MAKE A SUBMISSION
By Alison Hetherington, Public Affairs Manager Tasmania
The state government has lodged its draft Tasmanian Planning Policies, which place a greater emphasis on improving active transport routes and end-of-trip facilities.
Anyone can now make a submission about the policies to the Tasmanian Planning Commission before 26 June 2023.
The commission will assess the submissions and may hold public hearings before providing its recommendations on whether the policies comply with the law to the Minister for Planning.
The policies are an addition to the statewide planning scheme and will shape the nitty-gritty of planning applications and approvals.
We have written a lot about planning reform over the past 12 months because it’s what shapes our streets and buildings. Without changes to the planning scheme, it can be difficult to get better places to ride and park.
The statewide planning policies and land use strategies will be reviewed following the adoption of the Tasmanian planning policies to ensure they comply. It’s not clear at this stage whether local provisions schedules will also change.
How the Tasmanian planning policies are interpreted and adopted in the statewide planning policies and land use strategies will be the key test of their ability to effect the changes we need to make riding easier.
For example, the current statewide policy on bike parking doesn’t specify that employee parking be undercover and secure with access to showers and lockers, so employers can provide a few hoops anywhere on their property and they have complied with the scheme.
When the draft policies were first opened for public comment Bicycle Network expressed a desire for stronger language, for example, using ‘ensure’ rather than ‘encourage’. However, the policy drafters have kept the language broad, saying in the policies background paper:
“The TPPs are an expression of policy, they are not a regulatory planning instrument and therefore are not drafted in a definitive or absolute way.
“The TPP strategies are typically drafted with a verb at the beginning of the sentence. These are mostly expressed as encouraging verbs that help the strategies work towards achieving the aspirational outcomes expressed through the objective of the policy. The verb used helps set the direction, strength and intent of the policy statement.”
Encouraging bike riding
The policies haven’t changed much since we last wrote about them. The relevant policies for people who want better places to ride and park their bikes are the Settlement Policy and the Physical Infrastructure Policy.
Settlement Policy
Under the Climate Change Statement within this policy it’s noted that active transport plays a part in sustainability and reducing emissions.
“…measures to consolidate settlements, make use of existing infrastructure, promote energy efficient design and improve access to public and active transport networks, while providing for efficient settlement patterns also reduces resource consumption and lowers emissions.”
Under 1.1 Growth, the policy requires:
- structure plans to consider “movement networks, including street hierarchy and pedestrian and cycling paths for active transport modes” (1.1.3-6c).
- “Encourage the concentration of commercial, administrative, major retail, entertainment and cultural use and development within activity centres that are highly accessible by public and active transport” (1.1.10).
Under 1.2 Liveability, the policy requires:
- “Provide for connectivity within settlements, especially between residential areas, activity centres and open space networks, through a network of legible and accessible infrastructure dedicated to active transport modes, including end of trip facilities.” (1.2.3-5).
- “Provide integrated transport networks that allow people to move safely and efficiently between and within settlements utilising different transport modes, including public transport, cycling and walking, to reduce car dependency.” (1.2.3-6).
Under 1.3 Social Infrastructure, the policy requires:
- “Integrate public and active transport networks with major social infrastructure” (1.3.3-4).
Under 1.5 Housing, the policy requires:
- “Encourage higher density housing in suitable locations that: have good access to employment, services, open space and active and public transport networks” (1.5.3-5c).
Under 1.6 Design, the policy requires:
- “Encourage the design and siting of buildings to positively contribute to: safe access and egress for pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles.” (1.6.3-8g).
- “Encourage public places that are designed to promote: integrate land use and transport; and encourage active transport through the provision of safe and shaded rest areas with urban furniture, drinking fountains and similar amenity measures.” (1.6.3-3d, 3e).
- “Promote subdivision design that considers the existing and future surrounding pattern of development and provides for connection and integration of street networks, pedestrian and bicycle paths and the efficient provision of services.” (1.6.3-6).
- “Promote subdivision design that provides a functional lot layout that: provides safe active transport” (1.6.3-7d).
Physical Infrastructure Policy
The Physical Infrastructure Policy contains two sections dealing with transport modes and roads, and specifically states in its climate change statement:
“The Physical Infrastructure TPP supports the provision of well-planned and well-designed infrastructure that can reduce emissions and take advantage of emerging opportunities in a low emissions future by: better sharing of road space to support increased uptake of more sustainable transport modes.”
Under 5.3 Roads, the policy requires:
- “Provide for new and upgraded road infrastructure on key urban and local corridors to allocate space for electricity infrastructure, public transport, walking and cycling modes.” (5.3.3-5)
Under 5.4 Transport Modes, the policy requires:
- “Provide an active transport network within key urban areas that is integrated across State and local government networks, and which includes dedicated infrastructure, appropriate signage, and end of trip facilities.(5.4.3-5)
- “Encourage public transport corridors to be supported by active transport networks and bus stops that are safe, accessible and provide for better passenger amenity.” (5.4.3-6)
- “Provide for subdivision design that: encourages walking and cycling, with the provision of appropriate and direct site-through links” (5.4.3-7b)
- “Recognise carparking as a key travel demand management measure, and appropriately manage carparking provision to support a modal shift” (5.4.3-11).
Make a submission
If you support the Tasmanian Planning Policies or have suggestions for change, send your comments by 26 June 2023 to tpc@planning.tas.gov.au.
If the minister decides to adopt the policies following receipt of the commission’s advice, this will be the last opportunity to influence change until the next five-yearly review.