The Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) thanks you for the opportunity to comment on the Stage 2 Interim Report and the Community Catchment Information Packs, feedback for which closes on 2 August 2023.

As PMAT has a statewide policy focus, we will not be commenting on the nine individual Community Catchment Information Packs and will instead provide some overall comment about the future of Local Government.

Rather than undermining local Councils with the effective State Government takeover of Planning and Local Government, via the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, removing Councils as a Planning Authority and forcing amalgamations, we should be strengthening the role of local Councils and ensure that they are in good health.

Local councils make decisions about many things that affect our everyday lives. As the Local Government Association of Tasmania states, Better Councils means Better Communities.

The principal legislation establishing the powers and functions of councils is the Local Government Act 1993. Section 20 highlights the critical role of Councils:

− to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community
− to represent the interests of the community
− to provide for the peace, order and good government of the municipal area