22 February 2017

Peter Gutwein, Minister for Planning and Local Government

Government delivers on single, statewide planning scheme

The Hodgman Government has delivered on its commitment to implement a faster, fairer, simpler and cheaper planning system. 

Tasmania will become the first state to implement a single, statewide planning scheme with the making of the Statewide Planning rules today.

The Statewide Planning Provisions have been finalised following consideration by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

Our new planning system will make it easier to build a house, run a business and manage a farm. 

It will mean that consistent  rules will apply right across the State, rather than the current patchwork of different rules that is holding Tasmania back.

This will mean it will be easier and simpler for Tasmanians and investors alike to get things done, facilitating economic growth and jobs creation.

With one set of rules there will now be a level playing field across the State.

Now that the single planning scheme rules have been put in place, councils will consult with their communities on how the rules will apply in their local areas and it is expected they will join the scheme progressively over the coming six to nine months.  

The key changes include:

• Ensuring that the rules are consistent across the State if you want to build a house, a commercial or industrial building whilst at the same time protecting community amenity;
• Clear rules for small scale visitor accommodation operators;
• Certainty for farmers by ensuring that the zoning of agricultural land is consistent across the State and that clarity is provided in terms of housing farm managers and workers;
• Providing protection for local heritage places, heritage precincts, landscape precincts, places of archaeological significance, and significant trees while removing the duplication of local and State assessments;
• Recognising growth in the agri-food and beverage production area by providing for such things as small scale food manufacturing, micro-breweries, cideries and distilleries across a range of rural, business and commercial zones;
• Removing duplication of planning approvals for building and plumbing issues such as onsite wastewater disposal;
• Removing planning barriers for poly-tunnels in agricultural areas;
• Providing for the protection of landscape and natural values;
• Ensuring that we are responding to natural hazards such as costal erosion and flooding in a coordinated way across all councils; and
• Providing considerable scope for housing in the form of shop-top housing in business zones to foster activity and vibrancy within our business and retail centres.

For more information visit -

http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/tasmanian_planning_reform

More Media Releases from Peter Gutwein

More Media Releases from the Minister for Planning and Local Government