City News - June 2018

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

AQUATIC CENTRE UPGRADE

MISSING LINK

BOOSTING CLIMATE CONVERSATION

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J U N E 2 0 1 8 | H O B A RT C I T Y. C O M . A U

New pedestrian crossings and bike lanes for West Hobart The City of Hobart has started a series of improvement works including the installation of onroad bicycle lanes on Hill Street to make the busy West Hobart area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Once the project is complete in spring 2018, the West Hobart community will benefit from five new pedestrian crossings along Hill Street, including a ‘wombat’ crossing, a marked pedestrian ‘zebra’ crossing on a raised hump across the road, which will be trialled for six months. If deemed a success, the crossing will remain with the possibility of additional crossings installed in other locations on Hill Street.

The outbound Bus Stop 18 on Hill Street opposite AA Lord retirement village will have improved arrangements, including seating and a new bus ‘platform’, creating easier access for passengers entering or exiting a bus. Metro buses stopping at Bus Stop 18 will stop within the traffic lane to let passengers on and off. During construction a temporary stop will be installed as close as possible to the current site.

Two-way traffic will be maintained as much as possible during construction, with occasional lane closures required for safety reasons, and Hill Street being closed for one weekend in July to install the ‘wombat’ crossing. Once complete, the project will provide calmer traffic conditions to help increase pedestrian safety in the busy West Hobart area.

Although the function of the road will remain the same, narrower travel lanes for vehicles will provide for a safer environment for all road users.

Find out more on hobartcity.com.au/hillstreet n

VISION PROJECT: Enquiring into Hobart identity Photo: Alastair Bett

LAST CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF HOBART The City of Hobart is developing a Vision to guide our activities for years to come, and we want the community to have their say. The final round of community engagement for the Draft Vision is currently open, and will close on 19 June 2018.

The City Vision helps set the City’s ten-year Strategic Plan, which is used as the basis for all City of Hobart activities and decisions.

A lot has changed in Hobart since the last Vision was created, enough that we wanted to have a new conversation with the community about the future of the City.

Over 1000 contributions have gone into the project so far, through one-on-one interviews, a City Forum, an online survey, and workshops with key stakeholders and Hobart students.

The engagement process culminated with a Community Panel, a group of 46 community

Lord Mayor Alderman Ron Christie C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 P: 6238 2702 E: lord.mayor@ hobartcity.com.au

Deputy Lord Mayor Alderman Dr Peter Sexton 3 Hampden Road Battery Point 7004 M: 0407 099 294 P: 6223 3996 (A/H) E: ald.sexton@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Marti Zucco 364A Elizabeth St. North Hobart 7000 M: 0418 120 060 E: ald_zucco@ netspace.net.au

members and business people from across the city.

The panel used the feedback collected throughout the process, as well as information from over 60 subject matter experts, to draft a vision statement and outcomes across eight pillars, or areas of focus for city life.

The City of Hobart worked with panellists to draft the complete vision document, which includes the eight pillars and other features of Hobart’s identity that we want to support and enhance.

The Draft Vision is available for a final round of community feedback, which will be used to finalise the Vision.

The Draft Vision will be sent to the Council for endorsement in July, and if endorsed, will be used to develop a new Strategic Plan.

Have your say at yoursay.hobartcity.com.au n

Alderman Jeff Briscoe C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0418 127 311 E: ald.briscoe@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Dr Eva Ruzicka C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0407 391 317 E: ald.ruzicka@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Helen Burnet C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0417 284 267 P: 6238 2936 E: ald.burnet@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Philip Cocker C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0419 554 066 P: 6238 2943 E: ald.cocker@ hobartcity.com.au

Dog Management Strategy is being reviewed To update the guidelines for dog owners, the City of Hobart has been reviewing its Dog Management Strategy.

