New planning schemes for more than 50% of Tasmania

More than half of Tasmania's local councils now have new planning schemes following the declaration of schemes for the West Tamar and Meander Valley.

Tasmanian Planning Minister Bryan Green made the announcement last week following his declaration of planning schemes for all local councils in the Cradle Coast region the week before.

The minister said that the signing-off on schemes for the West Tamar and Meander Valley councils means the majority of northern Tasmania is now covered by the new planning laws, news source urbananalyst reports.

Green said cooperation between the state government and local councils was the key to the success of the planning reforms. He cited the introduction of a single state-wide planning template, a new code for residential development and new regional land use strategies.

"The government's reforms focus on reducing costs and barriers to job-creating developments and housing through streamlined planning systems," he said.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission says the minister's declaration of the West Tamar and Meander Valley interim planning schemes is the first step in the assessment process under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.

The schemes will now be publicly exhibited and representations can be made to respective planning authorities during this time.

The West Tamar interim scheme applies to the West Tamar municipal area and replaces the West Tamar Planning Scheme 2006, while the Meander Valley interim scheme applies to the Meander Valley municipal area and replaces the Meander Valley Planning Scheme 1995.