SCHEDULE 1 - Objectives

Sections 8 , 12 and 28

PART 1 - Objectives of the resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania

1.    The objectives of the resource management and planning system of Tasmania are –

(a) to promote the sustainable development of natural and physical resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity; and

(b) to provide for the fair, orderly and sustainable use and development of air, land and water; and

(c) to encourage public involvement in resource management and planning; and

(d) to facilitate economic development in accordance with the objectives set out in paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) ; and

(e) to promote the sharing of responsibility for resource management and planning between the different spheres of Government, the community and industry in the State.

2.    In clause 1 (a) , sustainable development means managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while –

(a) sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and

(b) safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and

(c) avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.

PART 2 - Objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System Established by this Act

3.    The objectives of the environmental management and pollution control system established by this Act are, in support of the objectives set out in Part 1 of this Schedule –

(a) to protect and enhance the quality of the Tasmanian environment; and

(b) to prevent environmental degradation and adverse risks to human and ecosystem health by promoting pollution prevention, clean production technology, reuse and recycling of materials and waste minimization programmes; and

(c) to regulate, reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants and hazardous substances to air, land or water consistent with maintaining environmental quality; and

(d) to allocate the costs of environmental protection and restoration equitably and in a manner that encourages responsible use of, and reduces harm to, the environment, with polluters bearing the appropriate share of the costs that arise from their activities; and

(e) to require persons engaging in polluting activities to make progressive environmental improvements, including reductions of pollution at source, as such improvements become practicable through technological and economic development; and

(f) to provide for the monitoring and reporting of environmental quality on a regular basis; and

(g) to control the generation, storage, collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste with a view to reducing, minimizing and, where practicable, eliminating harm to the environment; and

(h) to adopt a precautionary approach when assessing environmental risk to ensure that all aspects of environmental quality, including ecosystem sustainability and integrity and beneficial uses of the environment, are considered in assessing, and making decisions in relation to, the environment; and

(i) to facilitate the adoption and implementation of standards agreed upon by the State under inter-governmental arrangements for greater uniformity in environmental regulation; and

(j) to promote public education about the protection, restoration and enhancement of the environment; and

(k) to co-ordinate all activities as are necessary to protect, restore or improve the Tasmanian environment.