Pet and non-pet owners were invited to submit their feedback on a variety of things, including a code relating to responsible dog ownership, the provision of declared areas such as off lead, training, prohibited and restricted areas, a fee structure, and any other relevant matters.

The first round of consultation was completed at the end of May with the second round expected to occur in August when the community will be informed about the outcomes of the initial review. n

Alderman Damon Thomas C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0429 064 805 E: ald.thomas@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Anna Reynolds C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0423 222 149 E: ald.reynolds@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Tanya Denison C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0458 005 454 E: ald.denison@ hobartcity.com.au

Alderman Bill Harvey C/- Town Hall Hobart 7000 M: 0428 243 964 E: ald.harvey@ hobartcity.com.au

Improving pedestrian safety in South Hobart The City of Hobart is improving pedestrian safety in the busy South Hobart shopping area, with the installation of new pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, and other pedestrian safety improvements.

The changes will include an improved median pedestrian crossing facility in Macquarie Street between BUPA Aged Care and Lady Gowrie Child Care.

In response to a petition from the community, new pedestrian traffic signals will be installed on Macquarie Street between the South Hobart Butchery and the South Hobart Chemist, with these works commencing towards the end of 2018.

A step-free footpath will also be created along the south side of Macquarie Street from the Southern Outlet to D’Arcy Street, by raising thresholds at five side streets. The step-free path will make it easier for pedestrians, particularly people who use mobility aids or prams, to move through the area and access the shops and services in South Hobart.

The project is jointly funded by the City of Hobart and the federal Black Spot Program. The Black Spot Program provides funding to projects aimed at improving pedestrian and driver safety at locations with high rates of crashes and near misses, but also

Alderman Ron Christie – Lord Mayor of Hobart The Deputy Lord Mayor, Alderman Ron Christie became Lord Mayor of Hobart after the resignation of Alderman Sue Hickey.

Alderman Ron Christie will serve as the Lord Mayor and Alderman Dr Peter Sexton as Deputy Lord Mayor until the Local Government elections are held in October 2018. Until that time the Council will operate with 11 elected members instead of the usual 12.

Lord Mayor Christie has served as an Alderman between 1999 and 2000, then from 2002 to current, serving as the Deputy Lord Mayor since 2011. Deputy Lord Mayor Sexton has served as an Alderman since 1999.

Former Lord Mayor Sue Hickey is now a member of State Parliament after more than six years with the Hobart City Council.

Sue Hickey’s stewardship played a highly significant part in furthering the development of the city and making the Hobart community more socially inclusive.

She was involved with and championed a number of major projects to improve Hobart’s public spaces. She was a strong advocate of the City’s ten year, $300 million Capital Works Program to build and improve roads, parks and playgrounds, suburban retail precincts, leisure facilities, public toilets, community buildings and other public infrastructure right throughout the municipal area.

Sue had a distinguished term as Lord Mayor and the City of Hobart wishes her every success in the State Parliament and her future endeavours. n

Stay in touch with the City of Hobart Call us on 6238 2711 Write to us at GPO Box 503, Hobart TAS 7001 Email us at coh@hobartcity.com.au CityofHobartOfficial Hobartcity.com.au City of Hobart

funds proactive safety works before crashes occur.

This project is just one of many Black Spot safety improvements recently completed by the City of Hobart, or planned for the coming financial year, including: • Recently installed traffic signals at the Argyle Street and Patrick Street intersection, funded through the 2016–17 Black Spot Program; • New right-turn lanes at Cross Street, New Town, funded through the 2016–17 Black Spot Program; • Kerb bulbings and pedestrian median islands in Rattle Street and Valentine Street near their intersections with Forster Street, close to New Town Primary School. This was jointly funded through the 2016–17 Black Spot Program and the City of Hobart; • A new pedestrian median island in Molle Street near the Bathurst Street intersection. This was jointly funded through the 2017–18 Black Spot Program and the City of Hobart; • Works are planned for 2018 on kerb bulbings and a new median island in Kirksway Place at the Montpelier Retreat intersection. This project is jointly funded through the 2017–18 Black Spot Program and the City of Hobart. n

DOONE KENNEDY HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE UPGRADE

BIG UPGRADE: The centre is being transformed to make visitors’ experience more enjoyable. Photo: Alastair Bett.

The Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre is set for a facelift. A multi-million dollar redevelopment is planned, which is subject to a development application currently being assessed by the City’s planners.

In the meantime a series of plant and equipment upgrades are underway with a new gas powered hot water system installed earlier this year to supplement the existing heating systems. The system will provide more consistent heating for the pools and showers, and maintain a comfortable temperature inside the centre. It will also potentially reduce the aquatic centre’s carbon footprint, making it more environmentally friendly. The old, inefficient thermal system has now been fully decommissioned.

CITYnews | JUNE 2018

The new hot water system is just one of many improvements included in the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre redevelopment project.

A new smoke and thermal detection system has been installed, subject to final testing and commissioning, and safety upgrades to platforms and ladders in the building services areas have also been completed.

The City will shortly be seeking tenders for a minor upgrade to the main car park to make parking spaces wider and easier for drivers to access.

The Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre Masterplan can be found on the City of Hobart website, along with a list of all proposed improvements: hobartcity.com.au/aquaticcentre n

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Bushcare program celebrates its 25th anniversary

Installing a fence or a wall?

You may need approval from the City of Hobart Did you know that you may need approval from the City of Hobart before constructing some types of fencing or walls?

If your property is heritage listed under the City of Hobart’s planning schemes, all front fences and walls need planning approval. On other properties, front fences or walls higher than 1.2 metres are likely to need planning approval. For most properties, front fences and walls are those within 4.5 metres of your front boundary.

The rules for fences and walls on side and rear boundaries depend on how close they are to your front boundary. If they are within 4.5 metres of your front boundary and higher than 1.2 metres, they may need planning approval. If they are further than 4.5 metres from your front boundary, they need planning approval if they are higher than 2.1 metres.

Any retaining wall located within 1.5 metres of any boundary that retains a difference in ground level of 1 metre or more may require planning approval.

CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Volunteers cleaning up the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Photo: Alastair Bett.

This year the City of Hobart Bushcare program celebrates its 25th anniversary. Founded in 1993, the program has expanded to 14 groups with more than 450 volunteers helping to protect and preserve Hobart’s unique bushland. The groups work across the city, from Cornelian Bay to Wellington Park, Sandy Bay and beyond.

Bushcare provides a range of opportunities for volunteers to learn about nature and gain new skills while making a real difference to the local environment. It also offers support to schools and other organisations undertaking communitybased care of the city’s bushland.

Bushcare volunteers contribute over 3000 hours each year to help the City make Hobart’s bushland a better place.

In March 2018, 155 outstanding volunteers participated in the Clean Up Australia event and helped collect, sort and remove over 200 kilograms of rubbish from the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

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Photo: pixabay

The Tasmanian Government announced the $387,500 funding win for the Wellington Park Foothills Project earlier this year and the City will match it dollar for dollar, making this a $775,000 project.

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Waste Reduction Grant program As the City of Hobart is moving towards its goal of Zero Waste to Landfill by 2030, a number of projects are underway to increase resource recovery and reduce the volume and type of waste.

One of the 2017 Waste Reduction Grant program’s recipients, Source Community Wholefoods Cooperative, has run four ‘Waste Free Weekends’ focusing on textile and food waste, reuse and healthy homes.

Participants have learned about darning and basic sewing repairs, practised making various things out of the main waste streams and found out how to be environmentally friendly and green at home.

The Weekends were well attended with each event including a waste-free meal, drinks and live music.

The funding will be used to improve track connections between the North-South Track, the Springs and Junction Cabin. The improved loop will take riders through fern glades, wet forest, open woodlands and rocky terrain, giving them a true taste of the mountain’s incredible natural beauty.

