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.

Say NO to Fast-Tracking Changes to State Coastal Policy

#ScraptheValidationStateCoastalPolicyBill2024
Comments on the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 closed 1 August 2024. The submissions are available on the Department of Premier and Cabinet here. 
Save Tas Coasts. Image of pilitika/Robbins Island by Rob Blakers.

#ScrapTheDAP

Say Yes to Healthy Democracy & Say NO to The Liberals Development Assessment Panels (DAPs)

The State Government is proposing to introduce developer friendly State appointed Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) to assess and approve developments proposed for all public/reserved land and for all our urban/private land across Tasmania. There will be no opportunity to appeal the decision on planning grounds and our local Councillors will no longer decide on development applications. 

There are two current ‘consultation’ processes: 

DAPs on public/reserved land – The State Government is proposing a developer friendly development assessment and approval process for World Heritage Areas, National Parks and other Reserves, including Crown Land. Public comment on the draft framework closed in March 2024.  Thank you to the 456 individuals and community groups who made submissions against DAPs via our website guide. We will be in contact as soon the State Government make the submissions public. 

DAPs on private/urban land – Public comment on the draft DAPs framework on private land closed in November 2023. 95% of the 543 submissions received, were against the creation of DAPs. The Draft Land Use Planning and Approvals (Development Assessment Panel) Amendment Bill 2024 is expected to be released for public comment sometime in 2024 before being tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament. PMAT will be in contact as soon as the Bill is released for public comment.

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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