‘WHO IS HE?’ IT’S V FOR VEXING
Expert says Hobart needs fewer car parks and
THE first person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia has repeated an obscene gesture live on television and admitted she did not recognise Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison sat alongside Jane Malysiak on Sunday as the 84-year old received the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in Australia.
But the historic moment descended into hilarity when Ms Malysiak, a Polishborn
World War II survivor, accidentally flipped off a room full of journalists after receiving the jab. The PM encouraged Ms Malysiak to flash the peace sign for the cameras, saying it meant “V for vaccine”.
She obliged, but turned her hand the other way, which has a very different meaning. After the room erupted with laughter, Mr Morrison pushed Jane’s hand down saying “always front, always front”.
While the photo op went a little awry,
the awkwardness for Mr Morrison continued on Monday when Ms Malysiak admitted live on Sky News she did not realise it was the Prime Minister sitting next to her when she received the vaccine.
“I did not recognise him until later on when I asked, ‘Where is the Prime Minister?’ ” she said.
“If the Prime Minister is watching, I’m sorry I didn’t recognise you, but you’re very nice. Much nicer than on television.
“I was very, very happy to meet you.”
LESS parking, not more, is one of the solutions to a more prosperous CBD and Greater Hobart region, says a Tasmanian who has travelled the world as a transport planner and urban strategist.
Steven Burgess, who founded transport and citymaking business Complete Streets, believes wider footpaths, extra green space and more shopper-friendly spaces will lure customers in and encourage them to spend with local retailers.
It comes after Hobart Alderman Simon Behrakis and the Tasmanian Small Business Council’s Robert Mallett last week said the city’s businesses were suffering from a lack of parking.
Mr Burgess (right) who is advising the state government on key initiatives in the $1.4 billion Hobart City Deal, said the parking squeeze was not linked to supply.
“Hobart is one of the most oversupplied cities with carparking I’ve ever seen,’’ he said.
“If you make it very convenient to get in and out, people spend the least amount of money — if you have lots and lots of parking, that’s the behaviour you get.
“If you have got too much parking, you end up having a place people don’t enjoy so all they want to do is zip in and out.
“If you have a really active, clean, green, safe main street that’s really enjoyable and comfortable, people will do whatever they need to do to get to that street.”
Mr Burgess said places with minimal parking, ample footpath space and lots of human traffic attracted the highest rents and rental turnovers.
He said it would encourage Tasmanian consumers to better support local retailers.
He said shopping options at big complexes like Eastlands and Northgate included mostly large multinational companies and much of it was “not Tasmanian money”.
“We have to start having a mature conversation about clean, green, safe and welcoming, happy and healthy places, and not worry about offending a machine (car) which is not going to get upset,’’ he said.
But Ald Behrakis said a reduction in parking was not the answer.
“I think anybody with a set of eyes that has been trying to get around the city can see that we don’t have an excess capacity with carparking,’’ he said.
“It’s a lovely utopian view that Mr Burgess has, but I don’t think it’s one that’s realistic.”
Ald Behrakis pointed to the impact of a lane reduction on Liverpool St which he said feedback about had been “overwhelmingly negative” and caused gridlock
around that block. He said a range of solutions was needed to solve parking and traffic woes in and around Hobart, including the improving of public transport options.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said parts of Hobart
were changing and there was a need to create more space for people.
She pointed to an increase in business activity and pedestrians in the city’s Midtown area.
Mr Burgess also said
more urban developments — including shop-top living — would also help retailers and provide more balance.
Planning considerations also needed to take into account the amount of sprawl development as opposed to
that said.
Mr Burgess said more urban apartment developments of up to four storeys would also help while not impacting visual amenity. in inner-city areas, he