An independent, fair and accessible planning system is crucial in guiding sensible development and resource management, protecting conservation values and the public interest. An impartial and well-resourced arbitrator is crucial to the success of any planning system, as is the encouragement of public participation.

The Tasmanian Greens support a state planning authority, with comprehensive powers of investigation and review, that is independent of both government and prospective proponents of development, allows public representation, integrates with local government, other planning bodies and tribunals, and has a transparent process of appeal.

The Greens will ensure a workable system where compliance with the findings of an independent planning authority is followed so that public faith in the system is regained. Local councils, often lacking the resources necessary to integrate with state planning initiatives, will be given the necessary support.

Recognising the effect that the built environment has in the lives of Tasmanian communities, the Greens will also address urban issues including traffic calming, cycling and pedestrian flows, shading, energy and water efficient urban design, and the maintenance of public open space.

The planning system in Tasmania should be structured to arrive at good decisions, not simply quick decisions, and to maximise the potential for the community to engage in the decision making process.

Measures

Planning Schemes:  reform, through legislation, the entire planning system in Tasmania; review all planning schemes in the state, to be updated in accordance with state policies and planning directives to ensure consistency and improve certainty for both developers and communities; provide funding or in-kind support to local councils to undertake the necessary studies and attain the professional planning advice required to properly review planning schemes; assist local councils to integrate state policies with municipal planning schemes and legislate for avenues of public appeal within any state or municipal planning process, free from restrictive cost

State Policies: introduce a suite of policies to guide the development of a properly constituted planning authority and peripheral planning bodies; complete, as a matter of urgency, the review of current state policies such as the Coastal Policy and Noise Policy

State Policy Authority: create a State Policy Authority to monitor, and report annually to Parliament on compliance with, and effectiveness of, state planning policies

Projects of State Significance: legislate to provide full appeal rights for decisions made under the POSS process

Forestry and Marine Farm Planning: legislate to bring marine farm planning and forestry planning under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993

Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal (RMPAT): extend the right to appeal a RMPAT decision to third parties, irrespective of whether they were the original applicant for a development approval

RMPS Costs: review Tasmania’s Resource Management and Planning System to ensure that community groups are not prevented from becoming involved due to the fear of costs being awarded against them, maintaining the proviso that the actions are not frivolous or vexatious; ensure that appeal fees are not tiered to discourage people from appealing decisions

Compliance: legislate to ensure that local councils investigate a complaint or proceed against a party where professional advice from the General Manager or a Council’s legal adviser suggests that such action should occur

Public Participation: establish an annual state government contribution to the Environmental Defenders Officer or Legal Aid Commission to act as an advocate for review and enforcement matters pursued in the public interest; increase resourcing to provide a planning advocate

State Of Environment Unit: establish separate legislation for the State of the Environment Report; introduce an annual reporting process by government Departments against recommendations made in the SOE Report; better resource the SOE Unit to ensure legislated timelines are met

Protection of Skylines, Hillsides and Landscapes: upgrade the Skylines and Hillface Guidelines to State Policy status and ensure that existing guidelines are applied in the interim, using the upgraded planning policy directives thereafter

Built Environment:  improve social and environmental outcomes in urban areas through a ‘liveability plan’ under the State Policies and Projects Act, 1993;  participate in interstate and national initiates on building codes which support greater energy and water efficiency, and healthier residential and commercial buildings