Prev | Next

Objective

Recommendation

Key issues

Actions taken

Objective

To support the Government's policy to build sustainable development principles into key resource management legislation.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System be included in all of Tasmania's natural resource management legislation and that there be a requirement to further these objectives in the operation of each Act, including:

• Crown Lands Act 1976
   
• National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970
   
• Forestry Act 1920
   
• Forest Practices Act 1985
   
• Local Government Act 1993
   
• Mineral Resources Development Act 1995
   

and future natural resource management legislation, including the proposed water management legislation.

Key issues

This information is available from Volume 2 of the last SoE Report (SDAC 1997), which can be downloaded. The final objective, final recommendation, and a summary of key management actions are detailed below.

Actions taken

The objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System were included under Schedule 3 of the Crown Lands Act 1976 as a result of the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998.

The objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System were included under Schedule 5 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 as a result of the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998.

Legislation has now been introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament to provide the legislative basis for implementing the Natural Resource Management Framework. The Natural Resource Management Bill 2002 was recently passed by both Houses and upon commencement it will provide for the establishment of a Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Council and regional committees for natural resource management. It will also provide for the development of regional strategies for natural resource management.

It is not State Government policy that the Forestry Act 1920, Forest Practices Act 1985, Local Government Act 1993 or the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 be subject to the objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System. While the Commission considers that it is appropriate for all natural resource management legislation to be working towards a common set of objectives, this has been tested through the 1997 recommendation and is not supported by the State Government. Accordingly, the 1997 recommendation is not carried forward to 2002.