Walking CBD key to Hobart success

IF Hobart fails to become a more walkable, liveable city, it won’t attract younger working families and its economy will suffer, an expert warns.

Professor Billie Giles-Corti, director of RMIT University’s Healthy Liveable Cities Group, issued the warning ahead of her Abercrombie lecture at the Town Hall tonight to mark World Planning Day.

Prof Giles-Corti said if all tiers of government created an integrated transport policy focusing on investment in public transport, walking and cycling facilities, Hobart could be one of the world’s best places to live.

Hobart, like many Australian cities, had a CBD that was very walkable but as soon as you left it, the wal k a b i l i t y dropped off dramatically and it became an urban sprawl, Prof Gi l e s - Cort i said.

Cities with excellent access to cultural facilities, parks, schools and public transportation were winning the race to attract young professional families to their regions.

“Hobart is a small city and there is enormous potential there to make it liveable,” Prof Giles-Corti said.

“Hobart does not have a good public transport system and there’s a large number of people who don’t live within close access to public transport with frequent services.

“That’s clear in the figures that show how many people drive into Hobart CBD.”

Prof Giles-Corti said Greater Hobart needed a reliable, safe and frequent public transport service close to people’s homes; and affordable housing close to facilities and jobs.

If Hobart ignored calls to create a walkable city, it would lead to inequity among residents.

Giles-Corti