State Policies and Projects (Project of State Significance) Order 1999

State Policies and Projects (Project of State Significance) Order 1999

This is a Tasmanian government order made under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993. Its core purpose is to formally declare a specific project as a 'Project of State Significance' — a special legal status that gives the Tasmanian government greater control and oversight over major developments.

What does 'Project of State Significance' mean?

When a project is declared one of state significance, it is taken out of the normal local council planning approval process and instead assessed and approved at the state government level. This means a coordinated assessment process applies, potentially overriding local planning rules.

Who does this affect?

• Developers and proponents of the specific project declared — their approvals go through a different, state-level process
• Local councils — they lose their usual planning decision-making power over that project
• Community members and objectors — they must engage with the state-level process rather than local council processes
• Tasmanian residents generally — projects deemed significant enough to warrant this status typically involve major infrastructure, resources, or land use with broad public impact

Why does it matter?

This order is a — once made, it triggers a whole separate assessment regime. It concentrates decision-making power in the state government's hands for whatever specific project it names.