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

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania is a growing network of almost 80 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.

What would make your neighbourhood a great place to live?

More green spaces, range of housing, better community services and recreational opportunities, improved safety or being climate ready? PMAT is partnering with Place Score to give Tasmanians a voice through the 2025 Liveability Census.

This national initiative is your chance to share what matters most about where you live—and what changes you’d like to see in your local area. It only takes 15 minutes to rate your neighbourhood and have your say.

Your input will help guide planners, inform decision-makers, and strengthen PMAT’s advocacy for Tasmanian communities. If we reach 500 participants, lutruwita/Tasmania will receive a customised liveability report—providing the data we need to advocate for planning that puts communities first.

Make sure your voice is heard. Please take the census by 30 June 2025 and help put communities back at the centre of planning.

Take the census

#ScrapTheDAP & Maintain Planning Appeal Rights & Your Right of Say

Update: Thank you to everyone who made a submission on the Land Use Planning and Approvals (Development Assessment Panels) Bill 2025 which closed on 24 April 2025, your support is greatly appreciated. PMAT will be providing an analysis on the submissions as soon as they’re public. All 29 councils voted to reject the Land Use Planning and Approvals (Development Assessment Panels) Bill 2025 in its current form. The sector still questions the need for the legislation.

PMAT will update you on the Governments proposal to: 

  • Introduce Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) which removes planning appeal rights
  • Remove/limit planning appeal rights via changing the rules in our main land use planning legislation
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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. 

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Development Assessment Panels (DAPs)

The 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 DAPs. This fast-track process removes local councillors and appeal rights from the community.
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Tasmanian State Coastal Policy

The Tasmanian Government released draft legislation to fast-track changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy through the Tasmanian Parliament. The proposed changes will profoundly weaken the State Coastal Policy and the way our coasts are managed and protected in Tasmania.
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Future of Mac Point

Macquarie Point covers 9.3 hectares of public land on Hobart’s historic and culturally significant foreshore and is of strategic importance to the future of both Hobart and Tasmania. The site presents a once in a generation opportunity for urban renewal which has the potential to bring new vibrancy to our city and State. What is its best future? 
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State Elections

Democracy cannot function without communication. If voters are to make informed choices among candidates, they must have the opportunity to learn about candidates’ policy positions. During the last two State Elections PMAT surveyed candidates to ask their position on planning.
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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.
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Housing & Planning

There is a critical need for housing - especially social and affordable housing – that is well-designed, sustainable and provides high levels of amenity for communities. The planning scheme can and should facilitate this.
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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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