Submissions released on review of Tasmanian Planning Commission

An independent review of the commission was ordered by Planning Minister Roger Jaensch in 2019 to look at its administrative functions and to consider whether it was the most appropriate agency to conduct reporting on the State of the Environment.

Hydro Tasmania chief operations officer Gerard Flack said a majority of matters to be considered under the State of Environment Report were monitored and reported on by the EPA.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"It would be more appropriate that the responsibility for preparations of the SoER were to be transferred to the EPA," he said in a submission to the review.

"This would be similar to other Australian states like New South Wales (three yearly) and South Australia (five yearly), where the local Environment Protection Aurthorities are responsible for producing the SoE reports."

Greens planning spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said State of Environment Reports were legislated to be prepared every four years.

But the last such report was prepared in 2009, meaning there were now two overdue reports.

"We believe the responsibility for the management of these reports, fundamental as they are to the wellbeing of our state, must be undertaken by an independent statutory body not subject to ministerial direction," Dr Woodruff said.

"As it is stands, the Environmental Protection Authority in Tasmania does not have independence from the minister.

"As such, we believe any consideration of removing responsibilities from the commission, including the SoE reporting, needs to consider whether there is any other body empowered to adequately and independently undertake the task.

"We are not aware of any body that appropriately fits these criteria."