Over the past month, I’ve been writing about a range of issues affecting Hobart, including several opinion pieces published in The Mercury. My July newsletter brings together my latest articles and updates on city development, local business, community initiatives and events.
Choir of High Hopes at Festival of Voices 2026
10th July 2026 – Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of performing with the Choir of High Hopes Hobart as part of the 2026 Festival of Voices. We took part in three pop-up performances at Hobart City Mission, Hobart Library and St David’s Cathedra.
Hobart Hospitality Hit Hard by Closures
6th July 2026 – The sudden closure of seven well-known Hobart hospitality venues should be treated as a serious wake-up call for the city.
2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards
3rd July 2026 – Nominations have now closed for the 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards, and we are delighted by the strong interest shown by businesses across the region.
A Community Vision for St David’s Park
27th June 2026 – St David’s Park is one of Hobart’s most beautiful and historic public spaces. I believe there is now an opportunity to look at how one corner of St David’s Park could be better used while still protecting the park’s heritage, trees and green character.
Dark Mofo Delivers for Hobart
24th June 2026 – Dark Mofo has once again shown the value of major events to Hobart’s economy, with Hobart Airport recording around 100,000 airline seats during the two-week festival period and Dark Mofo drawing about 550,000 entries across its venues.
Salamanca to Lose 16 Parking Spaces
22nd June 2026 – Hobart City Council is considering a plan to remove 16 parking spaces from Montpelier Retreat and make a major section one-way as part of a redesign near Salamanca.
An Uphill Battle on the Mountain
19th June 2026 – The recent debate around access fees, illegal parking and visitor numbers highlights a bigger issue: how do we ensure access to the mountain keeps pace with growing demand?
How Hobart Can Better Use Its Public Spaces
10th June 2026 – When people think about what makes a great city, they often talk about parks, gardens and public spaces. But simply having green space isn’t enough.
The best public spaces are the ones people actually use.