Delivering on our plan to reform Tasmania’s planning system

26 August 2021

Roger Jaensch MP

Minister for Planning and Local Government

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is delivering on our plan to reform Tasmania’s planning system, ensuring we have a contemporary and efficient system that remains a driver of social and economic prosperity in Tasmania.

In line with recommendations made by PESRAC, we have committed to review and comprehensively update our three Regional Land Use Strategies.

Tasmania’s Regional Land Use Strategies were designed to facilitate and manage change, growth, and development within our State between 2010 and 2035, and represent the agreed position of all councils when it comes to land use and land use change within their respective regions.

Work has already started on this update, following an initial investment of $500,000 in the 2020-21 Tasmanian Budget.  The 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget now allocates an additional $3.45 million to further support the delivery of this recommendation.

We also know how important it is that our Planning Policy Unit can deliver the Government’s bold planning reforms and priorities. This is why the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget includes additional funding to the Unit of $700,000, which will provide the necessary resources to undertake planning reforms and deliver a mature Tasmanian Planning System.

These include previous Government election commitments announced to deliver Australia’s first state-wide planning scheme, and a second phase of planning reforms which will establish an integrated program for the regional strategy updates, develop the Tasmanian Planning Policies and assist local councils to review their residential growth and demand scenarios and settlement structure plans.

We know that an efficient and forward-looking planning system is essential for our State’s recovery effort and the and the wellbeing of Tasmanian communities.

This Budget reinforces the Government’s commitment to delivering on our plan for planning reforms that will help to secure Tasmania’s future.