Strategic Regional Plan for Tasmania 2023 launched, identifies priorities, challenges

A wide-reaching new plan for the future of regional Tasmania will be revealed today, identifying key areas for improvement and opportunity, and the challenges lying ahead. SNEAK PEEK >>

Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain.

A sweeping new vision for regional Tasmania has been unveiled, focused on boosting economic potential, improving health outcomes and prioritising the natural environment.

But it has also identified challenges for the regions, including the lack of an overarching plan for regional development from the state government.

Federal Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain will launch the Strategic Regional Plan for Tasmania 2023 in Devonport on Thursday.

The document was prepared by Regional Development Australia Tasmania (RDA Tasmania) and is intended as a blueprint for the future of the state’s regional areas.

Among the key strategic priorities contained in the plan are the fulfilment of people’s economic potential, the improvement of health and wellbeing outcomes and social and economic inclusion, and the prioritisation of the natural environment through recognition of the risk of climate change and taking advantage of the benefits of a future net-zero economy.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

While the plan acknowledges the state government’s “strategic work and sectoral plans for Tasmania”, it notes that “there is no overarching plan for regional development” on the island.

“There is also a need for ‘connective tissue’ between the various sectoral plans, for example addressing the value of renewable energy to growth industries such as agriculture and forestry,” the plan says.

Newly appointed RDA Tasmania chair, Professor Sue Kilpatrick, said the plan was a “fantastic example of what’s possible when different levels of government, industry and community work together”.

“Tasmania as an island state faces unique opportunities and challenges,” she said.

“Our island status requires us to be innovative and produce high quality products and services that meet niche market needs. Everything we produce has to earn its ‘ticket off the island’.”

Ms Bain said she was looking forward to seeing “the positive impacts this [plan] will bring”.

“We know the best results will be achieved with everyone working together towards a common vision,” she said.

“That’s why we asked RDAs right across the nation to develop a plan that connects across all levels of government and identifies local, long-term investment priorities.”

In a foreword to the plan, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmania needed to ensure every region had a “targeted” growth strategy and “the support required to harness … [their] advantages, through people, environment, infrastructure, services and resources”

“This [plan] complements our government’s ambition to develop regional strategic partnerships to set a 20-year framework, vision and direction for planning and land use – ensuring regions have what they need to thrive,” he said.

Originally published as Strategic Regional Plan for Tasmania 2023 launched, identifies priorities, challenges