Ms O’CONNOR – So, more than half. Tasmanians value their coastline. It’s now some time since the Robbins Island wharf issue went through and the first discussions of changes to the state coastal policy were put forward. It’s gone a bit quiet. Could you give us a succinct encapsulation of the objectives. I would like to hear from Mr Reid, but also from Mr Ramsay on the consultation state coastal policy review.
Mr VINCENT – Thank you. In my short time in the role, it hasn’t been a big part of what I’ve had to discuss or work my way through at the moment, and that is the reason I would love for Mr Reid to give a bit more summary. Thank you.
Mr REID – I certainly can, minister. I won’t speak for the TPC on where they’re at with their process, but the then‑minister at the time and the Premier issued a ministerial direction to the Tasmanian Planning Commission under the State Policies and Projects Act, directing it to provide advice on whether a proposed amendment constitutes a significant change to the policy. Upon receipt of that advice, the minister agreed with the commission and determined that the amendment was a significant change to the policy, and made a subsequent direction to the commission to prepare a report and undertake an assessment of that policy, which I understand is the process that’s under way at the moment.
The draft amendment to the policy was placed on public exhibition from 30 June to 25 August 2025, and I understand 203 submissions – I’m not sure that’s correct, John – were received, and advised that 90 per cent of those submissions were in a pro forma template.
The advice I have before me is the public hearings are scheduled for either November this year, or –
Mr RAMSAY – They start next week.
Ms O’CONNOR – Public hearings on the state coastal policy amendment.
Mr RAMSAY – Yes. We’ve appointed a panel of delegates to undertake the assessment, and it starts next week, having hearings in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart over about an eight‑day period.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Mr Ramsay. I’m sure that timeframes have been set out on the very efficient TPC website, which is –
CHAIR – I’m surprised you haven’t been on there.
Ms O’CONNOR – I have been on there, but not in the last few – probably days, to be honest with you. Perhaps, for the purposes of the committee’s understanding, just to give us an indication of timelines on when the TPC will report back on the review, and then I would like to go back to the minister about what the objective is here.
Mr VINCENT – I am of the understanding that the recommendations will be before me in early 2026. I will ask Mr Ramsay if he’s got –
Mr RAMSAY – Yes, that’s our expectation. Until we do the hearings and find out what the issues are, it’s a bit hard to make time commitment to it. Interestingly, there are no timelines for this process, but we are hoping to get all the hearings done before Christmas and have the report written either before Christmas or at least in the new year, and then we’d report back to the minister.
Ms O’CONNOR – So minister, what’s the objective?
Mr VINCENT – And I have not developed any expectations or objectives at this point in time but will do over coming months.
Ms O’CONNOR – Okay, well thank you for that clarification, because the objective that was stated by government prior, was to facilitate potentially more development within the one-kilometre coastal defined zone, if you like – loosely‑defined zone in the state coastal policy. It was to allow more development in the coastal zone. That’s not something you’d confirm as a stated objective, at this point.
Mr VINCENT – Not at this point in time. I haven’t familiarised myself with all the points of this policy at this stage but will be over coming months.
Ms O’CONNOR – Can I ask you whether you agree with the notion the state coastal policy, while outdated and imperfect, has done a pretty good job of protecting coastal access and made sure that, unlike many other parts of the country, we haven’t gone headlong into coastal development in a way that damages values here and our brand?
Mr VINCENT – There are points that have been raised in court that question some of the legalities around some of those points, and that’s where this body of work is working through at the moment. As that is worked through, I will develop more of a thought pattern around it. I can’t give an answer more than that, because I just haven’t had enough time in the ministry yet to cover all these points, but I know the work that’s being done State Planning Office and will be by Mr Ramsay, as will be part of
Ms LOVELL – So, it would be 7.0-something will go back to Treasury. Okay, thank you.
