The Local Government Association of Tasmania wants the government to invest more money in councils to allow them to be properly equipped to deal with planning matters.
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In its 2019-20 budget submission, it said a recent study by the Australian Centre for Local Government into training and development for councillors found the skills elected members brought to the role often did not align with its requirements.
"It is fundamental that councillors have access to good quality training to prepare them to make informed decisions in the best interest of their community," the organisation said.
Forty-one per cent of councillors elected in last year's local government elections were new to serving in the position.
LGAT said while it offered its own training programs, a more intense, accredited program was needed.
It said the state government needed to invest more funding to create positions within its Policy Planning Unit to expedite the finalisation of the statewide planning scheme.
"It is an ambitious reform agenda that must be supported to regain community confidence in land use planning," the organisation said.
"To further build this confidence, specific resourcing is required to improve the information available to the community on our planning system, both current, but also how they can engage with the reform agenda as it progresses."
The long-running issue of waste management in Tasmania was also addressed in the submission.
"Tasmanian lags well behind most other jurisdictions when it comes to percentage of material we divert from landfill," it said.
"This is not only very poor resource recovery but also a significant lost opportunity for Tasmania."
According to the state's Environmental Protection Authority, about 736,741 tonnes of waste was generated in Tasmania last year of which about 57 per cent, or 415,863 tonnes, was disposed as landfill.
About 43 per cent, or 320,878 tonnes, was recycled or composted.
Forty-three per cent of all waste generated in Tasmania was municipal.
The figures from the EPA showed an slight improvement in recycling in Tasmania over a decade, however.
In 2007-08, there was 419,800 tonnes sent to landfill and 84,492 tonnes either recycled or composted
The state government has committed to develop an action plan on waste management early this year.
The government will release its new state budget in May.
