Hobart Metropolitan Planning needs more support

Media Release
Hobart Metropolitan Planning needs more support
The release of the audit of Capital Cities undertaken by KPMG for the Built Environment
Meets Parliament (BEMP) Alliance, shows that Hobart still has a long way to go to meet the
Council of Australia Government’s (COAG) Capital City Strategic Planning Criteria.
“While there are encouraging moves towards metropolitan planning for Hobart, it is essential
that State Government recognises that metropolitan planning is not about just delivering one
strategic plan, but rather establishing an ongoing program of metropolitan planning with
recurrent funding linked with future programs for regional planning.” Tasmanian State
President of the Planning Institute of Australia, Ms Riley said.
The KPMG audit indicates that areas for improvement in Hobart include defining who and
how key growth targets will be delivered and how the private sector will be involved.
“The role of State Government must be in providing leadership and direction to an ongoing
program of metropolitan and regional planning. Local Government, across the Greater
Hobart area, have already shown they are keen to progress metropolitan strategic planning.”
“However State based planning agencies and functions are chronically underfunded and
resources are strained in meeting their current statutory and policy objectives.”
Successfully responding to the national metropolitan planning imperative through the COAG
reforms, will require State Government increase funding towards strategic land use planning.
“We are only talking around $1 to $1.5 million a year. Strategic land use planning at the
metropolitan and regional level should not be seen as a necessary evil. It is an opportunity
for us to shape our city, proactively respond to challenges associated with demographic
change, sustainability and a changing climate and most importantly ensure that we are
creating a city that is an attractive place not only to live but to visit.”
The KMPG report shows that the population of Hobart is expected to double over the next 50
years and even at present nearly half the total employment opportunities for the State are
within the Hobart area.
“Improved strategic land use planning is critical to our economic future. Hobart is the engine
room not only of the region, but the State. To be a well functioning city we need to have
urban systems well connected, efficient transportation, affordable housing and a proactive
program of monitoring and releasing land supply in conjunction with densification and
diversification policies. Without such strategic land use planning we will be unable to
maintain quality of life for our current residents and be ill-equipped to cope with the
pressures of the projected population growth and demographic change. “
The Tasmanian Division of PIA is working strongly with local BEMP partners to progress
metropolitan strategic planning systems.
The full KPMG report and summary is available at www.bemp.com.au
Emma Riley, State President Planning Institute Australia (Tasmania)