Tasmania announces new planning zones for Cradle Coast Region

Nine new planning schemes have been announced for all councils in the picturesque Cradle Coast region in Tasmania.

This is part of the government's planning reform program that aims to deliver contemporary and more consistent planning schemes across the state, Urbanalyst reports.

Tasmanian planning minister Bryan Green said on Wednesday the region was the first in the state to have consistent new planning schemes that would focus on reducing costs and barriers to job-creating developments and housing through streamlined planning systems.

The new process has worked elsewhere. "Launceston, which was the first council in Tasmania to implement a new planning scheme, has already seen millions worth of investment unlocked and we want to see that happening around the state," Mr Green said.

Each of the nine councils in the Cradle Coast Region -- Burnie, Devonport, Central Coast, Latrobe, Waratah-Wynyard, Circular Head, West Coast, Kentish and King Island -- submitted draft interim planning schemes last December and, after amendments, they were adopted.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission says this is the first step in the assessment process under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. The schemes will be exhibited and representations can be made to the respective planning authority.

"Whether developing on King Island, Devonport, Burnie, Queenstown or Smithton, these reforms will minimise costs for builders and developers by increasing the consistency, clarity and certainty of the planning system," Mr Green said.

In other areas of Tasmania, the minister has declared planning schemes for the Launceston, Northern Midlands, Break O'Day, George Town, West Tamar and Meander Valley local government areas.

"It is important that our planning laws keep pace with the expectations of local communities and potential investors. The government is delivering the most important planning reforms we have ever seen and we will continue working with all councils,’’ Mr Green said.

"We now have a single planning template for the whole state, a new code for residential development which is cutting costs and speeding up approvals, and new regional land use strategies."

More information is available from the Tasmanian Planning Commission website.