Stage 2: Junction Climber – investigation of a new section between Main Fire Trail and Junction Cabin for more accessible and enjoyable riding. n

For more information, visit hobartcity.com.au/fences n

If you would like to become a Bushcare volunteer and learn about bush regeneration, track development and maintenance, visit the City of Hobart website: hobartcity.com.au/Bushcare n

The City of Hobart will cement its position as one of southern Tasmania’s premier mountain bike destinations after winning funding for major track projects in the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Stage 1: The Missing Link – new track connections in the Strickland Falls and Bracken Lane area, including a small, 400-metre section on Cascade land owned by Carlton and United Breweries, with whom the City will work closely.

It is also recommended to contact your building surveyor, plumber or designer to check whether your fence or wall needs building and plumbing approval.

The Fern Tree Bushcare Group volunteers and contractors, with the help of NRM South’s Naturally Inspired Grant, have mapped and removed almost 100 per cent of the only known population of Daphne Laurel – highly invasive environmental weed in Australia.

‘MISSING LINK’ A GAMECHANGER FOR HOBART’S MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACKS

The project will be carried out in two stages:

To take the guesswork out of fence or wall installation and make sure you’re aware of the City of Hobart’s rules and requirements, contact the Development Appraisal Unit on 6238 2715. The Unit can provide advice on fence design, heritage values, passive surveillance, proximity to driveways, streetscape and other important factors.

The Waste Reduction Grant program offers annual grants of up to $5000 and has so far supported nine community projects that has resulted in over 300 tonnes of waste being directly diverted away from landfill, in addition to ongoing benefits from education and awareness programs.

NEW TRACKS: Hobart’s mountain bike network is growing.

Photo: Chris Hampton

Trackcare Join one of our regular Trackcare events and learn how to build and look after Hobart’s amazing mountain bike tracks. To find out more, visit hobartcity.com.au/trackcare n

CITYnews | JUNE 2018

The 2018 round of grants will open on 16 June 2018 and close on 16 July 2018. For anyone interested in applying for a Waste Reduction Grant, there will be two free information sessions at 1 pm and 5.30 pm on Tuesday 26 June 2018 at Elizabeth Street Conference Room, Hobart Town Hall, corner of Macquarie and Elizabeth streets.

To learn more about this grant program, visit the City of Hobart website: hobartcity.com.au/wastegrants n

HOBART A WELCOMING PLACE Harmony Week Tasmania, coordinated by the Multicultural Council of Tasmania in partnership with the Tasmanian Government, is a great opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity each year.

This year, the City of Hobart’s Networking for Harmony Multicultural Advisory Group ran a number of events throughout Harmony Week, all following the theme ‘Everyone Belongs’. Events included public dance and music performances across the City and a signature event for school students: Harmony by the Bay. At Harmony by the Bay, 500 school students with over 100 Cultural Leaders from the University of Tasmania, TasTAFE and multicultural community groups gathered to share and learn together.

The Cultural Leaders ran various interactive and creative activities which were followed by a series of cultural performances. The event finished with an address from two young people from a refugee background who spoke about the challenges of arriving in a new country and the impact of racism and social isolation.

They asked the students to stand up to racism when it is safe to do and to make an effort to welcome others. We all have a role to play in stopping racism; together we can ensure that Hobart is a welcoming place.

Harmony by the Bay was supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Study Tasmania. n

Safe disposal of needles and syringes The City of Hobart has re-installed a public sharps bin near the hospital to provide a free, safe disposal option for the community.

The bin is located on the Collins Street side of the hospital, and can be used by all community members for non-commercial disposal of needles and syringes.

After the previous bin was removed due to a lack of usage, we have heard from community members about the difficulty and cost of properly disposing of syringes. Re-installing the bin will reduce associated costs for people who suffer from diabetes and other conditions.

