Many plans have been written around the future of Greater Hobart. As part of its foundational research, the Committee for Greater Hobart conducted a Visions Scan that looked at what future-focused plans and visions were already in existence for the region, and what could be learned from them.
This involved an independent review of a sample of 17 different vision statements from plans developed across state government, local government and other stakeholders, to understand how these visions and plans are being actioned and tracked, and whether those who initiated them are accountable.
What the Visions Scan found was that all of these plans could benefit greatly from a more cohesive, coordinated and accountable approach to engagement with the community on their creation, actions, progress and outcomes.
But therein lies the challenge. The fact that there were 17 different statements that the Visions Scan looked at points to a lack of clarity in who is responsible for planning in the state, leading to many State Government bodies, LGAs and other organisations creating their own, often disparate and definitely not coordinated or interconnected plans for the future across our region.
The Resource Management and Planning System (RMPS) is a framework of legislation, policy and other planning controls that guides decision-making processes about land use and development in Tasmania. A review of the State Planning Office’s website highlights the layers of complexity when it comes to Tasmania’s planning system.
“Many organisations have a role in Tasmania’s planning system, including local, state and federal government. The main activities in planning are making policy, providing advice, and making decisions guided by policy and compliance. Some organisations have roles in all areas, while others may only have a role in one. Individuals, communities, industry and other groups get involved at many stages.” – State Planning Office website.
The Minister for Planning, State Planning Office, local councils and the Tasmanian Planning Commission are identified as the lead roles in the state’s planning system. Then there’s the Environmental Protection Authority, Tasmanian Heritage Council and the state’s infrastructure and utility providers (eg TasWater and TasNetworks) that have regulatory roles to play.
Delving a little deeper, there are also seven different government agencies and authorities that oversee approvals for developments involving areas such as threatened species and Aboriginal Heritage; and 11 government agencies that provide advice on planning or have respective policies and strategies related to their areas of responsibility.
Then there are the various levels of local government organisations – the Local Government Association of Tasmania and three regional council organisations representing the south, north and north-west – all of which play a role in the planning system. The Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA) – which is coordinating the preparation of the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy (STRLUS) – consists of only nine of the area’s 12 councils, with Kingborough, Glenorchy and Clarence being the absentees.
And then there is the Greater Hobart Committee, not to be confused with the Committee for Greater Hobart, that was formed off the back of the Hobart City Deal between the four metropolitan councils – Kingborough, Glenorchy, Clarence and Hobart – the state government and the federal government. Under this grouping is the 30-year Greater Hobart Plan. The Committee and the Plan sit outside the RMPS framework and are not relevant to planning decisions.
Tasmania has the lowest construction rates in Australia. Landowners are reluctant to develop. They are not being supported to build developments that represent what is best for the region or the state, putting pressure on transport, infrastructure, and services such as retail, education, health and community, despite having one of the fastest regulatory systems in Australia*. Each cutting red tape effort has ironically added regulation, administrative burden and increased contention. As a result, decision-makers adopt an enforcement rather than enabling mindset.
The real problems are a lack of maturity in planning policy and strategy, and fractured governance. There is a disconnect and no-one is joining the dots.
In other Australian jurisdictions there is a clearly identifiable role, someone who has relevant planning and urban development experience and qualifications with appropriate powers, who ensures cohesion in policy and spatial strategy and drives implementation not only through regulation but through community engagement, capacity building, facilitation and infrastructure delivery. They work across government, the private sector and communities to support delivery of built environment projects that create thriving communities. A good example of this is the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), a state government statutory authority that reports to the Minister for Planning. The Department of Transport and Planning in Victoria is responsible for policy and strategy, while the VPA delivers on the vision to ensure all Victorians have equitable access to employment, public transport, attractive public space and affordable housing.
We need clarity of oversight and accountability in planning for the long-term future of our community, outside of electoral cycles and across local government boundaries. The Committee for Greater Hobart is committed to playing a central role in bringing together stakeholders, businesses and residents across the region to collaborate to shape our future.
As part of this, the Committee will be hosting a forum of members, business leaders, stakeholders and the community to discuss key challenges for the region and opportunities and aspirations for the future. The outcomes will be used to provide feedback into the STRLUS, which is currently being reviewed by all 12 local councils in the region.
Keryn Nylander is Executive Director of the Committee for Greater Hobart
Emma Riley is Managing Director of ERA Planning and Environment
More information about the STRLUS review and how to provide input and feedback can be found here: www.shapingtasmania.com.au
*Source: BCA Regulation Rumble 2023: A guide to national best practices, Business Council of Australia, September 2023.
