Strategic Planning
Strategic planning seeks to balance the built and natural environment, community needs, cultural significance and economic sustainability to create better places and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
What is strategic planning?
Strategic planning manages growth, supports business development and ensures a sustainable future. It ensures the city:
- plans for future growth in a way which creates vibrant places for people
- maintains its environmental, heritage and cultural values
- identifies issues and can respond to community aspirations and needs
- articulates its preferred future direction and identifies urban renewal precincts
- identifies appropriate planning controls to protect and enhance particular areas
Strategic planning is implemented through the Tasmanian Planning Scheme - Launceston which is the statutory tool to deliver strategic planning objectives.
The community has an opportunity to participate and comment on our strategic planning projects. This is done both informally during the project plan and formally at the planning scheme amendment stage.
Current Projects
St Leonards and Waverley Neighbourhood Plan
The City of Launceston successfully applied for funding from the Federal Government's $1.5 billion Housing Support Program.
The St Leonards and Waverley Neighbourhood Plan will be accompanied by an Infrastructure Funding Framework to guide how the local area will develop and improve over time to create liveable communities.
St Leonards and Waverley are growing and we need a clear plan for how and where. Planned growth through a Neighbourhood Plan ensures local characteristics that the community love can be protected, and potential impacts such as increasing traffic can be managed.
Project Update: 07/11/2024
We want to hear from the local community in St Leonards and Waverley to help shape the Neighbourhood Plan. An online survey is now open, and more opportunities to share feedback on the draft Neighbourhood Plan are planned for early next year.
You will find the QR code to complete the survey on the posters and flyers within the local area. If you live, work or visit St Leonards and Waverley and wish to receive a hard copy of the survey, please contact neighbourhoods@launceston.tas.gov.au.
The survey is open until Friday 6th December 2024.
There will be a broader community engagement phase in early 2025 once we have a Draft Neighbourhood Plan to share.
Launceston Building Height and Massing Study
The Building Height and Massing Study aims to define what compatible new development looks like in Launceston's CBD. The results will lead to new built form controls in the Launceston Local Provisions Schedule of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme.
These new built form controls will help ensure clearer expectations for both the community and developers, encourage better design outcomes, and reduce the potential for controversy. We will use best practices in planning and urban design to guide a successful future for Launceston’s CBD.
Community engagement will be available in early 2025.
State, Regional & Local Context
Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
In Tasmania, the key Act for planning processes is the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. It sets out the various requirements and timeframes that apply, for example, for making an application for a planning permit or requesting an amendment to a planning scheme.
Northern Tasmanian Regional Land Use Strategy
The Northern Tasmanian Regional Land Use Strategy (NRLUS) provides a framework for the sustainable use and development of land within the region.
The NRLUS is a strategic regional plan for the eight council areas in the north and north-east of Tasmania. It has a 20-year time horizon to 2032 for integrated infrastructure, land use development and transport planning, and is underpinned by economic development, social and environmental strategies.
Tasmanian Planning Scheme - Launceston
The Tasmanian Planning Scheme - Launceston sets out the requirements for use or development of land in accordance with the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 which apply to the Launceston local government area.
More information is available here - Tasmanian Planning Scheme - Launceston.
Our Strategies
Launceston Residential Strategy
The aim of the Residential Strategy is to create choice, diversity and desirability to sustainably maximise Launceston's housing market.
Launceston Industrial Strategy
The intent of the Industrial Strategy is to ensure Launceston has a co-ordinated supply of industrial land providing a choice of location to service the Launceston regional centre and to establish Launceston as the industrial centre of choice for new and emerging high technology and research and development industries.
Planning Scheme Amendments
Sometimes the planning scheme may need to be changed to reflect new circumstances or achieve new planning objectives. Changes are known as planning scheme amendments.
To change the planning scheme, the proposed amendment must have a strategic basis that is consistent with the intent of the planning scheme, the objectives of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and any State Policies. Planning scheme amendments are initiated by Council but the decision is ultimately made by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
If you have a specific development in mind, which is not allowed under the planning scheme, it is possible to combine a planning permit application with the planning scheme amendment. This is known as a Section 40T Application under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.
View our current planning scheme amendments: Advertised Development Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask for a planning scheme amendment?
Anyone can ask Council to prepare a planning scheme amendment. Many people engage a planning consultant to prepare the required documentation and to represent them throughout the process.
How much does it cost?
You can view our Fees & Charges page here.
What information do I need to provide?
- Details on why the amendment is being sought. What are the strategic grounds for seeking this change.
- A current copy of the Certificate of Title for the land.
- A description of the capability of the land for future development (i.e. slope, drainage, vegetation etc)
- An evaluation of any environmental hazards (i.e. bushfire, flooding, contamination, slope etc.)
- A description of the availability and capacity of infrastructure (i.e. roads, sewer, water, public transport, community facilities, etc.)
- An assessment of any features of significance on the land (i.e. heritage, environmental, native vegetation communities etc.)
- A description of the existing use of the land and the surrounding land uses.
- A description of the existing zoning of the land and the surrounding area.
- An assessment of the proposal against the relevant State Policies and objectives of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.
- Assessment of any social, economic or environmental issues, zone boundary conflicts or implications, employment opportunities etc.
- Implications for potential impacts on adjoining land or the surrounding area.
What is the planning scheme amendment process?
Phase 1
- Request for a planning scheme amendment received.
- Council planner may request further information from the applicant.
- Council planner prepares a report for Council to decide whether to initiate the amendment or not (Council meeting).
Phase 2
- If initiated, public exhibition of draft amendment for 28 days. The community may make written representations in support or opposition during this time.
- Council planner considers any representations which are received and prepares a report to Council evaluating the representations and makes a recommendation about whether the amendment should be forwarded to the Tasmanian Planning Commission for approval.
- If recommended for approval by Council at their meeting, the council planner provides amendment documentation to the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Phase 3
- Tasmanian Planning Commission considers planning scheme amendment.
- Tasmanian Planning Commission may hold hearings.
- Tasmanian Planning Commission decides whether to approve, substantially modify or refuse planning scheme amendment.
- Tasmanian Planning Commission decision.
Additional information and resources
Contact us
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about strategic planning: