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PMAT humbled by Environment Group of the Year Award.

The Planning Matters Alliance of Tasmania (PMAT), an alliance of almost 70 diverse community groups engaged in planning reform in lutruwita/Tasmania, is humbled to be awarded the Bob Brown Foundation’s Community Group of the Year award. The award recognises outstanding contribution to ensuring development in Tasmania does not come at the cost of destroying nature.

Planning affects every land title in Tasmania, where environmental values are cherished by locals and visitors alike and nature underpins our identity, wellbeing and economy. PMAT advocates for proper planning process across a range of interest areas, including the environment. See here for our ‘Platform’ and the key issues we work on.

“This is a fabulous recognition for our almost 70 member groups, our supporters, donors, volunteers and Sophie Underwood, the tireless coordinator of PMAT since its inception”, said Kerry Burns.

“In the six years since PMAT was formed, our membership has exploded, the range of issues we cover has grown and our credibility established. In 2020 PMAT won the Planning Institute of Australia’s National Planning Champion award and today’s award cements external recognition for our work, for which we are grateful.”

Recently PMAT worked to assist the community to engage in the review of the State Planning Provisions (i.e. the rules of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme) consultation process by publishing a submission guide (see here) and just this morning, PMAT was called on to provide a briefing to the Legislative Council on the proposed new housing authority.

“Planning is complex, dry and confusing and rarely piques people’s attention until they are seeking approval for a development, or someone else proposes something that will affect their interests,” said Ms Underwood.

“Tasmania has a long history of environmentalism and the community standing up to protect the special values of this island. In the 21st Century, the threats and pressure on our environment have not abated and the need for action is as great as ever.”

“Good planning must enshrine provisions to properly protect environmental values, empower the community to participate in important decision making and ensure merit-based rights of appeal. If you get the right planning settings in place, community conflict over environmental values will dissipate.”

“We are grateful for the recognition this award affords PMAT and I pay tribute to all our member groups, past and current PMAT Board members, supporters, donors and past founding President Anne Harrison who is a stalwart of planning advocacy and community building.”

Congratulations also to all other award winners.