Wednesday 4th October 2018

According to Infrastructure Tasmania, approximately 220,000 people currently live in greater Hobart with an expected increase of 20,000 people over the next 10 years. Hobart is already experiencing problems of traffic congestion. LHG’s plan is to work with State and Federal governments and councils and other stakeholders in the greater Hobart area to upgrade existing services, introduce new services and fully integrate these services.

FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

LHG will prioritise alleviating traffic congestion by actively lobbying the State to follow the example of other Australian capital cities and introduce free peak hour public transport. As an important first step, LHG will support a partnership between Council, the State Government and Metro Tasmania to respond to the findings of the Menzies Research Institute in relation to
changing commuter travel habits by providing free peak hour bus services in Greater Hobart.

UPGRADING WALKING AND CYCLING FACILITIES

LHG is committed to ensuring more walking and cycling facilities are provided and supports the extension of the current Intercity cycle way from Claremont to Bridgewater, to include an extension via Macquarie Point and for cycle ways to be developed across our City’s suburbs. LHG also supports Bicycle Network Tasmania’s plans for a network of safe cycle paths in the City so that people of all ages and abilities can cycle safely.

FERRY SERVICES & LIGHT RAIL

LHG supports the development of a fully integrated ferry service on the Derwent River with ferries linked into bus and perhaps ultimately, light rail services.

LHG will support the prioritisation of a comprehensive investigation of a light rail service business case.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

LHG will work closely with the Council to forge public-private-civic partnerships to ensure our Transport Strategy delivers a city that is safer and more connected, and that our residents and visitors can move around the City more easily.

Monday 1st October 2018

We acknowledge and respect the dignity that comes from permanent and affordable long term housing and we believe that solving the current housing crisis requires an holistic response from government, business and the community.

It’s not about swags and shelters, it’s about making a real effort to produce long term housing policies that plan for future demand, rather than react to a crisis in supply. We believe that Council is a key body of influence in finding solutions and we have developed a range of initiatives that can be implemented at the local government level, in consultation with key stakeholders.

• We will work directly with people who are currently marginalised from the mainstream debate and establish an advisory committee of service users with lived experiences of homelessness and rental stress. The committee will work with Council to find viable ways to increase affordable housing supply, close to essential services.
• At present many pensioners are paying Council rates in excess of $2000 per annum and that amount is set to increase as Hobart property prices continue to rise. LHG supports the benefit of our community elders ageing in place, in their own homes, for as long as possible and we are committed to easing their financial burden.
• We will substantially improve rate affordability for the city’s 3000 pensioner ratepayers who receive a full Government rates rebate by significantly increasing the current $10 a year rates remission.
• We will work with the Property Council to promote a social housing model of private sector investment and development matched with Tasmanian Government subsidies and community sector management.
• We support the Property Council’s assertion that this approach will produce better outcomes for low income Tasmanians and dependable return for investors and reduce pressure on the public housing system.
• We will closely examine Hobart’s commercial district and move to introduce a rates remission for owners prepared to adapt their property for affordable housing.
• We will work with the community and representative groups to provide a strong local government platform to promote a broad range of housing opportunities, including rent to buy and cooperative housing models.
• We will actively lobby for the retention of the successful Common Ground supportive housing models that have housed so many people who had been chronically homeless.
• We will work with stakeholders, including Airbnb operators and those with lived experience of homelessness and rental stress, to ensure that accommodation options to meet tourist and visitor demands do not exclude vulnerable people in our community from the private rental market.
• LHG celebrates the rich contribution UTAS makes to our local community and economy. We also fully support and acknowledge the importance of a tertiary education and recognise the particular challenge of finding appropriate accommodation for students who come from regional Tasmania, interstate and overseas.
• We will enter into a working agreement with the University to develop specific strategies to manage the housing needs of University students as a key group in need of affordable housing in Hobart.
• We will work collaboratively with UTAS to consider the city’s overall liveability needs and the aspiring student demand from Tasmania, interstate and overseas.
• We will collaborate with the State Government to lobby the Commonwealth for the renegotiation of Tasmania’s public housing debt. The South Australian debt was scrapped and given our current housing crisis, Tasmania should be offered a similar deal. We need to do whatever it takes to access the $15m per annum currently being used to repay the debt to provide housing for vulnerable Tasmanians.

Sunday 20th September 2018

The Liveable Hobart Group supports the concept of a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. We will give people with the courage and conviction to create possibility the opportunity to lay their ideas on the table.

Furthermore, any cable car proponent who needs to include Council owned or controlled land in a development application should be given Council’s land owner consent to lodge their application.

LHG will also support any cable car proponent making an application to enter Council land for the purpose of conducting fauna and flora studies of the potential impact of a future cable car project.

LHG calls for respectful and robust consultation with all stakeholders with an interest in the cable car development, including those opposed to the project. Elected LHG candidates will consult widely with the community, through a proper and transparent process.

Each LHG candidate acknowledges that all elected aldermen have responsibilities at law to approach all decision making in relation to an application for a cable car development with an open mind. In any consideration of a cable car project, all elected LHG candidates will respect and reflect their legal responsibilities as aldermen and will ensure the best interests of the City are served in any decisions they are called upon to make.

The Liveable Hobart Group (LHG) has followed the controversy and community concern surrounding tourism and its impact on Greater Hobart with a keen interest.  After extensive industry consultation and community research, including consideration of the Hobart Community Vision which encapsulates well over 1000 contributions from community members and stakeholders across Greater Hobart, today we announce a tourism vision for the future that is practical, inclusive and above all achievable.

“It is time for the hysterical rhetoric to stop.  Council must get on with the job and work with tourism operators, the community and the State government to build a city that retains a sense of place and balances local community needs with those of visitors and investors”, said Damon Thomas the LHG Lord Mayoral candidate.  “We do not need to build a wall or stop the boats to keep tourists out.  The future is about having the welcome mat out, not building a wall.  We must continue to invite visitors and tourists to enjoy our city and recognise their important contribution to city life.”

“Tourism is about more than the dollars and jobs.  Visitors and tourists make a vital contribution to the arts and our culture and to our community.  Let’s acknowledge and celebrate the cultural diversity and the new ideas and new attitudes that come from new people in our midst, however short their time with us.”

The LHG tourism platform endorses sensible, planned tourism where visitors and tourists are encouraged to respect our city, encouraged to take the time to visit our attractions and appreciate our unique landscape and lifestyle. “It goes without saying that increased tourism numbers must be matched with increased planning and collaboration.  That’s how we will ensure we do not have three super cruise liners in port on the same day.  It’s about common sense and balance, not building walls”.

• Visitor Economy Committee
• Support for the Mt Wellington / kunanyi Cable Car
• Cruise ship trade
• Visitor Accommodation
• Reimagining Castray Point
• New approach to the Taste of Tasmania
• Support for Dark Mofo
• Dunn Street Car Park
• Clear position on height limits
• New Hobart Visitor Information Centre
• Ongoing support for Destination Southern Tasmania
• A consultative approach is essential