|
|
|
|
Is your house 'bushfire prone'?
At a recent meeting, the Tasmanian Fire Service presented new research, and requested that the areas zoned as 'Bushfire Prone' in our planning scheme be updated.
The good news is that the TFS found that a smaller area needs to be classed as 'Bushfire Prone' - the old zone area covered 6,738 Hobart properties and the new zone covers 5,906 properties (still quite a few!)
The full report from TFS, with maps of bushfire-prone areas, can be downloaded here (pdf).
|
|
Serious enough about fire?
The recent floods in Houston show what happens when a city sprawls into areas at risk from climate change. In that city's case, houses were built into the swamp for decades, ignoring the warnings against building in vulnerable low-lying areas.
We don't want to make similar mistakes in Hobart. At a recent planning meeting (ironically the item just after we heard from the TFS about bushfire prone zones), a majority of Aldermen voted to approve a new subdivision in a bushfire prone zone, against the advice of planning staff. Only two Aldermen voted against it (myself included).
Individually, each of these subdivisions might seem like a reasonable idea at the time, but cumulatively, I worry that they are converting Hobart into a fire factory.
|
|
Good news on rubbish
The results are in! Year 1 of our new Hobart Waste Management Strategy, and what have we achieved?
>> 1,000 tonnes less waste went to landfill
>> 2kg less rubbish in the average household bin than 2015
>> 2,500 tonnes more garden waste was recycled, helped along by the new green bins
>> 1,100 tonnes of concrete recycled
>> 350 tonnes of steel recycled
>> 450 tonnes of other waste was salvaged from landfill for resale.
I reckon that’s pretty good progress towards our zero waste to landfill goal!
Our next big step-change will be when we commit to the collection and processing of food waste.
Our most recent bin audit found that 47% of the average Hobart bin is made up of food waste.
|
|
CBD's height rules - my say
As I'm away for the next few weeks, I thought it best to have my say about Council’s proposed changes to the CBD height planning rules by making a written submission. You can read it here. In summary, my concerns are that:
The new Vision Statement is meant to communicate the planning vision for the CBD, but does not mention the word ‘heritage’ once! It also lays the foundations for a much taller city.
The amendments provide more discretion for planners and decision-makers to allow buildings to exceed the ‘Amenity Building Envelope’ of 45 metres (our current defacto height limit).
The amendments present an unnecessarily narrow vision for Hobart’s heart, and are a missed opportunity to reform our planning laws for the city in a more considered way.
|
|
Great ideas for Hobart
It’s an interesting time for Hobart - there's lots going on and some great ideas being discussed. But there are also plenty of bad ideas that could damage the character of our city and set our future development on the wrong course. I want to be the best city decision-maker that I can, and so I try to always investigate best practices and keep my mind open to new ideas.
For the next couple of weeks, I'm on a study trip to gather ideas and practical know-how on some issues that I think are important for Hobart's future:
>> Learning how local government leadership in Portland has built a great public transport system and a more sustainable city;
>> Connecting with the global network that is making cities more 'walkable', by attending the International Walk 21 conference in Calgary, Canada (where I'm chairing a session);
>> Joining local government discussions about leadership on climate change, at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference in Vancouver.
Follow me on Facebook for regular updates about this trip, or come along to one of the report-back talks that I'll present when I get back.
|
|
PUBLIC MEETING
The Hobart City Council will hold a public meeting about building height issues at 6pm on Monday 16 October, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.
This meeting is in response to the 'Hobart not Highrise' petition, that called on the Council to 'protect Hobart's skyline', 'prevent over-sized buildings', and 'defend the current planning rules for building height limits'. More than 1000 electors signed the petition, which is the threshold to trigger a public meeting to be held by the Council on these issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
