I’m Edwin Johnstone, Chair of Business Greater Hobart and a strong advocate for our city.
I work to ensure local businesses have a clear voice in shaping a vibrant, accessible, and prosperous Hobart.
By working with business, community, and government, I aim to support a city where commerce, culture, and community thrive.
My vision is for a Hobart that is welcoming, dynamic, and full of opportunity for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
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Hanging Garden Precinct $300M Boost for Hobart
27th February 2026 - A $300 million private investment in the heart of the city sends a strong signal that business has real confidence in Tasmania’s capital and its future. This is exactly the kind of investment Hobart needs.
The Hanging Garden redevelopment shows investors are prepared to back Hobart for the long term and help drive the next phase of growth. Projects like this do more than transform buildings — they create jobs, attract visitors and contribute to a more vibrant and active city centre.
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Motion to Ban Buses from Collins Street
19th February 2026 - An upcoming council motion proposes relocating private buses from Collins Street. Buses shouldn’t be seen as a nuisance, they are essential. Services like SkyBus connect visitors directly to the CBD, keeping the city accessible for everyone.
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Council Plans Safety Officers for Hobart
8th February 2026 - Hobart may soon have a small team of uniformed officers patrolling the CBD under the council-led Safer Hobart Program. The plan would see three officers working business hours, Monday to Friday, engaging with local businesses, monitoring trouble spots, and connecting rough sleepers and at-risk individuals with support services.
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Should Glenorchy merge with Hobart?
30th January 2026 - Glenorchy councillors unanimously voted down Hobart’s merger proposal this week, sending a clear message that the city is not ready to be folded into a much larger neighbour.
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Hobart must focus on what matters
24th January 2026 - Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent’s warning to Hobart City Council should not be dismissed as political noise. It is a clear signal that confidence in the council’s direction and priorities is wearing thin, not just within government, but among ratepayers, businesses and investors who expect better from those elected to represent them.
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Ongoing Problems for Hobart CBD Bike Lanes
18th January 2026 - Hobart’s CBD bike lanes are plagued by ongoing problems.
Police have raised concerns that poor enforcement is compromising emergency response capability. Growing congestion on Collins Street is also raising serious safety and traffic concerns, driven by reduced turning capacity at key intersections and the removal of lanes in Victoria Street.
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Our piecemeal water repairs are draining
15th January 2026 - Last year, Hobart was given a blunt reminder of what happens when underground infrastructure is allowed to age out of sight and out of mind. World War II – era water mains beneath Liverpool and Murray Streets burst, flooding nearby businesses, damaging roads and forcing emergency works in the heart of the CBD.
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