A vision for the place we call home

WHAT THE READERS SAID

ENCOURAGING active transport was the most supported solution to traffic congestion in Hobart among a group of almost 800 readers who responded to a Mercury survey.

Almost 42 per cent said encouraging active transport such as walking and cycling was very important, and a further 15 per cent said it was fairly important.

Building more roads was the least supported solution — with 21 per cent saying it was very important, 11 per cent saying it was fairly important, and 31 per cent saying it was not important.

A River Derwent ferry network, light rail, and establishing clearways in peak hours all received similar levels of support, with slightly more than half of respondents saying they were either very important or fairly important.

Among other responses to the question of traffic congestion in Hobart: ”Separated cycling lanes are vital — it’s very dangerous now for cyclists which is a disincentive to taking up cycling (more cyclists means fewer cars) and not fair on drivers either.” “Investigate park and ride solutions.” “Hobart is not congested by the standards of any city in which I have ever lived or which I have ever visited.” “Reducing bus fares during peak morning and evening travel.” “Better buses/cheaper options than taking own car.” “Improve bike access on the Tasman Bridge.” “Encourage active transport, but bikes should remain only in bike lanes at all times.” “Encouraging cycling and walking also means making it safe, changing public attitudes to cyclists through media campaigns, etc.” “No more carparks in the cities.” “Build a link rd from Lenah Valley to South Hobart. Also build Battery Point cycle walkway asap.” “Develop a ring-road around Hobart or a tunnel between Southern Outlet and northern suburbs.” “Staggered work hours, better more frequent and affordable bus services.” “More cycle ways. Greater culture of working from home. Park and ride systems with bus lanes in congested areas.” “Need investment in PT and active transport. Need more ‘part way’ solutions where you might drive to a hub and then cycle or walk or bus. Need separated bikeways.” “More peripheral parking in urban areas — encourage drivers to walk the last section of their commute. Improve safety and infrastructure for cyclists!” “Look at older cities how they manage it (eg. Amsterdam), encourage cycling, close the inner city to cars — only pedestrians & bicycles in the inner city, educate drivers for more bicycle-awareness.”

CHANGE is inevitable. As much as we like things to remain the same, only one thing is ever certain — that things will change.

Planning for the future means anticipating how things will change and this is harder than ever because things are changing so rapidly. It is easy to see the constant change in technology. But the way we live, move and work is also different to a generation ago.

Even though new homeowners in Tasmania can be glad they don’t live in Sydney where house prices are extortionate, it is still far less affordable to buy a home here than it was for our parents. Purchasing a home in the outer suburbs of Hobart is a more affordable option, but it comes with the need to commute for work, education and social activities.

Local councils do exactly what they should do and provide services and amenities to encourage new ratepayers to their municipalities. But local council has no authority or responsibility over the state roads that link their residents to the rest of the city.

There has been a lot of commentary on the traffic congestion in Hobart, particularly the key arterial roads. A large contributor to this heavy traffic is the growth of outer Hobart such as Kingborough and Sorell. This population growth is positive, but is happening without clear solutions to the wider impacts on Hobart’s infrastructure.

The Southern Tasmanian Councils Association (a group of all 12 southern Tasmanian councils) has recognised this gap in future planning and recently made the decision to undertake a southern regional plan. It will look at southern Tasmania at a scale wider than an individual council level, but smaller than a statewide focus.

There are significant resources and expertise dedicated to planning at a municipal and state level, but the sub-regional scale is currently the weakest link.

However, there is always a need to balance planning and action — planning for planning’s sake is not useful. If the problem to be solved or the need is clearly defined, the end result is valuable. Planning at this scale is particularly useful in looking at issues such as transport that crosses municipal boundaries. How does the place function at a regional level? What are the bottlenecks or opportunities that are more obvious when looking at this scale?

Decisions on ageing populations, education or health services have flow-on effects. Transport flows, accessibility, connectivity and liveability are as vital as business investment and economic growth.

We are the fastest-ageing state in Australia. What will this mean for how we choose to live, move and enjoy the place we call home?

Tasmania has the opportunity to become a leader in how to plan for and manage the changing needs of an older population.

Regional Development Australia Tasmania has partnered with the University of Tasmania to research the role of local councils in providing retiree housing in their communities.

The initial report shows rural councils are most likely to provide local housing options so residents do not have to move to large urban centres. This research will continue through the year to help plan how we live.

Right now there is the opportunity to create a Hobart City Deal that delivers a shared vision for the people of Hobart, with integrated planning and development.

Cities are the engine room for their surrounding region. This requires leadership and some form of governance structure such as a Capital City Act the next step to a deal that will support Hobart to meet the challenges the future may hold.

So where to from here? As we move on from opinions of our parents, so will our next generation want things built differently, used differently and done differently.

We must be realistic about our capacity to anticipate the future and the limitations of our ability to respond. But most of all we must be open to change.

Planning for infrastructure means accepting the need for change, explains Jen Newman