THE LAUNCESTON WE WANT

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Many of the buildings and places we would think have heritage protection don't, as there are serious gaps in the various local and state listings. Consequently, we still see buildings destroyed, removing this unique fabric from our city. Most owners of these buildings understand they are the caretaker of a valuable community asset. Our built heritage makes us unique: we have some of the most contiguous and intact streetscapes in the whole country. Tourists marvel at the workmanship, and locals are justifiably proud.

Watching the destruction of this heritage has been one of the more frustrating experiences of being an elected councillor. I am a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, and have regularly spoken out against the opportunistic destruction of heritage homes and buildings. Without a serious effort now, many more buildings will be lost, or at least seriously compromised through short term gain. That serious effort means completing our list of heritage precincts and individual buildings, and entering these plans onto the new state wide planning scheme urgently.

We must also do more to assist and educate owners of these properties, so that the obligation or maintaining them is not too burdensome. It is time that Council has a Heritage Centre, with advice, recycling, materials and expertise available to assist in the ongoing preservation. Launceston will benefit through increasing tourism and a developing national identity that these services will enhance.

Launceston is at the crossroads, with pressure coming from population growth, housing shortages, tourism and restricted growth corridors.  Appropriate development considers the impact upon the whole community. But how do we ensure that developers listen to community concerns?

We need to develop a community plan of what is appropriate, how tall buildings can be and what location is appropriate. The intent of the planning scheme is entirely for that purpose, however efforts to adhere to that have been thwarted over and over again. After much community concern about the prospect of inappropriate building heights, the 2018 Building Height and Massing Study by Paul Davies should have brought certainty to both developers and residents. Instead, its recommendations have been altered, and Council have yet to implement what parts remain. Worse than that, Council are now creating exemptions for developers, known as a specific area plans, after being found in excess of the existing limits.

None of this augers well for the process of following a set of rules that protect everyone, fellow developers included. There is a way forward, but that requires a Council who is willing and able to stand up for the best of both worlds: development that does not have to impact the liveability and amenity of our beautiful and historic city.

Creating CBD and suburban centre green spaces, ensuring parking is accessible and affordable, bringing people to live in the city, and enhancing genuine alternative transport options are all vital to enlivening the CBD.

Imagine a pedestrian and cycleway under Wellington Street at the Queen Victoria Museum connecting Royal Park and Seaport to the city.

A 40 km/h zone throughout the CBD, allowing cars to share the road with bikes, and more importantly getting scooters off the footpath.

Civic Square as the bus interchange for the CBD, with bus stops on each side, negating the need for an expensive and unnecessary bus interchange building.

More green spaces in the CBD, including next to Centreway Arcade, in various laneways, the Cimitiere Street carpark, and next to the Elizabeth St carpark.

Imagine if Launceston Council committed to a significant apartment/parking/retail project, working with and preserving the surrounding heritage shops and bringing 100's of people to live in the city. We have the land, we have a Federal Government committed to providing housing solutions, it's time to act.

Imagine actively working with all shop owners to improve the variety and sustainability of specialty retail businesses in Launceston.

Imagine a bridge across the kanamaluka / Tamar at Forster Street connecting to the West Tamar Highway, removing thousands of cars from having to go through the CBD.

I'd love to hear what you imagine for our city.

The measure of any community is its ability to care for its most vulnerable. People are on the streets. By creating Launceston's Homeless Advisory Committee and Action Plan, I wanted Launceston to be the best city in Australia in its response to those who are homeless, no matter what their circumstance. Governments on all levels have been lax in their response, and delays in decisive action cannot be allowed to continue.

Our local response to this widespread issue will determine the worth of our council. Coordinating the response from all the various agencies, listening to the lived experiences, and lobbying state and federal governments for the necessary resources and planning instruments are all part of the work that needs to be done post-haste.

We desperately need creative and socially responsive solutions that include temporary housing, more publicly accessible facilities, and government led housing initiatives that cater for a wide range of needs. This means opportunities for young, single, aged, and people living with a disability to enter the housing market.

Further, we need to accept that an increasing amount of people are finding difficulty maintaining their connectivity to the broader community. Drug and health related issues, especially mental health related, have continued to grow. While we can debate the causes of this social dislocation, we have to find a positive way forward to accomodate this shift in human experiences.

There is a shortage of central and free or affordable community space for groups, young people and non-profit organisations in Launceston. As a council we should always help facilitate the socially positive interaction of our residents, encouraging community building and cohesiveness, and provide our youth with vibrant spaces.

One opportunity that awaits embracing is the impending sale of the Paterson Street Barracks, currently owned by the Federal Government. I will encourage Launceston Council to express an interest in taking ownership of the facility. This is a unique opportunity for public meeting space, a public history room, outdoor market and meeting spaces, along with various outbuildings for other uses. Seeing these buildings fall into private developer hands does nothing for the building of a creative and dynamic culture, only gives a the developer a prime site at the community's expense.

A recent example is the sale of the TAFE buildings on Wellington Street. These substantial public assets, unable to be replaced for the price they were sold, are now lost for public utility forever. There is no chance that any level of government could afford to buy land in the CBD, even less to build such substantial properties again. There is a long list of community based activity that could be supported and facilitated through community ownership, but only if Launceston Council has the will to provide this community benefit.

There is a distinct lack of spaces dedicated to our younger people, whether it be micro skate parks in public spaces, small playgrounds, and civic green spaces for socialising and relaxing. While the Civic Square refurbishment has been a positive start, there is much more we can do to provide spaces in our central and suburban business districts that will enhance our city's liveability.

Finally, our new Australian communities are still finding their feet, and discovering opportunities to meet and share spaces with the broader community. While our Polish and Italian communities built community spaces in years gone by, it is harder now for new communities to achieve this. A central community space would assist.

Over the past four years, I have brought Launceston Council on a journey to listen to, and learn from, the first Tasmanians, the palawa people of lutruwita/Tasmania. We no longer celebrate January 26, we fly the Aboriginal flag, we agree that the name of Batman Bridge must change, and we are developing a comprehensive Aboriginal Partnership Plan that will see Launceston Council develop an ongoing relationship of respect and connection with the Aboriginal Community.

This is an important time in our history as a city: we have begun the walk towards listening and understanding our indigenous culture. I will continue to build this relationship to create a strong and proud community for all.