News from the Hobart City Council meeting 14 October 2024

Published on 15 October 2024

Collins Street Tactical Bicycle Infrastructure Trial – Contingency Funding

The Hobart City Council has approved the re-allocation of $170,000 from the 2024-25 Capital Works Contingency Fund to fully fund the Collins Street Tactical Bicycle Infrastructure 2-year trial. This follows the State Government's decision not to honour a previously awarded $170,000 grant. The reallocation allows the continuation of design and planning works which would have otherwise been delayed if the matter was considered at the next available Council meeting on 11 November 2024.

City of Hobart Advocacy Priorities 2024-25

The City of Hobart's Advocacy Priorities 2024-2025 will focus on key areas including kunanyi/Mount Wellington, transport choices for Hobart, housing and urban development, the New Town Sports Precinct, and a dedicated basketball facility at Rugby Park. These priorities aim to secure investment and support from other levels of government to better meet community needs.  Council also agreed to advocate for state and federal funding for a new world class STEM hub at the University of Tasmania Sandy Bay campus. This amendment was a result of a motion by Cr Coates and Cr Lohberger to include UTAS funding in our advocacy priorities.

Grants and Sponsorship Review and announcement

The Hobart City Council has endorsed the recommendations from the grants, sponsorships, and partnerships review and approved the development of a new funding policy. The review, conducted in conjunction with KPMG, highlighted the community's appreciation for these programs and their strategic benefits to the City. As a result, the Council will establish a centralised grants coordination team, update relevant policies, and an evaluation framework. The City Partnership grant agreements, totalling $140,634, will be extended for one year to ensure continued support for events in 2025 while the new recommendations are implemented.

2024-25 Sponsorship Program

The Council has approved $165,000 in event sponsorship grants. This includes $125,000 for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and $40,000 for the 2025 Hobart International Tennis tournament. The sponsorships align with the City’s policy to deliver economic, promotional, community, and visitation benefits to Hobart.

Community Vibrancy - City of Hobart Grants Program: Event Partnership and Major Cultural Organisation Grants

The Hobart City Council also approved funding of $424,250 under the 2024-25 Community Grants Program. This includes $100,000 for Major Cultural  Organisations, with funding going to Theatre Royal, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, $324,250 will be distributed among seven Event Partnership recipients, including Beaker Street Ltd, Festival of Voices, and Trail Ventures. The funding for these grants will be allocated from the Community Grants Budget in the City of Hobart’s 2024-25 Annual Plan, and the total provision will be recorded in the Annual Report.

City of Hobart continues its support for Community Homelessness Groups

The City of Hobart will waive venue hire fees for 6 community-led social support groups that operate at Mathers and Criterion House. These groups provide crucial support to individuals experiencing homelessness, housing stress, or cost-of-living pressures. The fee waivers for the 2024-2025 financial year is $24,651.20.

Creation of ‘The Hobart Workshop’ to increase transparency

The Council has approved the establishment of a new committee, "The Hobart Workshop," to enhance its governance arrangements. This committee will replace the current Elected Members workshops and will meet twice monthly on Mondays. The Hobart Workshop will be delegated with most of the Council's powers, except for certain financial, planning, and strategic decisions. Seven elected members have been appointed to the committee, with a rotating chairperson each month. It is also proposed that Committee meetings would be periodically held in different meeting rooms across the City, to enable more localised participation opportunities.

Red Light Enforcement Notice of Motion – Councillor Ben Lohberger and Councillor Ryan Posselt

Combined speed and red-light cameras have been highly successful in other Australian states and as such, the City of Hobart will write to the Transport Minister, Department of State Growth, and Tasmania Police, requesting regular enforcement of red-light compliance at key intersections, including Macquarie/Elizabeth, Macquarie/Murray, Davey/Campbell, Davey/Elizabeth, Davey/Murray, and Risdon/New Town.