Legislative Framework

The Commission is responsible for the functions prescribed under the following Acts:

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
Public Land (Administration and Forests) Act 1991
State Policies and Projects Act 1993
National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002
Water Management Act 1999
Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority Act 2004

The Commission also has minor functions assigned to it under the following Acts:

Aboriginal Lands Act 1995
Conveyancing and Law of Property Act 1884
Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994
Forestry Act 1920
Gas Act 2000
Gas Pipelines Act 2000
Local Government (Building and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993
Major Infrastructure Development Approvals Act 1999
Marine Farming Planning Act 1995
Nature Conservation Act 2002
Survey Co-ordination Act 1944
Wellington Park Act 1993

The Commission is part of the Tasmanian Resource Management and Planning System. The overall statutory objectives of the system are:

to promote the sustainable development of natural and physical resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity; and
to provide for the fair, orderly and sustainable use and development of air, land and water; and
to encourage public involvement in resource management and planning; and
to facilitate economic development in accordance with the objectives set out in the above paragraphs; and
to promote the sharing of responsibility for resource management and planning between the different spheres of government, the community and industry in the State.

"sustainable development" means managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while -

(a) sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and

(b) safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and

(c) avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.

Acts are available from www.thelaw.tas.gov.au