Burnie City Centre Urban Plan

Announcement

Burnie Council received funding of $17.3 million from the Tasmanian Government to commence implementing the Plan once developed.

Project typeTransformational plan for Burnie's City Centre
Project value$550,000
Project commencementFrom March 2023
Contractor nameGHD

March 2026

The Urban Plan Working group have informed a CBD Public Realm and Streetscape Style Guide.

This document will set out design principles and themes to identify the style and palette of materials, colours, finishes, and treatment in respect of street furniture, pavements, planting, decorative elements, and signage.

Something exciting is coming to Cattley Street!

On Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 March, Council will be installing a brand-new outdoor dining space at the front of The Chapel - bringing more life, energy, and alfresco vibes to Burnie.

Funded by the State Government, it’s a big step toward new dining experiences across the city - and we can’t wait to see it come to life!

About the Consultation Process

The journey to develop Burnie’s Urban Plan began with community consultation in 2023, when residents, business owners, and interest groups were invited to share what they loved about the city, what they wanted improved, and their aspirations for Burnie’s future.

Drawing on this feedback, Council developed an initial draft Urban Plan, outlining a long-term vision, strategic directions, and a list of proposed projects to support the renewal and appeal of Burnie’s CBD. Importantly, this draft was shared as a starting point for deeper engagement.

Council allowed time for the community to reflect on the initial concepts before moving into a co-design phase—inviting feedback on what worked, what didn’t, and what may have been missed. During this co-design phase, Council’s Executive Management Team engaged directly with a broad range of stakeholders to refine the Plan’s content. Once this feedback was incorporated, an amended draft was presented to Council.

After councillors reviewed and endorsed the revised draft, a formal round of consultation followed to ensure the Plan remained aligned with community expectations. This engagement approach was shaped by the Community Engagement Framework, which highlighted concerns that previous consultations had felt predetermined. In response, the Urban Plan process was designed to enable meaningful input before any final decisions were made.

Thanks to this foundational work, Council successfully secured $17.3 million in State Government funding during the recent election—an important step toward turning the Urban Plan into reality. Our community can now look forward to not only co-designing a shared vision for Burnie’s CBD but also seeing that vision come to life through real, on-the-ground improvements.

2025

September 2025

Council created a new position, Project Manager Urban Plan - to oversee the delivery of the Urban Plan. The role was extensively advertised and received fantastic submissions. The role was filled in early October.

May 2025
The Urban plan working group have conducted two meetings discussing key projects to begin the implementation of the Urban plan.

Members are Stuart Paine, Des Hodgetts, Ian Jones, Dianne Clayton, Miles Knapman, Wayne Bramich, Alison Horch, Georgina (Georgia) Palmer, Astri Kirkland, David McLean, and Mikkayla Leckie. Jess Eastley has resigned from the working group.

February 2025

Council has officially adopted the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan at its February 2025 meeting, concluding a significant phase of planning and engagement to shape a vibrant and liveable city centre.

Burnie City Centre Urban Plan(PDF, 77MB)

With $17.3 million State Government funding secured, Council is also in a strong position to advocate for up to an additional $50 million under the Commonwealth’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. That level of investment would be a game-changer for Burnie’s future.

The Urban Plan Working Group will work closely with Council to guide implementation and ensure the plan continues to reflect community values and priorities. We extend sincere thanks to all community members who contributed feedback throughout this process.

January 2025

Thank you to our community for all of your responses. They have been incorporated into our Final Urban Plan presented to Council in late February.

Following Council’s co-design workshops with community members in August 2024, the invaluable feedback received was incorporated into the final draft of the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, which was then released for final public consultation.

We have produced this useful video describing the changes to the draft Urban Plan.

2024

December 2024

Urban Plan Working Group members announced

At Council’s December meeting, 12 community members were appointed to the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan Working Group.

They are: Stuart Paine, Des Hodgetts, Ian Jones, Dianne Clayton, Miles Knapman, Wayne Bramich, Alison Horch, Georgina (Georgia) Palmer, Astri Kirkland, David McLean, Mikkayla Leckie and Jess Eastley.

October 2024

Nominations were called for a Burnie City Centre Urban Plan Working Group

Terms-of-Reference-City-Centre-Urban-Plan-Working-Group.pdf(PDF, 102KB)

June 2024

Initial Draft Plan released to the public with full and summary documents and an introductory video.
The 152-page document offers comprehensive ideas and concepts to transform our City Centre into a vibrant hub for working, living, shopping, and socialising.
For those preferring a concise overview, the Council has also prepared a 30-page summary version.

Please also take the time to watch the informative video on the initial draft Burnie City Centre plan below.

If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call Burnie City Council on 03 6430 5700. Our business hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday-Friday.