opinion
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Our piecemeal water repairs are draining
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 nearby businesses, damaging
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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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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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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
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Calls to ban car yards from CBD
A motion is being put forward at the next Hobart City Council meeting on Monday 15 December to prohibit “automotive retail” in Hobart. This is exactly the kind of overreach that could drive business out of the city. Actively restricting an entire industry from operating here is a huge red flag for anyone considering investing
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Macquarie Point Stadium
As Chair of the Confederation of Greater Hobart Business, I strongly support the development of the Macquarie Point Stadium. Tasmania’s economy in the past has been transformed by bold, future-focused projects, and this stadium will be the next one. We’ve seen it before. Wrest Point, in its time, reshaped Hobart’s tourism and hospitality sector, attracting
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Hobart’s Best Days Are On The Horizon
We need to foster a general culture of positivity instead of negativity being the default option, writes Edwin Johnstone It’s easy to be negative in business these days. Costs are rising, recruitment is challenging and every week seems to bring new uncertainty. For many small business owners across Hobart, it can feel like the odds
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Education is key in battle to save city’s soul
Hobart’s heritage is both fragile and irreplaceable. In recent months, two incidents have highlighted just how vulnerable our most cherished public places are: the theft of bronze plaques from Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, on the Queens Domain, and the damage inflicted on Kelly’s Steps, in Battery Point, by e-scooters. Neither incident alone may seem catastrophic. But
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Markets play an integral role in driving economy
As the days lengthen and Hobart’s streets warm under the first sun of spring, the city’s markets are once again bustling with energy, colour and fresh local produce. From the Salamanca, Farm Gate and the Hobart Twilight markets to suburban pop-ups, these vibrant gatherings are more than weekend markets, they are a vital force in