Consultation on the Tasmanian Government’s proposed amendments to the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 is open until 8 March. Photo: TAS NPWS.
The Tasmanian Government has released a consultation paper on proposed amendments to the National Parks and Reserves Management Act (NPRMA) 2002.
The proposed amendments relate to the Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process which it says aims to provide greater transparency and improved effectiveness of what is an important approval mechanism.
The RAA process used by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is equivalent to an environmental impact assessment process.
In an 11 January release, Tasmanian Minister for Parks Nick Duigan said the government was doing what mattered by ensuring Tasmanian’s natural assets were maintained, appropriately utilised, and protected to benefit all Tasmanians and future generations. He said it was committed to best practice management of the state’s reserve lands.
“Our government agreed to amend the act in 2021, and the development of this proposal delivers on that commitment,” Minister Duigan said.
“The PWS has adopted this term to clearly identify assessment processes for proposals on the reserves managed by the PWS under the act.
“Following improvements of the RAA process over the past several years, the next stage of reform will build on these improvements and ensure greater transparency along with independent decision-making.”
As part of this process, Mr Duigan said the government intended to deliver a dedicated statutory environmental impact assessment process within the act.
He said the consultation paper addressed key issues, including the criteria for a proposal to enter the statutory pathway, establishment of an independent assessment panel, transparency of process and decision-making, recovery of costs for RAA assessments and provision for appeals.
The paper says the government intends to draft amendments to the NPRMA to provide for the following:
- A statutory environmental impact assessment process for proposed use or development on reserved land that meet the eligibility criteria
- An independent and transparent assessment process and accountable decision-making on use or development proposals
- Cost recovery for assessments
- Removal of duplication with assessment processes under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
- Public access to copies of leases and licences issued over reserves through a ‘Head of Power’ to publish active leases and licences issued on reserves
- Additional reserve management planning processes.
Submissions from key stakeholders will be welcomed.
Public consultation is open until 8 March, with a draft bill anticipated to be released in later 2024. The 28-page consultation paper is available here.
