Gray Planning has highly qualified and experienced professionals who have been involved at the forefront of the planning process at both state and local government level.

Planning reform in Tasmania is currently going through rapid change. Gray Planning can provide the following services to help you to navigate the change and ensure the best outcomes for your organisation, property or proposed development:

Statutory Planning

Decades of experiences in statutory and strategic planning roles in local government gives us the skills, experience and professional contacts to guide you through the process and achieve positive planning outcomes.

Gray Planning can provide advocacy, support and assessment services to both the government and private sectors, to ensure the best possible outcomes for planning applications whether it be providing in house assistance for Councils or acting in an advocacy role for planning applications submitted for approval.

We have extensive experience in managing and undertaking assessments within local government of planning applications involving a broad range of sites at all levels of complexities and land uses submitted for local and state government development application approval.

We have the necessary contacts, expertise and skills to collaborate with a broad range of professional consultants across a variety of disciplines to bring together a multi-disciplinary team. This ensures development applications are managed in a cohesive and holistic approach that addresses all relevant statutory requirements.

Planning Appeals

Gray Planning has more than 20 years of experience in appeals in the Resource Planning and Appeals Tribunal, having worked alongside or against all of Tasmania’s leading planning solicitors, and are able to competently manage all appeal situations from initial mediation right through to providing expert witness representation in a full hearing.

Our experience in the Tribunal allows us to approach all aspects of appeals with confidence and competence.

We have the expertise and skills to manage a team of multiple professional consultants to ensure all appeal grounds are effectively addressed throughout the entire appeal process.

Representations

Gray Planning can provide assistance and guidance for those wishing to make a representation for or against advertised planning applications, taking care to address all relevant legislative requirements.

We can further assist in any ongoing planning representation that may be required through subsequent hearings at either the Resource Management Planning and Appeals Tribunal or Tasmanian Planning Commission. Our legislative experience is extensive and well-grounded, attributed to previous long term local government experience.

Development Capability Assessments

We have considerable experience in development assessment at local government level across a very broad spectrum of sites and proposals and also state level involving state listed heritage properties and sites.

This enables us to provide advice and assistance regarding the development potential of sites across Tasmania as well as what legislative development requirements are relevant. This provides clients with valuable information to inform and guide purchase decisions and development proposals. Advice is tailored according to the needs of the client.

Historic and Cultural Heritage

We are unique in having 15 years of experience in historic heritage management and assessment within local government, and involvement in state level historic and cultural heritage management.

This enables us to give qualified advice and assistance to the owners and occupiers of buildings, sites and areas to address relevant legislation for heritage listed properties and development within heritage areas and precincts.

We can also undertake the following strategic heritage planning work:

  • Identification of boundaries for heritage areas and precincts;
  • Drafting of statements of significance;
  • Character assessments for heritage areas, streetscapes and sites;
  • Identification and documentation of properties of local heritage value for Local Heritage Reviews;
  • Drafting of nominations for inclusion of the Tasmanian Heritage Register;
  • Community consultation as part of the Local Heritage Review process.

Strategic Planning

A planning scheme is based upon sound knowledge and logic of anticipated development demand and there are mechanisms to complement and inform planning schemes that Gray Planning can assist with including:

  • Specific Area Plans
  • Local Area Plans
  • Structure Plans

Gray Planning has the necessary experience in strategic planning to carry out the required process to ensure fair and equitable consultation is achieved and a written plan is developed that meets the needs and expectations of local government and communities.

We also have experience in undertaking local character assessments and studies to assist in the development of local area plans and policies.

Planning Scheme Amendments

We have extensive experience in the preparation of applications to amend planning schemes from the inception stage, right through to completion of Planning Commission hearings. The process requires initiation through local government and subsequent certification by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

We can collaborate with other experts in associated fields including environmental management and traffic and civic engineering, to ensure all relevant matters are addressed for planning scheme amendment applications.

Gray Planning is also able to assist with Urgent Planning Scheme Amendments and combined Development Application and Planning Scheme Amendments.

Our familiarity with these processes is extensive and well-rehearsed through experience, which has the ongoing effect of smoothing out the legislative process for clients.

Gray Planning also provides assistance with written submissions for or against any planning scheme amendment that is being advertised.

Community Consultation

Gray Planning understands and respects the importance of engaging with the public in an interactive manner that encourages community participation.

Techniques are tailored to suit the consultation required and it is proven that involving the community at the ground level is a conduit to achieving the best results.