The Committee for Greater Hobart is an independent, apolitical, think tank that is focused on improving the liveability of the region for the benefit of all of its residents.  

In its first six months of operation, the Committee undertook foundational research, and listened to its member organisations, young people and experts in the transport and education and training sectors to understand what they believed was important for the future liveability of our region. 

A number of areas that need attention were highlighted, including: 

• As our population has grown we haven’t built enough houses and house prices and rents have increased significantly. 
• As the city has sprawled, our transport systems haven’t been able to meet our need for safe, accessible and affordable options for people to travel around the region. 
• We have struggled to develop our young people, and to attract and retain talented people for the jobs we need now and into the future. 
• Our health system is under great pressure and there is a lack of preventative services, particularly in communities with the highest needs. 
• There is limited awareness of the potential impacts of climate change in our communities, and how we may need to adapt our lifestyles and industries to meet future net zero goals. 
• There is no clear road map for how we are going to inclusively and sustainably grow the economy of the region for the benefit of everyone. 
• As we just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to projects and ideas without proper research and balanced debate, we lose the opportunity to understand and weigh up their potential benefits.  

Our research into cities and regions across the world that are thriving showed that they have developed a clear and distinct ambition and a clearly articulated, community-owned and supported plan for the future. They also had a transparent and accountable way of delivering that plan. 

There are many plans for the future of Greater Hobart. Many developed in isolation, and many acknowledge that the solutions to known problems are often out of the geographic boundaries or scope of their responsibilities and finances.  

The Committee believes that the incoming government needs to address what is important for the future liveability of the region. This conversation should then lead to a practical, tangible and robust plan for the region that involves the community in answering a number of important questions: 

• How do we deliver safe, accessible and affordable housing? 
• How do we provide safe, accessible and affordable transport? 
• How do we ensure that we have the capability to develop, attract and retain talented people? 
• How can people access services that improve and sustain their health and wellbeing? 
• How are we going to resiliently and adaptably respond to climate change? 
• How do we develop an inclusive, sustainable and growing economy? 
• How can we work together as a community to respond positively and progressively to future-focused and positive change? 

We need tangible and practical solutions that people can visualise and understand in a transparent and accountable regional plan. A plan that is designed with and by the community, with confidence that it will be delivered and independent oversight and accountability. 

If you are a candidate in the upcoming Tasmanian election, or are responsible for creating policies that affect the daily lives of Greater Hobart residents, we ask that you stop and consider how you would answer these questions with and for the community.