Take heart at this chance to transform our city
It has, and always will, take a village in Clarence, writes Brendan Blomeley
AS we move into a new year, naturally our gaze lifts to the horizon in search of goals to strive for on our next lap around the sun. For us in Clarence that’s focusing on the tremendous growth and opportunities that sit within the heart of our city.
Recent ABS data confirmed what we were already feeling, that Clarence had the largest population increase in all of Greater Hobart in the past 10 years, increasing by
19 per cent from 2011-21, and the trend is set to continue.
This population growth is expected to further accelerate, which was reported in the Clarence City Heart Economic Analysis (CHEA) 2022, completed by leading external consultants SGS Economics and Planning, as part of the development of our City Heart Plan.
This report has revealed new, encouraging projections about how our city is likely to evolve, and points to changes that will be necessary to accommodate the continuing transformation of our city.
In central Clarence, the City Heart Project is a huge focus for council and we are now halfway through the development of this significant master plan.
It will give direction for the evolution of vitally important places in the heart of Clarence for decades to come and is a once-in-ageneration opportunity to steer meaningful transformation.
For instance, the CHEA report found that an additional 32,600sqm of commercial floor space will be needed by 2041 across commercial retail, hospitality and institutional categories in Clarence.
In simple terms, this demand analysis says we need an increase of nearly 25 per cent on top of what is in the CBD currently, offering incredible investment and development opportunities.
There are also increasing demands for housing in Clarence as our city becomes more and more desirable, with modelling showing the need for 2200 additional medium/high-density units in the region by 2041. While this does encompass the entirety of the Clarence area, it can be assumed, given the nature of the City Heart, that most of the higher-density construction will occur near existing transport networks.
In the coming years, I hope to see more medium- to high-density living developments – in appropriate locations in our city heart – to better meet the changing needs of our community and enable more people to remain living in, and connected to, their local community as their lifestyle needs change throughout their lives. “Ageing in place’’ will be an important consideration for us when we consider how to meet future housing demand within our city.
There has been much debate over the past several years on the potential to spark the evolution of the heart of our city, particularly in Kangaroo Bay.
While I am an advocate for progress and development in our city, one thing I cannot abide is waiting any longer to see shovels in the ground on this world-class site.
I applaud my fellow councillors’ brave and tenacious actions at last week’s council meeting by voting to trigger the buy-back clause and making a stand to show we won’t wait for action any longer – the site needs to be activated to spark the evolution our city needs.
I’m confident that in time we will realise the value of this site as part of the City Heart Project, delivering numerous benefits for our community and visitors to our city, and I am excited to walk this path with each and every one of you to develop this site as a key focal point for our city.
Watching this parcel of land unfold from our imaginations, into blueprints, and in time to be able to saunter past it on a balmy summer’s eve with family, is something I am eagerly looking forward to.
What I will leave you with is this. Your council is here and working hard for and with you day in, day out. Most importantly, beyond our beaches, walkways, developments, parks and housing, our greatest asset is you: our community. Please keep working with us to get our city heart beating.