hobart@edwinjohnstone.com.au
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Ongoing Problems for Hobart CBD Bike Lanes
Hobart’s Argyle and Campbell Street bike lanes are being used by about 250 cyclists a day, but a council review shows key safety and enforcement problems remain unresolved. The $1.7 million project was promoted as a major safety upgrade, yet illegal parking continues to block clearways. While Hobart City Council has issued fines, it still
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Our piecemeal water repairs are draining
Published Mercury Newspaper HOBART’S AGEING AND FRAGILE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE URGENTLY NEEDS WIDESPREAD INVESTMENT, WRITES EDWIN JOHNSTONE 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
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Gin-uary back on Hobart waterfront
Gin-uary Hobart will return to Princes Wharf 1 next weekend, marking its ninth year on Hobart’s waterfront. Running across January 17 and 18, the two-day festival has become Tasmania’s flagship spirits event, featuring more than 25 distillers and over 100 spirits. Festival Director Nicole Fisher said the event remains popular because it continues to evolve
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Record-breaking Taste of Summer proves culture is a powerful engine for Hobart
Arts and cultural events provide important economic impact, writes Edwin Johnstone The recent Taste of Summer on Hobart’s waterfront shows that festivals like this are more than entertainment, they are economic powerhouses. Nearly 100,000 people attended, 10,000 more than last year, and about a third came from interstate or overseas. Over eight days, crowds packed
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Record breaking crowds attend Taste of Summer
A record-breaking Taste of Summer festival has concluded on Hobart’s waterfront, attracting 98,125 visitors over its eight-day run.Attendance was roughly 10,000 higher than last year, with about one in three attendees travelling from interstate or overseas. Tourism Minister Jane Howlett said the event highlighted Tasmanian food and drink, featuring more than 75 producers and vendors.She
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Taste of Summer 2025 Stallholder Awards Winners
The best food and drink stallholders at Tasmania’s Taste of Summer festival have been crowned, with six local businesses winning top honours at the second annual Taste Awards. Elles Pantry won Best Tasmanian Produce Showcase for its falafel pita, while Ming Court claimed the Cultural Heritage Award for satay chicken skewers made from a traditional
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Illegal to ride e-scooters in bike lanes
The City of Hobart has admitted it gave incorrect advice for years by telling e-scooter riders they could legally use bike lanes, despite Tasmanian law banning the practice. Launceston coffee roaster Robin Smith, who is now pushing for law reform after being stopped by Tasmania Police while riding a Beam e-scooter in a Hobart bike
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Congestion highlights impacts of Collins Street changes
I campaigned against the changes to Collins and Victoria streets, warning they would restrict access to the CBD, and the current Christmas congestion shows those concerns were well founded. Shoppers are experiencing long delays exiting Centrepoint, with reports of motorists stuck for up to 30 minutes. This outcome was clearly predicted. The independent Midson traffic
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CGHB Christmas Dinner
This week I hosted the annual Confederation of Greater Hobart Business Christmas dinner at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Battery Point. It was a fantastic evening spent in great company, catching up with friends and colleagues from across the business community. The Confederation is also looking forward to continuing to engage closely with small
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Should car dealerships be banned in Hobart
A proposal before Hobart City Council to ban automotive retail from the CBD risks doing real and lasting damage to jobs, investment and confidence in the city. While presented as a planning measure to encourage different forms of development, the reality is far more serious. If adopted, the policy would represent a masterclass in how