Road works kick off Kingston Park

WORK on a road that will facilitate key components of the $90 million Kingston Park development will start next month, Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass says.

Design work for Boulevard Rd within Kingston Park has been completed, with Spectran Contracting to start construction at the former Kingston High School site in January and finish by July.

The road will service the Kingston Health Centre and Community Hub components, as well as future subdivisions.

Cr Wass said after last night’s council meeting that work on the Community Hub would start in February or March but a start date was not set for the health centre and promenade. Work on the public open space is scheduled to start at the end of next year.

Also at last night’s meeting, Councillor Richard Atkinson asked whether the council had been notified about an idea to move the Australian Antarctic Division from Kingston to the Hobart waterfront as part of the Macquarie Point science precinct. Cr Atkinson said he held concerns about moving it from its Kingston home.

Acting general manager Tony Ferrier said the council had received no communication on the matter, but would engage with the State Government in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Councillor Dean Winter has asked how much rate revenue the former Vodafone building had lost the council since the business relocated to the Hobart CBD more than two years ago.

A response from Mr Ferrier revealed the lost rate revenue was more than $42,000.

Council officers have also promised the $60,000 Kingston Beach pontoon, which broke its moorings and ended up on the beach following wild weather earlier this month, would be anchored back in place on Tuesday.

Other discussions from the meeting included Councillor Paula Wriedt calling on the municipality to hold discussions with the State Government regarding Southern Outlet traffic before the March state election.