Legislation to move ahead on Hobart City Deal passes Tasmanian Parliament

Landmark legislation to move ahead on Hobart’s long-awaited City Deal has passed Tasmanian Parliament. Find out what it means for the four Greater Hobart councils.

LANDMARK legislation to move ahead on Hobart’s long-awaited City Deal has passed Tasmanian Parliament.

The Greater Hobart Act obliges the four Greater Hobart councils — Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough — to work together on cross-boundary decisions.

The Act, passed yesterday, sets the rules for planning, development and co-ordination between the four councils and the State Government.

“[It] allow the Tasmanian Government and southern councils to capitalise on the many possibilities on the horizon for our capital city, while also effectively managing and planning for pressures our city faces as it grows,” State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson said.

Liberal MP Michael Ferguson in State Parliament on Wednesday.

“It will create a strategic path forward for the Greater Hobart area and facilitate the implementation of the Hobart City Deal and its many exciting components.”

The Act will enable an advisory group of senior officials responsible for developing a work program, and a committee of ministers, the Lord Mayor and mayors to approve the work program.