News from the Council meeting - 27 November 2023

News from the Council meeting - 27 November 2023

Published on 27 November 2023

Gaza Ceasefire Notice of Motion – Cr Mike Dutta, Cr Bill Harvey and Cr Zelinda Sherlock

The Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds will write to the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling on the Australian Government to uphold international law by seeking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The council also condemns abhorrent acts committed by Hamas, and the indiscriminate and disproportionate response by Israel.

Hobart Phoenix Basketball Proposal – Rugby Park

The Hobart Phoenix Basketball Club will lease a section of land relinquished from the Tasmanian Rugby Union (TRU) for 10 years as part of the club’s proposal to build up to a four-court stadium on council land at Selfs Point Road, New Town. The Phoenix Club fields more than 125 teams across the year with up to 700 players each week, but currently does not have a home base and is reliant on schools and private operators outside the Hobart municipality. Should the proposal not proceed, the TRU will have the option of having the footprint included back in its leased area.

Local Area Mobility Plan for Battery Point and Northern Suburbs (New Town and Lenah Valley)

The final Local Area Mobility Plans (LAMPs) for Battery Point and in the Northern Suburbs were endorsed by the Hobart City Council.  Following community engagement on the draft documents in August, the LAMPs have identified key project proposals such as limited pedestrian space, street amenity and parking, lack of comfortable places to ride, and narrow and uncomfortable footpaths and crossing opportunities. The projects will be considered in future budgets.

Macquarie Point Draft Precinct Plan Submission

The Hobart City Council has endorsed the City’s submission on the Macquarie Point Draft Precinct Plan for the Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Project. The submission highlights key issues such as heritage, infrastructure investment, precinct zones, active & public transport, accessibility, Macquarie wharf, Antarctic facilities and Tasmanian Aboriginal culture. Council welcomes further opportunities to meet with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation to review our feedback and concerns. 

In addition, in response to the range of changes and growth influencing Macquarie Point and the Inner North East area of the City, the Council is developing a structure plan, namely the Inner North East Neighbourhood Plan.

Plastic in Hobart Rivulet Report

A report into the Rivulet’s contamination from the 21 October weather event found staff followed all the usual processes to minimise waste escaping from the waste management centre.

The Hobart City Council will consider additional resources as part of the 2024-25 budget process for proposals to reduce plastic waste escaping from the McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre and entering the Hobart Rivulet during extreme weather events.

Additionally, the City staff will also prepare a report looking at conducting a three-month trial in South Hobart on the use of bin clips, and for the City CEO to oversee an independent audit of compliance with Environmental Protection Authority mandated management practices for exposed waste at the site.

Rating and Valuation Strategy Review – Rating System Options for Community Consultation

The City of Hobart has endorsed a Rating Systems Options Paper and the commencement of community consultation. The City requires a sustainable Rating and Valuation Strategy (Strategy) to ensure that programs, services and infrastructure needs of the community are met now but also into the future to avoid burdening future generations of ratepayers with large rate increases.