The Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) thanks the State Planning Office for the opportunity to comment on the Improving Residential Standards in Tasmania project.

PMAT was identified as a key stakeholder and was asked to provide feedback on the Discussion Paper to inform the project moving forward.

Comment was invited between 8 December 2023 and 2 February 2024. PMAT appreciates having an extension of time to make our submission.

PMAT has been engaged in advocating for improving Tasmania’s residential standards for eight years – since 2016. In 2018, PMAT commissioned a video highlighting residential standard planning issues. Watch video here. In July 2020, we made a submission as part of GHD’s survey on residential standards. Then in 2022, we made a submission on the first stage of the State Planning Provisions Review. Our 2022 submission also engaged expert planner Heidi Goess from Plan Place to write part of our submission on improving Tasmania’s residential standards (both attached).

The Improving Residential Standards in Tasmania project

The State Planning Office is progressing the review of Tasmania’s residential use and development

standards within the State Planning Provisions (SPPs). The Improving Residential Standards in Tasmania project aims to develop recommendations that will inform future amendments to the SPPs.

A discussion paper entitled Improving residential standards in Tasmania Discussion paper For stakeholder engagement, December 2023 was prepared by ERA Planning and Environment. It was released on the 8 December 2023 for comment and was the first step in delivering the Project. It sets the context, supposedly highlights best practice, and plots the methodology for developing and testing recommendations.

The Discussion Paper contains the following:

• Introduction to the project and background context

• Analysis of Tasmania’s housing profile and best practice planning review across Australia

• Conversation starters for potential change

• Proposed methodology for testing recommendations

Case Studies were also provided for comment, as ideas for improving residential standards in Tasmania.

PMAT’s submission

PMAT’s submission covers:

1. What is PMAT; and

2. PMAT’s Key comments.