Tasmanian Activity Centres

The Tasmanian Government implemented State-wide planning reforms with a major component being the preparation of the following three regional land use strategies:

• Southern Regional Land Use Strategy;
• Cradle Coast Regional Land Use Strategy; and
• Northern Regional Land Use Strategy.

A consequence of the regional land use strategies being prepared separately was that each had taken a different approach to classifying activity centres. HillPDA was therefore engaged to prepare a Study to recommend a consistent approach to the classification of activity centres across Tasmania.

HillPDA was requested to provide independent advice as to what an activity centre network could be that reflected the unique characteristics of Tasmania and its activity centres.

The methods explored the concept of activity centres and how they had been classified to date in Tasmania and elsewhere in Australia. On this basis the Study established a set of principles to guide the development of an activity centre network.

The final part of the Study defined each type of centre in a proposed network for Tasmania and then allocated actual centres to those typologies.

Consultation with stakeholders was a key component of the project with the transparency of the process being fundamental to the acceptance of its recommendations. Regional council bodies and their member councils were also engaged from an early stage of drafting.

The project was managed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission with oversight by a steering committee comprising state and local government representatives.

The Study recommended the adoption of a ‘network’ approach to classifying Tasmania’s activity centres rather than the typical ‘hierarchical’ approach applied elsewhere in Australia. The objective of this innovative approach was to minimise competition between centres and maximise opportunities for greater efficiency and cooperation.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission intends to use the State-wide activity centre network as a tool to:

• Coordinate strategic planning and investment decisions amongst local and State Government agencies; and
• Facilitate the preparation of future local, regional and State-wide infrastructure, land use and economic development plans.

Establishing an activity centres network allows growth to be planned in a certain, transparent, productive and economically effective manner by focusing resources and investments in locations commensurate with their role and typology.

Summary of services: Literature Review, Case Study Analysis, Policy Analysis, Stakeholder Consultation, Retail Planning, Urban Planning