Legislation to establish the State’s first Tasmanian Planning Scheme has now passed both Houses of Parliament.
This will be Australia’s first ever single, statewide planning scheme and will unlock Tasmania’s economic potential, create jobs and maintain the momentum that is building in the economy.
The new scheme will be faster, fairer, simpler and cheaper, boosting confidence for those looking to invest and expand. It will provide the right platform for more economic development and ultimately create more jobs.
It will replace the current interim schemes which provide for only around 15 per cent consistency across Tasmania’s 29 councils in the three regions.
The new laws are the result of extensive consultation with major stakeholders including the TFGA, the Master Builders Tasmania, Local Government Association, the HIA, and many other individuals with extensive planning and legal experience.
I am expecting the Planning Reform Taskforce to provide by the end of this year, Tasmania’s first ever set of statewide planning rules for consideration ahead of an extensive public consultation process through the Tasmanian Planning Commission early in 2016.
The government’s new planning system is on track to be up and running in full by 2017, one year ahead of schedule.
Peter Gutwein, Treasurer
