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Strategic land use planning

Appropriate strategic planning ensures that the needs of key rural land values such as agriculture, the environment and heritage are accommodated within an overarching strategic vision and critically, that land with high productive rural values is protected from encroachment by incompatible or inappropriate uses, in order to support legitimate rural industries and uses. RMCG has worked with state and local government to:

  • Develop Rural Land Use Strategies for local government
  • Provide advice to local government on managing land use conflict, changes to planning schemes and zoning considering land use capability, agricultural use, constraints and regional context
  • Assessing the strategic value of agricultural land
  • Protect and manage natural values (such as water ways) at regional and state levels
  • Identify scenic viewsheds that warrant consideration for protection
  • Onsite wastewater management planning which balances unsewered development, environment and servicing pressures
  • Cultural heritage assessments
  • Spatial analysis.
Tasmanian land use planning

In Tasmania, in addition to the above services, RMCG undertakes a range of technical assessments to assist clients to understand the potential impacts of proposed development on agriculture and the environment. These include:

  • Bushfire risk assessments for dwellings, accommodation, subdivisions, vulnerable uses and hazardous uses
  • Natural values assessments (flora, fauna, and vegetation)
  • Land capability (agricultural assessments) that consider proposed discretionary developments such as dwellings and subdivisions in the Agriculture and Rural Zones of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme
  • Acid Sulfate Soils risk assessments and management plans.

 

If you would like one of the above Tasmania specific reports completed please click here.

Team

Shelley McGuinness

Shelley McGuinness

Associate

B.Ag.Sci. (Hons)

Shelley has strongly developed strategic planning skills and an ability to develop and apply logical methodologies to complex problems resulting in workable, robust strategies and policy solutions. With over 25 years’ experience she has an in-depth understanding of rural communities, industries, environments and natural resources, their inter-relationships and inter-dependencies. Her skills and experience have been applied to rural and regional strategic land use planning, agricultural industry analysis, assessment of land capability and suitability, land use conflict and environmental planning.

Dr Kristen Stirling

Dr Kristen Stirling

Associate

PhD., B.Ag.Sci.

Kristen is an experienced researcher and industry development specialist. She successfully combines project management skills and technical expertise to deliver projects in agriculture and water related industries. She enjoys working with landholders and large organizations to inform and clarify decision-making. Areas of expertise include strategic planning, stakeholder consultation and program evaluation.

Meg Caffin

Meg Caffin

Senior Consultant

Master of Urban Horticulture, Bachelor of Commerce

Meg is a dynamic, empowering and engaging professional who offers exceptional leadership experience derived from a diverse portfolio of engagements, and a demonstrated history in delivering on strategic intent, legislative compliance, and corporate governance. She possesses a range of critical skills and competencies across the environmental industry and extensive experience in policy and strategy development and implementation in line with climate change, biodiversity and health and wellbeing strategic objectives.

 

Meg has worked with over 25 Councils and State Government agencies across Australia to develop fit for purpose urban greening frameworks. From the micro to the macro – Meg has a passion to be a ‘change-agent’.

Marg Sangalli

Marg Sangalli

Associate

B.RurSc., B.L.Arch.

Marg is an accomplished leader and strategic thinker. She has demonstrated proficiency in the development and execution of strategy to improve quality and business performance. Marg possesses highly developed skills in people and project management, strategy development and stakeholder consultation and facilitation. Her emotional intelligence, interpersonal and communication skills enable her to build strong relationships. She is able to devise unique practical solutions to complex problems throughout the life of a project and deliver projects in a timely and efficient manner.

Michael Tempest

Michael Tempest

Senior Consultant

B Env

Michael is involved with projects relating to land use planning and environmental assessment and monitoring, including effluent reuse. He is also an Accredited Bushfire Hazard Practitioner.

Anna Kilborn

Anna Kilborn

Senior Consultant

B.Sc., GAICD

Anna has 30 years’ experience across Government and in private industry, working on a diverse mix of natural resource planning, infrastructure, agriculture, emergency management and regional development challenges.

She is an analyst who works across complex and uncertain issues, engaging closely with responsible authorities, knowledge-holders and communities to develop adaptive responses to contemporary and future challenges.

Kelly Ross

Kelly Ross

Senior Consultant

B.Env.Sc., B.Soc.Sc. (Env.), M.App.Sc. (GIS)

Kelly specialises in GIS and spatial data analysis and has a background in environmental science and social science. She has worked in a wide range of fields including land use planning, environment, natural resource and water management, agriculture and regional development.

Kelly has worked on projects ranging from analysing workforce gaps of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in agriculture to conducting a risk assessment to analyse the potential impacts of wastewater spills to the environment. She has strong research and analysis skills and is experienced in map preparation and visualising data in an appealing way that is clear and easy to understand.

Donna Lucas

Donna Lucas

Principal

B.App.Sci. (Hons)

Donna is an agricultural consultant with experience in business management, research and extension. She is adaptable with an ability to contribute to projects at a strategic level.
Donna has specialist knowledge in workforce development and planning, resource recovery, carbon farming, greenhouse gas/carbon accounting and project evaluation. Her strengths include driving execution, building connections and problem solving.