As long standing advocates for Tactical Urbanism, its great to report that Hobart will be joining in with this years (PARK)ing Day events. Thanks to some great work by UTAS student Mary McNeill in co-operation with City of Hobart, two car parking spaces in Collins Street will be turned over to other uses this Friday (21st November) for the day. To see what, pop along to the spaces outside Fullers and Bed and Bath and join in the fun!
PLANNING MATTERS ALLIANCE TASMANIA - Official Launch Party
The Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) have extended invitations to all members and followers of the Better Hobart group to the official launch of the Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania group at the beautiful Brooke Street Larder on Hobart’s waterfront.
In their words -
'The PMAT is a growing network of over 40 community groups from across Tasmania, united with a common concern over the weakening of the state’s planning laws. The Tasmanian Planning Scheme is set to come into effect in early 2018 and PMAT is committed to making it better.
The level of collaboration and solidarity emerging within this planning campaign and the groups involved is unprecedented in Tasmania and crosses community group genres.
Epitomised by the conflict over high rise hotels in Hobart, but equally relevant to our towns and backyards, our skylines, our coastlines, our heritage buildings and places and our wild and inspiring landscapes, the scheme will impact all the things we love about Tasmania.
Planning is vitally important to a wide cross section of the Tasmanian community. From a standing start, PMAT has put the issue on the agenda and made it an election issue.
On the 6 July, 2017, PMAT will officially launch its platform statement - an outline of the key principles that we would like to see in Tasmania’s planning System.
Invitees include PMAT members and supporters, all State politicians and their staff, Local Government (Mayors, Alderman, Councillors, General Managers and their staff), the media and interested members of the public.
The launch will be a great opportunity to understand the issue and network with people from around the State who care about planning.'
There will be a cash bar and light food will be provided. Spaces are obviously limited and there is bound to be a high take up given the degree of concerns being raised within the community so please note that if you wish to attend, you should RSVP by Thursday 29 June, 2017.
Speakers:
Essie Davis
Essie is a Tasmanian born actor, well known for her leading role in Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. She has been a vocal supporter of Hobart protecting itself from high rise hotels, saying ‘don’t let this city become a tasteless mishmash copy of the cities that got it wrong.’
Gerard Castles
Gerard is a Tasmanian business and communications consultant who has written extensively on brand. In the mid-2000’s, he was a member of the Community Leaders Group in the Bacon Government’s Tasmania Together process. Read Gerard’s recent opinion piece: Talking Point: It will tower over our brand power.
MC - Sophie Underwood, Coordinator of the Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania
Planning Walking Tour of Battery Point
Let's face it. While we all know planning laws are important, reading relevant policy and legislation documents is a pretty dry and boring task. To help people get their head around planning in a more engaging way, local urban planning guru Bob Vincent (PhD candidate in Urban Change, UTAS) will lead a walking tour of Battery Point this weekend:
1:30 - 3:00pm, Sunday 2 April
Meet at Retro Cafe, 31 Salamanca Place, Hobart
Covering similar territory to the well-known In Bobby's Footsteps walk, the tour will take in the good and bad aspects of planning in one of Hobart's most iconic suburbs.
The event is a fundraiser for the Denison Greens and tickets can be purchased at the event website.
Barcelona's Superblocks
The City of Barcelona has recently introduced a pilot scheme based on the creation of 'Superblocks' in which through traffic is largely removed and the streets are given back to the local residents and the pedestrian.
Read all about the controversial but potentially highly significant attempt to bring a grid city back to a human scale in this piece in The Guardian, or watch the short video produced by the BBC here.
Better Hobart - TasWeekend Magazine
Better Hobart was the centre piece to The Mercury's TasWeekend Magazine in November. In case you missed it, the article shares a walk around the city's CBD with members of Better Hobart discussing the potential perils and opportunities for the development of Hobart from a community perspective and a focus on the importance of quality Urban Design.
The article also sets out 10 key changes and development suggested by Better Hobart, including a floating pool in the Cove, a pedestrianised Salamanca, and a Rivulet suspended walkway; some of which will be the subject of future articles here at Better Hobart.
Read the article by following this link or clinking on the picture above.
More importantly, get in contact, let us know your thoughts and get involved.
Reinventing Density - The Self-Made City
Here's a link to an interesting article relating to a growing movement in Germany fostered by the Baugruppe group which aims to create higher density residential development based on community orientated living and high collaboration between the architect and the residents.
The Jan Gehl Report - What's That?
Even within a few months of publication, the Gehl Report was sadly already beginning to fall into the gap left by community disengagement and political dismemberment. Here's a link to an article published in the Tasmanian Style Magazine soon after in 2011 which highlights perfectly the atmosphere within the public realm into which the report sadly landed.