News from Council Meeting - 23 September 2019

Published on 23 September 2019

Public art funding boost 

A funding increase for public art is expected to improve public amenity and provide new opportunities for local artists to showcase their work. 

The City of Hobart’s Public Art Framework was tonight adopted and the Council resolved to consider increasing public art funding by $100,000 as part of next year’s budget deliberations. 

In addition, the Council resolved to consider a future budget allocation of 1 per cent of the City’s capital works budget and potential future implementation of a developer contribution to the value of 1 per cent of development value for projects worth $3 million or more. 

Grants support events, culture 

Six local events will share in $300 000 in grant funding through the Event Partnerships Grants program. 

The grant is supporting a combination of established, developing and new events, each of which contributes significantly to Hobart’s vibrant and diverse events calendar. 

First-time Event Partnerships grant recipients Vibrance Festival, Beaker Street, Open House Hobart and the TMAG Childrens Festival were acknowledged offering significant creative, economic and activation outcomes for the city and the Greater Hobart community. 

Also successful in the grants round was Festival of Voices and the Australian Antarctic Festival 2020, both of which are expected attract large numbers of visitors to the city. 

A further $40 000 has been allocated through the Creative Hobart Major Cultural Organisations Grants program, shared between Salamanca Arts Centre and the Theatre Royal. 

Both applicants were noted for the important contributions they make to the delivery and presence of cultural and community activity in Hobart.   

New location for visitor centre 

Halls Saddle will be investigated as the preferred site for a visitor centre servicing kunanyi/Mt Wellington. 

A previous proposal to build a visitor centre at The Springs will not be progressed, due to parking and transport constraints. Instead, further feasibility assessment will be undertaken for Halls Saddle as the proposed location for a gateway entrance facility for visitors to the mountain. 

kunanyi/Mt Wellington is Tasmania’s most-visited natural attraction, with about 500 000 visitors a year. This is expected to grow to 700 000 people a year within a decade. 

Report on car park options 

A report will be prepared to address issues that may impact on a possible Expressions of Interest process for future redevelopment of the Condell Place car park at North Hobart.

The Council resolved to have a report prepared as a matter of urgency to consider issues around potential future development of the site.

A separate report will consider the broader parking, mobility and smart cities issues and solutions for North Hobart and will take into account existing reports that are relevant to parking in the precinct.

Approval for dig site  

The City of Hobart has approved an application for archaeological works on the site of a previously proposed apartment development. 

The locations at 234 and 236-240 Elizabeth Street are within a Place of Archaeological Potential, as recognised in the Historic heritage Code of the City of Hobart Interim Planning Scheme. 

The applicant is required to consult with Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and the Aboriginal Community with regards to any relevant findings. 

Support for Newstart increase 

The City of Hobart will lobby for the Newstart allowance to be increased as a measure to combat poverty in Hobart. 

A submission in favour of an increase to Newstart will be provided to a Senate inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart and related payments.

The Council noted that that increasing Newstart would help recipients to gain control over their lives, help them out of poverty and enable them to participate in meaningful community life. 

Strategic Plan adopted 

The City of Hobart Capital City Strategic Plan 2019-29 will guide all aspects of the City’s operations for the next decade. 

With a focus on connectivity, inclusion, environmental leadership, culture and creating a sense of place, the plan was endorsed by Council at tonight’s meeting. 

The Strategic Plan outlines the City’s objectives for the next 10 years and draws from the content of the Community Vision, which was created last year with significant public input. 

Comprising eight distinct ‘pillars’ or themes, the Strategic Plan identifies key values of the City and the community and provides a series of strategic actions to be undertaken during the next decade. 

It will be reviewed every four years to ensure it remains relevant and progress will be reported yearly in the annual report. 

Plan to improve athletic centre 

A draft master plan for the Domain Athletic Centre will be released for public comment. 

The draft plan, developed by Athletics Tasmania, proposes a suite of improvements implemented in three stages and includes a warm-up track, indoor running and throwing areas, new changerooms, a new function room and improved gym area. 

The Centre was built in 1977, with the main building updated in 2001 and the public toilets updated in 2018. The track surface was replaced to international standard in 2016.