News from Council Meeting - 12 October 2020
Published on 12 October 2020
Development refused on multiple grounds
The Hobart City Council has voted to refuse a mixed use development proposed for Macquarie Street on multiple grounds.
The refusal of the development – which includes 40 residential units plus a childcare centre and commercial space – was based on several factors, including parking and traffic concerns, stormwater management, building height, heritage, and the content of the Potentially Contaminated Land Code.
During tonight’s Council meeting, it was noted that the Urban Design Advisory Panel had determined that the proposed development was “completely inappropriate for this site”.
The UDAP further advised that the proposed development would potentially impact on the amenity of the adjacent school and the frontage design was not consistent with the character or the streetscape.
The proposal attracted 618 representations, of which all but one opposed the development.
Funding for events
Five local events will share in more than $190,000 in funding under the City of Hobart’s Event Partnership grant program.
Five applications were received for the funding round, with all being successful in securing grant funding.
The grant recipients are:
- Beaker Street Festival
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s Lift Off! festival for children and young people.
- Ten Days on the Island
- Australian Institute of Architects’ Open House Hobart
- John X Presents - Big Band Under the Stars
Parking for charity
Parking spaces in the Argyle Street Carpark will be made available to assist the families of sick children under a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC).
The RMHC facility in Collins Street houses around 220 families each year for stays ranging from a few days to several weeks.
In his Notice of Motion to tonight’s Council Meeting, Ald Simon Behrakis said an existing parking arrangement with a commercial carpark operator had been reduced and a request had been made to assist with parking provision for families.
The arrangement is initially for three months, with a report to be brought back to the Council to consider ongoing arrangements and the development of a policy for such assistance.
Rivulet ideas sought
Engineering students in Tasmania will be asked to put forward their ideas for retrofitting parts of the urban section of the Hobart Rivulet with cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
As part of the City of Hobart’s Honour Student Program with the Engineering Faculty of the University of Tasmania, the City will seek an expression of interest from potential students on the project: ‘Theoretical investigation into the viability of retrofitting a cycle/pedestrian way into the underground urban section of the Hobart Rivulet’.
The project follows a report into the feasibility of using the underground rivulet as a public commuter route. The report found that significant safety controls would be needed to mitigate the extreme safety risks posed by the enclosed areas.
Plan to bring back meetings
The Hobart City Council will continue to meet via Zoom for one month, after which time physical meetings will resume in line with maximum density and physical distancing requirements, and public heath advice.
Individual committees will determine whether they wish to meet in person or to continue with the online format.