The state government and Greater Hobart councils have released a new planning document outlining the main directions for development of transport and development in Hobart until 2050.
This is the first time such a coordinated approach on strategic direction for land use and infrastructure development has been undertaken by both levels of government in Hobart.
The vision is a broad statement of goals rather than detailed actions, which will come in the Metropolitan Plan which will be guided by the vision and objectives of the Greater Hobart Act 2019.
The Metropolitan Plan will update the metropolitan sections of the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy and is an agreed outcome of the Hobart City Deal.
Vision themes
Transport is one of the key challenges named up in the vision, along with housing diversity, ageing population, employment, population growth, and climate change impacts.
And improving transport infrastructure, and more importantly active transport, features prominently in the themes that will guide the vision, which are:
- Be greater for our people
- Have greater interconnection, but distinct communities
- Have greater resilience
- Be well planned
- Have greater connection
- Plan for growth and change.
The greater connection theme explicitly mentions active transport and introduces the notion of the 30-minute neighbourhood which is gaining popularity globally:
“Greater Hobart will be a city that is easy to get around. We will provide greater transport choice, working toward use of a range of public and active transport options to move around. We will create and locate jobs and services close to where people live so we spend more time with friends and family...”
The “greater for our people” theme also points out the importance of transport for all ages and abilities:
“Our city will have safe and welcoming places for people of all ages and abilities so we can gather and connect with our community. We will have better active transport which makes walking or cycling to school, work, local shops or services easier…”
And the “be well planned” theme also refers to active transport:
“Our public and active transport, housing, health and education will be located in the right place at the right time…”
Encouraging bicycle use for transport will also help achieve the objective of the Greater Hobart Act and the resilience theme to transition to a low carbon economy.
The Greater Hobart Committee, which has written the vision, has resulted from the Greater Hobart Act and includes the Tasmanian Government, Clarence City Council, Glenorchy City Council, Hobart City Council and Kingborough Council.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The vision is on the right path to getting more cycleways in place. To let the governments know you support more active transport investment, comment before 26 April 2021:
- Fill out the online survey at https://yoursay.hobartcity.com.au/greater-hobart-vision
- Or email your comments to contact@greaterhobart.tas.gov.au – all submissions will be published unless you request confidentiality.