Damon Thomas says he is ready for another tilt at Lord Mayor

FREE Wi-Fi across the city, free bus services during peak hours and better rates relief for pensioners are all part of Alderman Damon Thomas’s bid to become Hobart lord mayor.

Lord mayor candidate Damon Thomas, second from right, unveils his council team which will run under the Liveable Hobart Group ticket, form left, Kasha Siena, Zelinda Sherlock, Robin Allardice and Fiona Irwin. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

FREE Wi-Fi across the city, free bus services during peak hours and better rates relief for pensioners are all part of Alderman Damon Thomas’s bid to become Hobart lord mayor.

Ald Thomas is seeking to regain the seat he lost to Sue Hickey in 2014.

“I’m passionate and have lost none of my enthusiasm for this city,” he said.

Ald Thomas will run for the coveted job under a ticket called Liveable Hobart Group, which consists of: Robin Allardice — a nationally recognised chartered accountant; Zelinda Sherlock — former Labor candidate for Denison; Fiona Irwin — senior officer of student retention and success at the University of Tasmania; and Kasha Siena, president of the Salamanca Market Stallholders’ Association.

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Ald Thomas said the team’s vision for Hobart included better public transport infrastructure to combat Hobart’s traffic woes, including more bus services and increased frequency on popular routes.

“We will urge the council to work with the State Government to improve public transport and, at a minimum, expand free Metro bus transport to all school-age bus commuters and potentially morning and afternoon peak commuter services,” he said.

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The team’s top priorities include raising the council’s rates remission for pensioners, embracing smart city technology for council services, extending free public Wi-Fi across the city, and working with tourism bodies and property developers to support sustainable tourism and Hobart’s growing population.

Ald Thomas said his team had embraced a line from the recently completed city vision document Hobart: A community vision for our island capital.

“As we grow, we remember what makes this place special,” Ald Thomas said.

“That’s the way we want to progress. Let’s encourage quality tourism where they live with us and not on top of us.”

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Ald Thomas said the council had a critical role to play in addressing Hobart’s affordable housing crisis.

“We will closely examine Hobart’s commercial district, where owners of vacant or under-utilised properties incur significant property holding costs, and move to introduce a rates remission for owners who adapt their property for affordable housing,” he said.

Ald Thomas will run against aldermen Anna Reynolds, Marti Zucco and Bill Harvey, and small business council chief Robert Mallett for the top civic job.