opinion
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Collins Street is a working street, not a planning experiment
The latest stage of the Collins Street bike lane works again raises an important question: who exactly is this street being designed for? Buses servicing CBD hotels will be forced to unload guests with luggage while stopped in the middle of the road. Collins Street is not just a commuter corridor. It is a working
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Macquarie Point not ready for AFL until 2031
The confirmation that Macquarie Point Stadium is unlikely to host AFL games until 2031 reflects the reality of delivering infrastructure projects of this scale and complexity. Projects of this size require careful planning, engineering and delivery, and delays between construction completion and operational readiness are not unusual. The priority should not be whether it opens
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Hanging Garden Precinct $300M Boost for Hobart
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
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Motion to Ban Buses from Collins Street
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. Forcing buses out of Collins Street would expose a simple fact: the new bike lanes and street redesigns aren’t
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Council Plans Safety Officers for Hobart
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. The program draws on similar models in
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Should Glenorchy merge with Hobart?
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. A report by Glenorchy City Council CEO Emilio Reale highlighted the council’s strong financial position, noting it is debt-free, maintains low residential rates, and has a fully
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Hobart must focus on what matters
Published Mercury Newspaper 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
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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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