"Useless" Public Land For Housing, Unfair Parking Fines

Events For The Week

Author

David Rowe
July 29, 2025

Good Morning Hobart,

Hope you had a great weekend.

In today’s newsletter:

  • "Useless" Public Land For Housing

  • Restaurant Of The Week

  • Parking Fines Deemed “Manifestly Disproportionate”

  • North Hobart Car Park Approval

  • Recycle Rewards Scheme Takes Off

  • Events For The Week

"Useless" Public Land For Housing

Glenorchy City Council is considering selling a 6,600m² section of reserve land at 318 Main Road to Homes Tasmania for a proposed 56-unit affordable housing development.

Despite most surveyed residents opposing the move, council officers argue the underused space offers greater benefit as housing.

The sale would fund park upgrades and retain public walk-through access. A formal objection period will follow if approved.

Restaurant Of The Week

Step into the heart of Tasmanian paddock-to-plate dining at The Agrarian Kitchen.

Nestled within a thriving on-site garden, the restaurant offers a seasonal set lunch menu crafted with over 90% homegrown ingredients.

Head Chef Stephen Peak leads a team dedicated to traditional techniques like cheese-making, butchery, and fermentation, delivering a three-hour culinary journey that celebrates the land.

Set menu: $220 per person. Reservations essential, 4 months in advance.

Parking Fines Deemed “Manifestly Disproportionate”

Clarence City Councillor Tony Mulder has criticised recent $1,010 parking fines as "manifestly disproportionate," calling them draconian and urging legislative reform.

Issued to locals for parking on grass near the Howrah Community Centre, the fines aim to curb repeated safety risks during school pick-up.

Council CEO Ian Nelson defended the penalties, citing prior warnings.

Mulder is encouraging recipients to challenge the fines in court and is calling on the mayor to push for fairer penalties across councils.

North Hobart Car Park Approval

Hobart City Council has approved a $4.475 million, 106-space multi-storey car park behind North Hobart's Toyota dealership.

While councillors passed the development unanimously, several expressed disappointment, saying the site could have been used for housing.

Planning Chair Ryan Posselt called the decision “outrageous” and said the project clashes with the city’s vision for central Hobart.

Councillors say planning scheme changes are needed to prevent similar developments.

Full Story Here

Recycle Rewards Scheme Takes Off

Tasmania’s Recycle Rewards scheme is nearing 20 million returns just three months after launch, with locals now cashing in an average of 220,000 containers daily.

Southern Tasmania leads the way, while Devonport tops returns per site.

A new vending machine in New Town joins growing infrastructure, with another planned for Glenorchy.

The initiative is keeping litter out of landfill and putting cash back into the community.

Events For The Week

Tuesday 29th

🤾 Drop In Dodgeball | 7:30PM

Location: 300 Liverpool St, Hobart
Description: Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced adrenaline-filled experience, a different way to get/stay fit or a casual active social gathering to meet some new people, welcome to your new source of enjoyment.

Wednesday 30th

🛖 Explore Semaphore Cottage | 11:00AM

Location: Princes Park 99 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point
Description: Recognised as the oldest surviving building in Battery Point, Semaphore Cottage was originally built as the guardhouse for the Mulgrave Battery, Hobart’s first defensive fortification.

🎨 Art Forum With Sally Rees | 12:00PM

Location: Dechaineux Lecture Theatre 41 Hunter St, Hobart
Description: Dr. Sally Rees is an artist whose practice often signals to ‘other’ realms, using a diverse range of old and new media, high and low tech and usually combining the two. Often employing found materials, images and concepts lifted from popular culture and her direct environment.

🗣️ Poetica Collective V2 | 6:00PM

Location: 72 Liverpool St, Hobart
Description: Poetica Collective began as a passion project—an experiment in making space for real stories, local sound, and human connection. Our first night filled the room with big feelings, brave shares, and that “I didn’t know I needed this” energy.

Thursday 31st

👨‍💼 Leadership Foundations | 9:00AM

Location: Mövenpick Hotel Hobart 28-32 Elizabeth St, Hobart
Description: Leadership Foundations with Martin Beeche is your gateway to building the skills and mindset every leader needs to inspire teams, navigate challenges, and lead with impact from day one.

🔥 Film, Fire & Food | 4:30PM

Location: The Loop, 157 Elizabeth St, Hobart
Description: Join us for a cozy night in with a lineup of feature student films on the big screen! At the end of the evening, cast your vote for your favourite film and help us crown the People’s Choice award winner.

Location: The Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre
Description: We're a bunch of ladies / non-binaries with high voices (soprano, mezzo and alto) in our 20s, 30s and 40s who meet weekly in town (Hobart) to "make music using only our mouths".

📚️ Penguin Fantasy Fest | 6:00PM

Location: Best Western Hobart Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street
Description: Penguin Fantasy Fest is coming to Hobart for the FIRST TIME! Get ready for a magical evening with some of our favourite Australian authors in the Fantasy genre, Lynette Noni, Keshe Chow and Sophie Clark on Thursday 31st July.

✏️ Stage Sketch | 7:00PM

Location: 142 Liverpool Street, Hobart
Description: Come and see drag, pole dancing and burlesque all accompanied by a DJ and then sketch all the performers. All skill levels welcome and there is a ticketing option to include materials that you can take home with you.

Friday 1st

Location: Lenah Valley Community Hall, 22 Creek Road, Lenah Valley
Description: Sessions offer 45-minute 'active dance play' activities that may include dance warm up, dance with ribbons, hula hoop freestyle, freeze dancing, parachutes, obstacles and a dance follow the leader conga line.

🎹 2025 Ossa Music Prize | 5:30PM

Location: Ian Potter Recital Hall, The Hedberg, 19 Collins Street Hobart
Description: Join us at The Hedberg for the final round, public concert and award ceremony for the University of Tasmania's 2025 Ossa Music Prize, featuring performances from our student finalists. The 2025 Prize and People's Choice Awards will be awarded at the end of the evening.

Location: 192 Macquarie St, Hobart
Description: To celebrate the launch of Tasmanian Whisky Week we're gathering at the Devils Brewery (The Duke) for a dram or two. It's a great chance to meet and mingle with distillers, distillery staff and fellow whisky lovers and raise a glass to Tassie whisky.