The bin will also limit the risk of sharps finding their way into normal household bins, and help the City of Hobart move towards our goal of Zero Waste to Landfill by 2030. n

Extended opening hours for Salamanca Square toilets Based on the results of a four-month trial and feedback from the community, the operating hours for the Salamanca Square public toilets have been extended until 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights and during major events.

The initiative will last until 30 March 2019 and will help enhance safety and public amenity in Salamanca Square and Sullivan’s Cove – Hobart’s primary weekend night-time activity and entertainment areas. n

WHAT’S ON EVERYONE BELONGS: Young people are standing up to racism and social isolation. Photo: Alastair Bett.

Boosting climate conversations

Bush Adventures Winter activities program various locations hobartcity.com.au/bushadventures

The City of Hobart has been reviewing its Climate Change Strategy to determine how the City should continue to respond to climate change.

During the review the City saw the opportunity for a community conversation based around art, and Climate Conversations hobArt was born.

Mathers House Winter activities program 108 Bathurst Street, Hobart hobartcity.com.au/mathershouse

Local Tasmanian artist Selena de Carvalho worked with students and participants in the City’s Climate Forums to curate climate art conversations. The conversations collected through the project reflect community emotions and sensations about climate.

Working with Selena, Lansdowne Crescent Primary School students drew two large shields, with their process captured in a short film.

To boost climate conversations, participants in the Climate Forums and students from Goulburn and Campbell Street Primary Schools have written letters to their grandchildren, their favourite seasons, and the environment.

The project is on display in public billboards in Mathers Place and Criterion Street until the end of July.

To learn more visit: climateconversationshobart. hotglue.me and hobartcity.com.au/climate n

CLIMATE ART: Artists and young people contributing to Hobart’s Climate Change Strategy through art conversations.

Photo: Selena de Carvalho.

Bushcare Winter working bees various locations hobartcity.com.au/bushcare

Youth Arts and Recreation Centre Tuesday-Friday, 3–6 pm Open Access for 12–25 year olds youthartsandrec.org SALAMANCA EXPERIENCE: Come and enjoy a wide selection of food, beverage and hand-made goods. Photo: Alastair Bett.

Winter at the market Winter is the perfect time to visit Salamanca Market. The days are cooler but that keeps the atmosphere fresh and invigorating. Hobart’s crisp winter days are ideal for hot coffee and a relaxed stroll through Tasmania’s largest range of local products, sampling and chatting to stallholders as you go. It’s an experience that’s hard to beat.

Tasmania’s exciting new producers are hot right now and the leisurely pace of this Saturday institution when it’s cold is a great way to reconnect with Tasmania’s vibrant food and beverage scene.

But it’s not just about the great food and artisan spirits. Salamanca Market offers a wide variety of handmade merino, felt, alpaca, possum, sheepskin and leather winter clothing, scarves, caps, gloves, jackets, socks and more.

There are also plenty of fresh winter veggies, handmade relishes, mustards, oils, pepper berry and truffle products to fill your winter pantry. So pick up a traditionally brewed chai tea and enjoy your visit. n

CITYnews | JUNE 2018

Healthy Hobart Winter activities program hobartcity.com.au/healthyhobart Dark Mofo 2018 Winter festival 15-24 June darkmofo.net.au/program/

COUNCIL MEETINGS OPEN TO ALL All Hobart City Council meetings are open to the public and start at 5 pm in the Town Hall Council Chamber, 50 Macquarie Street, Hobart.

If you can’t come in person you can listen live online or to a recording after the meeting by vising: hobartcity.com. au/listenlive To see what’s on the agenda, visit the City of Hobart website: hobartcity.com.au/minutesandagendas Meeting dates for June–September 2018 are Mondays: • 4 and 18 June • 9 and 23 July • 6 and 20 August • 3 and 17 September The 2018 meeting schedule is available on the website at hobartcity.com.au/councilmeeting

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