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Greater Hobart councils work on transport

The Greater Hobart Bill has passed the Tasmanian House of Assembly and is on its way to the Legislative Council, with better collaboration on transport planning a key element of the bill.

The bill provides a legal framework for the Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough councils to work together with the Tasmanian government on the issues of transport, housing, strategic planning, urban renewals and creating hubs around services and transport nodes.

Initially the bill made no mention of people walking and riding in its definition of the transport. The parliament amended the bill at the Greens’ suggestion and with the support of all four councils so the definition of transport now reads:

“'means infrastructure to enable road, rail, water or air transport or the movement of pedestrians or bicyclists”

The Greens also suggested a second amendment to expand the transport objectives of the bill, however, the government could not get agreement of all four councils in time for it be passed by the House of Assembly.

The proposed objective would read:

“. . . to facilitate the efficient and safe flow of transport in the Greater Hobart area, to improve equitable access to transport, and to reduce transport emissions.

It may be proposed as an amendment in the Legislative Council if all four councils agree to it.

Bicycle Network has written to the greater Hobart mayors to support the amendent, which would further favour bicycle transport.

Cycling South backs separated cycleways

Cycling South is a demonstration of collaboration across the councils to better coordinate and learn from each other to improve cycling infrastructure across the city area.

The Cycling South committee met last month and heard about the Tasmanian Bicycle Council proposal for a network of separated cycleways in Hobart’s city centre.  

It endorsed the concept of separated cycleways in inner city to better connect the routes leading in from all council areas.

The Cycling South committee is made up representatives from each participating council, council staff, Department of State Growth and Bicycle Network.