Protecting Lutruwita/Tasmania's communities, nature, cultural heritage and democracy through better planning.

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania is a growing network of almost 80 diverse community groups from across Lutruwita/Tasmania, united by a shared belief: that good planning is essential to protecting Tasmania’s communities, environment, cultural and built heritage and democracy.

As the only organisation in Lutruwita/Tasmania solely focused on better planning, we work to ensure Tasmania’s planning system — guided by the Resource Management and Planning System (RMPS) — serves people and nature, safeguarding our coasts, landscapes, national parks and heritage while supporting liveable, sustainable communities for the future.

Councillors being cut without public consultation

Thank you to everyone who pushed for public scrutiny of the Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill.

The Bill has disappointingly almost passed Tasmanian Parliament, with none of our concerns addressed. The Legislative Council had the chance to respond to community concerns about the lack of consultation, but chose not to.

Nearly half the Bill, the part reducing councillor numbers, was never put to public consultation. This falls short of the Government’s own standards, and those set by the Centre for Public Integrity.

We’re keeping watch on the DAP Bill

Disappointingly, the State Government has stated it will bring the DAP (Development Assessment Panels) legislation back to Parliament. This will be the fourth time the Government is pushing legislation to remove planning decisions from local councils and hand them to DAPs, an undemocratic fast-track process, stripping communities of their proper say and right to planning appeal.

We’re keeping a close watch on the Government and will be ready to act quickly when any new developments on the DAP Bill occur.

Our Work & Campaigns

PMAT works across a full range of planning issues that shape Lutruwita/Tasmania’s communities and environment — from protecting our coasts, national parks, healthy landscapes and Aboriginal heritage, to housing, residential standards, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and good governance, including transparency and democracy.

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Tasmanian State Coastal Policy

Tasmania's coastlines are under threat. PMAT is fighting proposed legislation that would fast-track weakening of the State Coastal Policy, stripping back protections for our coasts and the communities, ecosystems and cultural heritage that depend on them.

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State of The Environment Reporting

Tasmania's natural environment is under serious pressure, as documented in the long-overdue 2024 State of Environment Report. PMAT is pushing for the Tasmanian Government to meet its legal obligation to report every five years and be held accountable for the state of our environment.

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Development Assessment Panels (DAPs)

PMAT is fighting proposed legislation that would fast-track developments across public and private land, including Tasmania's National Parks, Reserves and World Heritage Areas, while removing third-party appeal rights and sidelining communities and Local Councils from planning decisions.

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National Parks & Reserves

PMAT is working to strengthen protections for Tasmania's National Parks, Reserves and World Heritage Areas, which cover almost 50% of the state, ensuring developments are properly assessed and communities retain the right to comment and appeal to ensure protection of natural and cultural values.

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Housing & Planning

Tasmania faces a critical need for housing, especially social and affordable housing. PMAT believes good planning and transparent decision-making can deliver both more housing and better housing, designed sustainably and with genuine amenity for communities. The planning scheme can and should make this possible.

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Community Guides

PMAT produces free community guides to help Tasmanians engage with planning and Local Government processes and have their say on decisions that affect their communities, landscapes and natural environment.

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Study Planning at UTAS

If you’re interested in one of these courses you can book a 20-minute consultation call here.

Graduate Diploma of Environmental Planning

Master of Planning

Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning

Support Us

Make a donation to Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania. Good planning protects our communities, democracy, cultural heritage and natural environment. Without it, the people and places that make lutruwita/Tasmania special are at risk. PMAT is the only organisation solely focused on advocating for better planning — and we rely entirely on people like you to keep that fight going.

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Stay informed. Protect what matters.

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