement in planning and Local Government issues and processes in Tasmania via the development of free community guides.

Healthy Landscapes

Landscape, biodiversity & scenic landscape protection.

Local Government Elections

Democracy cannot function without communication. In order for voters to make informed choices among candidates, voters must learn about candidates’ policy positions. During the last two Local Government elections PMAT surveyed candidates to ask their position on planning.

Support Us

Make a donation to Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania. By supporting us you are ensuring that we can continue to advocate and protect Tasmania's future through better planning.

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Stay informed on what’s happening locally and statewide within Tasmania, and join our community in advocating to protect Tasmania’s future.

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