Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) thanks the Premier’s Economic & Social Recovery Advisory Committee (PESRAC) for this opportunity to submit some thoughts on Tasmania’s recovery post- Covid 19.

We appreciate the massive task ahead and commend the Premier on making strong decisions to keep Tasmanians safe since March 2020.

Respect for science and taking epidemiology/medical advice is fundamental to building a safe future. Sadly, the scientific advice is that there will undoubtedly be future pandemics and we all have to have a long-term plan for safely living with this virus, and others to come.

PMAT recognises and supports the need for a cohesive approach to social and economic recovery. We consider it is important to ensure that the substantial government resources that are being committed to the recovery effort are aligned to the best long-term economic, social and environmental outcomes for Tasmania, not just allocated to a short term post-COVID response.

We understand the need for economic stimulus now but consider that the best long term return on this investment can be achieved by careful selection of projects and ensuring that these are delivered through democratic planning processes. Our key messages and issues are:

• • Seeing the recovery process as a strategic opportunity to build back better, with a focus on quality and not just on business activity
• • Recognising good land use planning as being of crucial importance for community well-being and cohesion and delivering well-functioning systems for both urban and regional areas
• • That social licence and community input to decision-making are essential
• • The crucial importance of addressing climate change
• • Promoting employment and training linkages as priorities
• • The need for a planning system that enables better outcomes to meet community expectations on protecting local amenity and character, safeguarding our natural and cultural heritage, as well as maintaining Tasmania’s sense of place and brand and ensuring meaningful public participation in planning decision
• • Objectives of the Resource Management & Planning System. These we suggest with respect could form the overarching principles for the post Covid recovery (please see page 5 below).

PMAT wishes to be part of the public discussion about planning for a better future post-Covid. We would welcome the chance to meet with PESRAC to further explain our position.