UTAS City Move

I am opposed to the UTAS city move.

My main reasons in short are

- the arts, medicine and journalism work well in the city. The whole campus move is another case of of taking a good thing too far (think dams, forestry, salmon)

- the lack of transparency particularly at Council’s end.

- I just cannot accept that the current campus is not suitable. If it’s ok to renovate in town why not at Sandy Bay?

- there is an arrogance also about the whole deal that doesn’t sit well with me.

- all the other reasons put forward against the move I pretty much agree with.

 

Yes, there will be some benefits but having to make a call on it one way or the other, I said NO.

 

That to one side it is interesting to see those in Council who supported the move who  are now doing a “UTAS U TURN”

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Cable Car

The cable car proposal looms large in the minds of voters this election. 

Many people ask me what my stand is on this issue and having closely followed the application I have based my opinion on the following.

 - An assessment by independent planning experts listed 21 key points for non-compliance. 

- There have been many proposals for a cable car to the pinnacle that have left the ratepayers picking up the tab to process. The latest proposal has cost over a million dollars and counting.

- An inordinate amount of time is taken to process the application by Council's officers and to be debated by the elected members, let alone the recent tribunal hearing (TASCAT). 

- Each proposal continues to divide the community and is highly contentious.

- My experience overseas is that these attractions come attached with the less desirable fixtures: take aways, function centres, fluffy toy shops etc.  The very essence of what makes these locations special is lost and a national park becomes a theme park.

- There is already a road to the top. I'm concerned that this would ultimately be closed once an alternative option becomes available. The number of days a year it is closed is negligible.

- I have no problems with businesses building quality structures that make money for the investors on privately owned land. When it is public land that is a nature reserve, I do. 

- The argument that ‘there are already man-made structures on the pinnacle,’ will be irrelevant once the existing structures are made redundant by advances in technology and subsequently removed. 

 

I had an open mind to the cable car proposal however it is my opinion (and I do respect other opinions) based on the above that I think enough is enough and time to move on.

I encourage voters to look closely at all the policies of candidates combined with the experience that they bring to the table.

 

Choose wisely and as Thomas Jefferson famously quoted:

"The government you elect is the government you deserve."

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Car Parking & Traffic Management

This is the number one issue raised by residents and businesses in Council’s most recent survey.

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Gridlock, lack of car spaces and outlying shopping centres that are offering free, plentiful parking are nibbling away at the CBD and the suburban trading strips.

Lack of investment in major roads traffic flow is now biting.

 

There have been no major road infrastructure projects in Hobart since the Brooker Highway in the late '50s, the Tasman Bridge 1964, and the Southern Outlet in 1970.  We are now paying the price and to drop in any new major entertainment and sporting venues as well as additional housing/accommodation will exacerbate the existing major traffic problems.

 

North Hobart, which is only one part of the municipality, highlights the bungling and lack of action throughout the rest. Parking meters were installed against the strong advice of the North Hobart traders and quickly hooded after decimating business.

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Signage is confusing and totally lacks logic as to the hours and zoning.

The operation of the actual meters continues to be a major aggravation with users.

Council has become addicted to parking revenue and any change to the current model, is seen as too hard and too risky, so the status quo remains.

 

Airbnb

The  Airbnb phenomenon has received no intelligent management. 

For years Council has sat and watched this booming disrupter. To singularly blame house owners for this problem is naive and to legislate against them is a political  “get off the hook” quick fix . One in ten of Hobart’s houses are now empty - not to mention the vacant commercial buildings. Why is this not considered in solving the problem holistically? 

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I lived my early years in a rented Hobart City Council house. These were the days Council actually invested in the big community issues.

 

A Dysfunctional Council

The current Council chamber lacks leadership, is dysfunctional and lacks the business acumen and experience to manage one of Tasmania’s largest employers and businesses. 

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Members of Council constantly refer to their staff for reports instead of actually making decisions, which demonstrates a waste of time and money and an unwillingness to tackle the issues head-on.

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Debating issues that are beyond the jurisdiction and control of Council continues to waste valuable time, robust debate is appropriate - disrespect between councillors is unprofessional and is not appropriate.

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Greater delegation and assigning portfolios to councillors should be considered.

Hobart is in the greatest economic boom this city has ever experienced and yet a dark cloud of some of the nation’s worst socioeconomic indicators hang over us. The HCC debt is now a record $66M and the next generation of ratepayers will be continuing to service debt until 2037.

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Hard decisions need to made and the easy practice of deferring to costly reports from Council officers and outside consultants is a waste of resources and is paralysing the city's progress whilst eroding business confidence.

 

Planning & Building Permit Processes

A lack of Council staff to process a record number of applications results in major delays in providing much needed housing and business infrastructure. If Council cannot address staffing issues, then it should consider engaging suitably qualified contractors.

Delaying decisions means halting progress and losing confidence from investors.

 

Building Heights

It is unacceptable to have uneducated, politically motivated individuals attempt to derail an open, transparent and professional report, resulting in years wasted as we defer to yet another study.

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Macquarie Point

The future of this large chunk of real estate will have a profound effect on the City of Hobart. As a major stakeholder Council should insist on representation on the MPDC Board and have a more proactive approach. Hobart ratepayers will be the ones that inherit all the problems emanating from any short sighted and bad decision making.

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Scooters

Scooters in theory should be a good idea and assist with easing traffic problems and creating a more livable city.

Reckless riding and dumping scooters without consideration for others are problems stemming from the actual users. Nevertheless if the problems persist appropriate action should be taken.

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