Dynamic sociocultural, economic, environmental and physical processes give rise to complex systems that are composed of many parts that interact and adapt to one another (OECD, 2009). Traditional modes of land use planning have adapted to this complex system by recognising inter-linkages with a range of policy domains including transport, infrastructure, agriculture, protected area management, mining and increasingly tourism. Where tourism development applications implicate other policy sectors, planning agencies often act as the coordinating agency in a whole-of-government approach.