News from tonight's council meeting - 20 February 2023

News from the Council meeting - 20 February 2023

Published on 20 February 2023

Draft Central Hobart Precincts Structure Plan

The City of Hobart and Tasmanian Government are working in partnership with the Tasmanian community to develop a comprehensive plan to guide future development of Central Hobart.

The city is on the brink of a period of transformation, one that will be defined by embracing opportunities for growth aligned with our community vision.

The purpose of the Central Hobart Precincts Plan is to guide future growth in a way that will strengthen what's great about Hobart and build on its position as a vibrant, flourishing, sustainable and globally appealing capital city, without compromising those qualities which already make the city unique. The council approved unanimously for the draft plan to be released for public consultation in April. A copy of the draft report will be available on Council’s website tomorrow.

Response to petition: Name Change Macquarie Street

A petition received by Council in September 2022 requesting that Macquarie Street be renamed to either kunanyi Street or something else more appropriate was not supported by Council. The name change could not be pursued any further as it does not comply with the principles detailed in the State Government’s Tasmanian Place Naming Guidelines. An amendment for the students who prepared the petition encouraging them to continue investigation on the topic and to potentially apply for a Creative Hobart grant was approved.

Response to petition: Keep Council Local

At the council’s meeting of September 26, 2022, a “Keep Council Local” petition was received, requesting representative not-for-profit voluntary groups be contacted annually and asked to submit a list of what the City can do for them, with items assessed as feasible being recommended to Council for inclusion in the budget process. A recommendation that council is exploring models of contemporary engagement, including participatory budgeting which will be presented to Council for endorsement in the first half of 2023; and that the petitioner be advised of the council’s decision was approved unanimously by council.

Change Rooms, Toilets and Showers Motion

Cr Louise Elliot tabled a motion calling for council to provide segregated communal shared spaces – female/women, males/men and a space for all sexes and genders was refused by council.

Inclusive and Welcoming City Motion

Cr Zelinda Sherlock and Cr Ryan Posselt tabled a motion calling for council to reaffirm the City of Hobart’s commitment to inclusion and equal access through the Community Inclusion and Equity Framework, the LGBTIQ+ Commitment to be reviewed and refreshed this year and a LGBTIQ+ reference group established. It also called for the City to provide all elected members equality, inclusion and gender diversity training and for council to recognise gender identity enshrined in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998. The motion was accepted by council.

Relocation of Vehicles from Bidencopes Lane to Centrepoint Carpark

A recommendation to consult with businesses and stakeholders to potentially relocate eight car spaces from Bidencopes Lane to Centrepoint Carpark was approved by council. The Lane is currently Tasmania’s largest outdoor gallery and it proposed that the Lane be turned into public open space in the city which could be used for seating, events or planting as part of the outdoor gallery.

City of Hobart Submission to Wellington Park Visitor Recreation Draft Strategy

As a significant landowner within Wellington Park and as a member of the Trust, the City of Hobart has made a submission to the Wellington Park Management Trust draft visitor recreation strategy. The City’s submission calls for a collaborative strategy and strengthening of data collection and analysis, a spatial masterplan encompassing key visitor areas across the park to be developed and a community engagement strategy be given a higher priority. A recommendation that council note the submission to the Trust was carried unanimously by council.

Request to Install Memorial Plaque

A recommendation for the installation of a plaque and the planting of a tree (Cypress tree: Pencil Pine) at an approved location by the City of Hobart in consultation with the Iranian Community Tasmania in support of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2023, was carried unanimously by council.

“Whole of House” Short Stay Accommodation Permits Motion

Ald Marti Zucco tabled a motion calling for a report to consider a range of options to ensure whole of house/apartment residential properties advertised as full-time short stay accommodation have the required permits in place was refused by council. However, a motion from Cr Ryan Posselt that the Council write to the State Government expressing concerns about the legislative framework on regulation of Short Stay Accommodation and the ability for councils to ensure compliance with the relevant regulation was accepted.