State Planning Provisions review - scoping issues

What's new?

The final State Planning Provisions (SPPs) Review issues scoping consultation report has been released. It explains how the feedback has shaped the review process and outlines the SPPs review work program including action groups and projects.

On 10 August 2023, the State Planning Office delivered an online presentation on the SPPs Review. It provided an update on the SPPs Review and work program planned for the next few years, followed by a question and answer session.

If you missed the event, you can watch the recording of SPP Review online presentation - 10 August 2023

See below for what happens next.

Summary

This is just the start of the five yearly SPPs review process and the first of many opportunities to get involved.

The SPPs are the statewide set of consistent planning rules in the Tasmanian Planning Scheme (TPS). The SPPs are used for the assessment of applications for planning permits. The SPPs contain the planning rules for the 23 zones and 16 codes in the TPS, along with the administrative, general, and exemption provisions.

This review does not include each council’s Local Provisions Schedule that also forms part of the planning rules in the TPS.

The SPPs are being reviewed for the first time with the process occurring in 2 stages over approximately 2 years. Regular review of the SPPs is not only a statutory requirement but also represents best practice ensuring we implement constant improvement and keep pace with emerging planning issues and pressures.

The SPPs review scoping consultation period was open from 25 May to 12 August 2022. After that period, numerous late submissions were accepted upon individual request, until early September 2022. There were 163 submissions received.

The State Planning Office (SPO) has reviewed and analysed the consultation feedback. An interim report summarising the key issues was published soon after the consultation closed to accompany the submissions.

The final report on the SPPs Review issues scoping consultation explains the way the feedback has shaped the review process and outlines the SPPs review work program over the next 2 years. It has been approved by the Minister for Planning and is available in the what's happening next section below.

The next step by the SPO is implementing the work program through the action groups and projects identified in the final report.

Consultation by the State Planning Office

The scoping consultation period is now closed. There will be more opportunities to get involved. See below for what happens next.

Consultation document

SPPs Review - Scoping Paper - May 2022 (PDF, 438.3 KB)

Consultation supporting information

Consultation briefing session notes

Submissions received and summary of key issues

What happens next?

Stage 1 - scoping of key themes or parts of the SPPs that require detailed review

Review of submissions

Following the first examination of all the submissions received, a short interim report was released summarising the issues raised. A more detailed final report explaining the way the feedback has shaped the review process and outlining the SPPs review work program over the next 2 years is now available:

Establishing Action Groups and projects to progress the SPPs Review

Due to the broad range of matters and issues raised, a series of action groups with a particular focus have been created:

Action GroupDescription
Action Group 1 First round of SPPs amendments for issues that can be actioned
Action Group 2 More complex issues that require further investigation or research project
Action Group 3 Issues for actioning following the making of TPPs which will give policy context 
Action Group 4 Issues subject to other government initiatives which are expected to result in recommendations for change or provide a broader investigation of the issue
Action Group 5 Issues outside the scope of SPPs Review – No SPPs amendment proposed
Action Group 6 Non - statutory responses through developing planning guidance material – No SPPs amendment proposed 
Action Group 7 Issues that initial assessment has determined do not need action – No SPPs amendment proposed

The action groups identify numerous projects for:

  • informing amendments to the SPPs,
  • complex issues for further research and consultation, and
  • further planning guidance documents.

These will assist with improving and understanding the SPPs and the planning system. The action groups also identify issues outside the scope of the SPPs Review and where no further action is appropriate.

Each project will be progressed separately in the short, medium and longer timeframe for a balanced work program to the end of 2024. Any remaining aspects will be reconsidered after that. Consultation strategies will be used to research issues and develop draft SPPs amendments during the work program. An appendix found in the final report summarises the work program:

The SPPs amendment process includes public consultation, public hearings, and independent review by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. Follow the Tasmanian Planning Commission website for further information.

Latest Project News

Action Group 1 Project - Preparation of Action Group 1 SPPs Amendments

A group of SPPs amendments is being prepared to address stand-alone or well resolved issues such as operational matters and clarifying and improving requirements.

The State Planning Office is working on about 30 topics with the assistance of council planners as the main implementers of the planning scheme, to develop draft SPPs amendments. The resulting draft SPPs amendments will follow the SPPs amendment process set out in the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. This process includes public consultation, public hearings, and independent review by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. Draft SPPs amendments are expected to be lodged with the Tasmanian Planning Commission at staggered intervals during 2023.

Action Group 2 Project - Improving Residential Standards in Tasmania

This Action Groups 2 research project has been prioritised to consider improvements to the residential use and development standards in the urban zones, including subdivision and parking requirements for residential use. It builds on the earlier review commenced in 2020 and the Medium Density Residential Standards project.

A consultant, ERA Planning and Environment, has been engaged to provide recommendations for improving the residential use and development standards in the SPPs, including conducting a literature review and consultation to inform the recommendations. More information is available in the Improving Residential Standards in Tasmania project brief. A report on recommended changes to the SPPs will be provided to the SPO during the first quarter of 2024. The next steps in the project, such as developing SPPs amendments, will follow.

Stage 2 - reviewing consistency of SPPs with the Tasmanian Planning Policies (TPPs), once they are made

Stage 2 involves a review of the SPPs for consistency with the TPPs, once they are made. This may lead to further amendments to the SPPs. Please note, the five yearly SPPs review will not be completed until after the TPPs are finalised in approximately the last quarter of 2023.

More information about the SPPs review process will be provided in the coming months. This will include more detail about action groups and projects, their scope, priority, expected time frames and outcomes as well as who is involved.

For more information about the SPPs review process and the State Planning Office work program:

State Planning Provisions Review timeline

State Planning Provisions in the Tasmanian planning system

The SPPs are just one part of the Tasmanian planning system.

The SPPs, along with each council’s Local Provisions Schedule, are the planning rules to assess proposals for use and development under the TPS.

The SPP’s will not cover every situation and will work with the locally unique planning rules in each council’s Local Provisions Schedule (such as Particular Purpose Zones, Specific Area Plans and Site-specific qualifications).

The Tasmanian planning system also includes government policies (the State Policies, the Tasmanian Planning Policies) and strategic planning documents (the regional land use strategies and a range of other regional, sub-regional and local strategic planning documents).

The Tasmanian planning system also operates in conjunction with a range of other legislation for managing environmental and natural values, Aboriginal heritage, marine farming, mineral resources, and infrastructure (such as electricity, water, sewerage, stormwater and gas).

Personal information

Submissions are treated as public information and are published on our website unless confidentiality is specifically requested. No personal information other than an individual’s name or the organisation making a submission is published.

For further information, please contact the State Planning Office by emailing stateplanning@dpac.tas.gov.au, or read the Tasmanian Government Public Submissions Policy.