News from Council meeting - 2 December 2019

Published on 02 December 2019

AGM recaps financial year

The City of Hobart held its Annual General Meeting this evening, recapping a successful 2018-19 financial year.

In presenting the Annual Report, Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said investing in local neighbourhoods and communities through improved infrastructure featured heavily.

“In the year of review, we rolled out year-three of our 10-year capital works program, Transforming Hobart designed to build and improve the city’s road, parks and playgrounds, suburban shopping precincts, leisure facilities, community buildings and other public infrastructure,” Cr Reynolds said.

Other highlights included the continuation of the city’s war on waste, completion of major infrastructure projects such as the Bridge of Remembrance and the Great Short Walk refurbishment, and the establishment of the Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance.

The Annual Report can be viewed on the City of Hobart’s website.

Next step for planning amendment

A proposed planning scheme amendment protecting residential amenity will be submitted to the Tasmanian Planning Commission for approval.

Through the proposed amendment to the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015, the City of Hobart intends to introduce minimum requirements for sunlight, natural ventilation and noise protection for residential buildings in commercial and central business zones.

These provisions would ensure residential buildings are designed in a manner that ensures access to natural light can’t be obscured by future development, and that adequate separation between buildings to allow for natural ventilation, open space provision and other elements are properly addressed.

One representation was received during a public submission period and raised a number of issues, which have been addressed by planning officers.

Development refused

The City of Hobart has refused a development application (DA) for a private medical facility at New Town, based on a number of criteria.

The proposal was found to be non-compliant with the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015 relating to impact on residential amenity through commercial vehicle movement, noise or other emissions, overshadowing and visual impact, as well as lack of consistency of built form relative to existing streetscape and other issues of compatibility.

Safety for shared path

Safety improvements will be implemented on a shared pedestrian and cycle path near Hobart’s waterfront.

The path along Davey Street near Macquarie Point is popular with both cyclists and pedestrians and has been the scene of numerous collisions and incidents.

The City of Hobart will undertake safety treatments to increase awareness of other path users and to slow cyclists as they approach the intersection at Zero Davey Street.

Improvements will include installation of coloured pavement markets at high-risk areas, the removal of the existing centreline, tactile ground surface indicators and low-profile rumble strips, and signage advising cyclists to slow down as they approach high-risk areas.

If required, further safety measures may be considered in consultation with the Hobart Active Travel Committee and the Hobart Access Advisory Committee

City to find a new sister

The City of Hobart will investigate the addition of another Sister City relationship to its international family.

A report will be prepared into the benefits of an international city relationship with three shortlisted cities: Incheon (South Korea), Kochi (India) and Jiri (Nepal).