PMAT is a growing network of almost 70 community groups from across Tasmania advocating for a strategic, sustainable and integrated planning system serving to protect the values that make Tasmania such a special place to live and visit.

PMAT is a non-government organisation run purely on donations and voluntary support with one part-time paid coordinator.

PMAT was officially launched in Hobart in July 2017 by multi-award winning actress Essie Davis with over 300 guests. At this time, PMAT also launched its platform document, Facebook page, website, brochure on why planning matters and database.

The core of PMAT’s advocacy for good planning is the PMAT Platform document of key principles that must underpin a robust planning system. PMAT’s platform was developed with input from over twenty community groups and is a key guiding document.

PMAT’s platform states that to achieve the best future for Tasmania and all Tasmanians, the planning system must be underpinned by six key principles relating to community and environment, strategic vision, transparency and independence, community involvement, integrated assessment and implementation to be shared between state and local government.

One of PMAT’s founding concerns was the residential development standards in Tasmania’s State Planning Provisions. See PMAT’s founding Key Issues here.

PMAT’s main experience with regard to the residential standards has been in the advocacy for the review of the residential standards.

Examples of PMAT’s advocacy work in this area have included:

• Advocating for a review of the SPPs (State Planning Provisions) is a key priority for PMAT with a special focus on the residential development standards, reserved land/Reserve Activity Assessment process and the Natural Assets Code.

• PMAT also supports the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s recommendation (of 9 December 2016) to the State Government that the Residential Provisions should be reviewed as a priority.

• PMAT plays an important role as a contact point and referral agent for individuals and community groups regarding planning issues, including residential issues, within the Tasmanian community. PMAT is contacted at minimum around once per week regarding issues pertaining to residential issues.

• PMAT strongly supported the Local Government Association of Tasmania’s push for review of the residential standards, which they say ‘have led to confusion and anxiety in our communities with overshadowing, loss of privacy, solar access, height, private open space and site coverage to name a few. A review will highlight these concerns across the State and give the community some expectation of change that can ensure their concerns are heard.’

• PMAT commissioned a video highlighting residential standard planning issues. Watch video here.

• PMAT commissioned modelling and infographics to communicate the reality of Residential Standards based on the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – PMAT worked with an architectural firm and expert planners to model, in pictorial form, what the Tasmanian Planning Scheme residential standards will look like in real life. While this modelling is yet to be released, this initiative was undertaken with the aim of generating discussion around Tasmania’s residential standards and to what extent they are compatible with the values Tasmanian communities hold dear. We can make copies available to GHD.

• PMAT Launched two TV ads focusing on planning issues during the 2018 State election, including one on the residential issues (watch here at the end of the video the TV ad will play) of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme.

PMAT Surveyed Candidates in the October 2018 Local Government Elections. PMAT ran the largest candidate survey in the 2018 Local Government elections. The survey demonstrated a majority of the candidates surveyed take the planning responsibilities of local government very seriously and believe councils should have greater capacity to protect local character, amenity and places important to their local communities. There was strong candidate sentiment for local government planning controls that protect local character, sunlight and privacy for our homes and facilitate public involvement in planning decisions in national parks and reserves. More info here. Read PMAT’s Media Release here and Council election candidates back local planning control, The Mercury, 2018.

• In February 2018, PMAT launched an infographic by Tasmanian illustrator, Josh Pringle, depicting all the ways the State Government’s new planning laws would damage Tasmania’s precious way of life and where we live. This map makes reference to the problematic residential standards. See here.