From the Mayor 

Welcome to the March edition of Your News, the City of Launceston's monthly newsletter. 

It's been an incredibly positive start to the year, with amazing cultural, sporting, and food and wine events showcasing everything our region has to offer.

We've had hugely popular drawcards such as Mona Foma, Festivale, and the Launceston Cup, as well as A-League soccer, AFL, and Big Bash cricket. 

The City of Launceston is a significant supporter of both small and large-scale events in our region, annually investing more than $600,000 across more than 60 separate events in our municipality, and supporting our successful bid to be designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Even more important than our economic successes is the safety of our community and visitors, and Councillors will this week consider a range of recommendations to lower speeds in our municipality. 

Reducing speed limits within the city's urban areas will reduce the likelihood of crashes and the potential for fatal or serious injuries. 

While we expect most people will support the reductions, we appreciate not everyone will understand or agree with the approach to reduce speed limits in the selected areas - however the proposed changes are about making the safety of all road users a priority.

Sometimes that could mean that our trips could take a few seconds longer but that's a very small price to pay.

Protecting Launceston's built heritage

The City of Launceston recently completed its Heritage List Review, a significant body of work which aims to ensure that the heritage and built character of Launceston is adequately protected into the future.

An initial tranche of place and precinct listings resulting from the project have already been included in Launceston's Local Provisions Schedule for the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, which came into effect last year.

It's important that the views of property owners are considered in this process.

For this reason we've written to property owners with relevant information about their properties, and invited owners to review this information and provide feedback.

I'm also pleased to report Councillors unanimously voted to adopt our organisation's Aboriginal Partnership Plan at the last Council meeting.

The plan was developed through meaningful conversations with a range of Aboriginal people in Launceston and surrounds, and outlines a focussed and agreed approach for the Council to engage with Aboriginal people in the region in a culturally respectful and genuine manner.

Consultation open on greening strategy

The City of Launceston will look to set an ambitious target of doubling the tree canopy cover across urban areas of the municipality by 2040.

Mayor Danny Gibson said street trees and other forms of greening enhanced visual amenity and helped create a strong sense of identity in public spaces in the CBD and surrounding suburbs. 

"Our aim over the next 20 years is to see that level of cover effectively double to around 40 per cent and we think that's an entirely achievable outcome."

All Northern Tasmanians with an interest in greening the region are encouraged to provide their input before consultation closes on March 31. 

Reduced speed limits recommended

The City of Launceston will consider recommendations for a range of proposed speed limit changes across the city at this week's Council meeting. 

Existing traffic speeds and crash records helped to identify the locations where the existing posted speed limit was too high for the road conditions.

• Bathurst St
• Wellington St between Cameron & Frankland streets
• High St between David & Arthur streets, East Launceston
• Invermay Rd between Forster St & Vermont Rd, Invermay
• Elphin Rd, Penquite Rd & Hoblers Bridge Rd in the vicinity of the Newstead Shopping Centre

Proposed reductions from 50kmh to 40kmh:

• Launceston CBD bounded by Cimitiere, York, Wellington, & Tamar streets
• Mowbray shopping centre, Invermay Rd between Vermont Rd & Haig St
• Kings Meadows shopping centre, Hobart Rd between Riseley St & Opossum Rd

Community engagement on the proposed changes will be undertaken if the recommendations are adopted.

Annual fuel reduction burns begin

The City of Launceston's annual fuel reduction program will begin this week if weather conditions remain favourable.

This year 14 fuel reduction burns are planned at locations across the municipality, including:
• Cambridge Street Reserve
• Carr Villa Flora Reserve
• Cataract Gorge
• Merthyr Park
• Punchbowl Reserve
• Russells Plains
• Youngtown Regional Park
• Distillery Creek Reserve

Relocation of mall thylacine sculptures

The relocation of bronze thylacine sculptures from the Brisbane St Mall to a new home in Civic Square will be considered at this week's Council meeting. 

The City of Launceston commissioned ten thylacine sculptures for placement in the Brisbane St Mall during the redevelopment of the space in 2018, however since their installation, the sculptures have unfortunately contributed to several pedestrian mishaps, and limited the installation of additional greenery and the space's functionality for public events. 

Delving into the depths of First Basin

For generations, myths and urban legends have circulated within the Launceston community around the First Basin and what lies beneath the surface. 

Despite evidence to the contrary, mapping of the Basin over the past decade has done little to quell those wild-eyed rumours, but a new Australian Maritime College survey can finally put all those highly questionable stories to bed once and for all.

AMC Search, the training and consulting division of the Australian Maritime College, in partnership with the City of Launceston, has recently completed the first ever autonomous underwater survey of the First Basin at the Launceston’s Cataract Gorge.

Apply now: $10,000 grants program

Applications for grants of up to $10,000 in this year's Great Regional City Challenge are currently open in the below categories:

• Great Region Projects that enhance the whole community
• Innovative Region Projects that solve problems and create jobs
• Youth Environmental Projects that drive positive environmental action in the region
• Youth Technology Projects that utilise technology for innovation & connection in the region
• Inclusive Region Projects that build community spirit
• Diverse Region Projects that support diverse communities

QVMAG: New and exclusive exhibition  

Exclusively and for the first time in Tasmania, QVMAG is proud to showcase the works of multi award-winning photomedia artist Murray Fredericks.

Witness is on show at QVMAG Inveresk until May 21. 

Image: Murray Fredericks, Salt 112 (2006). Digital pigment print on cotton rag,120 x 150cm.

Council meetings

Current Development Applications