News from Council Meeting - 6 September 2021

Published on 06 September 2021

The Hobart Current biennial art program is set to continue in partnership with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG).

The inaugural program culminated with a two-month exhibition opening in March 2021 reflecting the theme Liberty. It comprised artworks by 10 artists across a range of media under the guidance of a professional curator.

The exhibition was supported by a range of community activities, including an education program in five Tasmanian schools, a Liberty postcard exhibition in the Waterside Pavilion, a Liberty program on The Loop featuring the work of local film makers, artwork by young people in the Art on Artery frames and Second Echo Ensemble's Can you See Me project on the Soapbox billboards.

The next Hobart Current exhibition is scheduled for March 2023.

Three new tracks and formalisation of an existing track will be constructed on the lower slopes of kunanyi / Mt Wellington.

The tracks will provide connections between existing trails within the mountain bike trail network in the mountain’s foothills.

The tracks were identified as high priority in the Riding the Mountain long-term strategy developed in response to Tasmania’s growing mountain bike tourism sector and which aligns with state government priorities, the City of Hobart Community Vision and relevant Wellington Park strategies.

Two of the new tracks will be shared use – dual direction for walkers and runners but uphill only for mountain bikers.

Construction of the tracks will not require removal of significant trees or vegetation. The tracks will use the natural surface and features wherever possible.

The new tracks will be funded by a partnership between all three levels of government, including a $238,000 Australian Government’s Regional Recovery Tourism grant program.

Community Commitments that outline the City of Hobart’s role and identifies actions and outcomes that support inclusion and equity have been endorsed by the Council.

The community commitments focus on six key areas:

Five of these commitments are revisions of previous commitments or strategies.

A seventh commitment addressing Affordable Housing and Homelessness was recently released for community consultation and will be put to Council for endorsement separately.

The City of Hobart will continue to support Business Events Tasmania (BET) in its efforts to grow the state’s business events sector.

The City has provided financial support to the organisation since 2009, though funding was reduced last year due to COVID-19.

It is expected that BET will play a key role in the ongoing economic recovery of the state and is well positioned to attract interstate business events to Tasmania as border closures continue to limit international travel.

A financial contribution of $109,355 has been included in the Economic Development budget for 2021-22.