The State Coastal Policy 1996 has protected Tasmania’s coastal values and processes as intended for nearly 30 years. In most instances, the Policy has provided guidance on decision making regarding development on the coast that has prevented much inappropriate development. The Policy has been used by planners and managers as a blueprint for quality coastal development.

At times the State Coastal Policy has been used for decision making by the Crown, in RMPAT, by the TPC and in the Courts. It has also been ignored too many times, in part through ignorance, at times no doubt deliberately, at least partially due to the absence of resources to implement the Policy. Nonetheless, Tasmania’s coastline remains in reasonable condition with the avoidance of coastal ribbon development and ill-advised development in hazardous areas subject to this submission.

The ACS submission raises extensive doubts with respect to the changes proposed by the Tasmanian Government in the wording of Outcome 1.4 (Part 1). The submission identifies critical flaws in the proposed use of existing mapping layers (Part 2 and detailed in Appendix 1), and raises serious concerns regarding the proposed Interim State Policy (Part 3).