PLANNING

DEVELOPMENT (PLANNING) APPLICATIONS:
All development in Tasmania may require you to apply for Planning Approval. Each planning scheme is different and may affect the design of your project. Planning schemes may place limits on boundary setbacks, heights, site coverage, floor area and use. Contact with the planning department of the relevant Council should be made before starting the design process.

If your project is to be advertised – it is advisable to speak to your neighbours about the proposal before it is advertised. A simple explanation of what you intend may well avert any misinterpretation, and ultimately objection to the proposal.

PLANNING PROCESS:
After an application is made, Council may either determine it to be planning exempt or require assessment for Development approval. An application may require advertising (public notification), in which case the advertising period is 14 days. Council's planning officers will then make a recommendation for approval with or without conditions, or a refusal. (It is important to note that Design East can give no guarantee that a planning permit will be issued, or determined within a nominated time frame. Councils have maximum of 42 days to determine an application. Council may ask you to consent to an extension of time to complete the assessment.)

HERITAGE BUILDINGS:

Your building maybe on the Heritage Tasmania register. The building may also be listed in the Historic Heritage Code of the relevant Interim Planning Scheme either as a listed heritage place or in a Heritage Precinct. Work on these buildings would be assessed by council heritage and planning officers.

Be aware that buildings listed in the Historic Heritage Code may not be on the Heritage Tasmania register.

If your property is in a heritage precinct and it’s not listed anywhere in the Heritage Tasmania register, or the Historic Heritage Code of the Planning Scheme Council heritage officers will assess the proposed development against the heritage requirements of the precinct.

If you intend doing alterations and extensions to a listed building, discussion and negotiation prior to formal submission is the best way to achieve an outcome.

If the building is listed on the Heritage Tasmania Register – our advice is to obtain their approval first. 

Visit Heritage Tasmanian for further information visit  http://heritage.tas.gov.au/

BUSHFIRE HAZARD MANAGMENT PLANS:

It is a requirement of planning schemes and the NCC - BCA (Building Code of Australia) to determine whether your property is in a Bushfire prone area. If this is the case then a Bushfire Management Plan will need to be provided to determine the BAL (Bushfire attack level) for the location of the structure. The BAL rating determines the type of construction to be used. Generally if you are within 100m of 1Ha of grass or bushland you may be in a bushfire prone area.

 An Accredited Bushfire Assessor will need to be engaged to provide the Bushfire Management Plan.

For further information on accredited accessors and bushfire management visit  https://www.fire.tas.gov.au/

WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:

Where a site is not connected to a sewerage system the planning authority will require a design for a waste water management system to ensure that the site is capable of supporting your proposal.

 An accredited consultant will need to be engaged to provide the design and certification.

For further information visit www.justice.tas.gov.au/building/plumbing/waste_water_management

OTHER IMFORMATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PLANNING SUBMISSION:


Shadow diagrams

The planning assessment in certain circumstances may ask for shadow diagrams if there is a concern that the new structure will put adjacent residences in shade.


Geo-technical Report

The planning assessment may require a geo-technical report to be provided where a site is subject to landslip and/or over a certain gradient. (A geo-technical report is different to a Soil test)


Other reports:

Depending on the location of the site and the requirements in the planning scheme - consultants may need to be engaged to assess and provide submissions on the following:

  • Flora

  • Fauna

  • Sea rise

  • Storm surge

  • Inundation

  • Aboriginal Heritage assessment.

 
Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal:
If a planning permit is refused, or a permit issued with conditions that you do not agree with, then an application may be made to the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal. Be aware that this process applies equally to any person that made representations against your application during the planning process in which council has granted a planning permit.

For your rights and details of the planning appeal process visit www.rmpat.tas.gov.au/