Light rail and justice at the top of Glenorchy City Council mayor’s wish list

Glenorchy’s future hinges on the Hobart City Deal and funding for a light rail service to foster growth, says the city’s mayor.

GLENORCHY’S future hinges on the Hobart City Deal and the funding for a light rail service to foster growth in education and jobs in the city, says Mayor Kristie Johnston.

A year since her re-election, Ald Johnston has vowed to fight to ensure the state and federal governments substantiate their written commitment to the City Deal by funding it in this year’s federal budget.

“Over the coming months I will be working with my mayoral colleagues from Hobart, Kingborough and Clarence to ensure the City Deal is backed by budgeted funding commitments that mean that we can realise the enormous potential it creates for our whole region,” Ald Johnston said.

She said light rail would also remove one of the barriers Glenorchy students face when trying to access higher education at university — transport.

“The light rail project would also open up opportunities for student accommodation to be built in the northern suburbs in our many brownfield sites that would then provide an excellent connection via rail to the heart of the CBD,” she said.

“The provision of student accommodation in the northern suburbs and the increased opportunity to physically access higher education would change the perception about education in our community.”

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Glenorchy City Council deputy mayor Matt Stevenson and Mayor Kristie Johnston one year on from the council’s election. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

It has been a tough 12 months for Glenorchy and its ratepayers who had to endure a 12.5 per cent rates hike to cover financial mismanagement from the previous council.

“Our approach to dealing with this difficult and unpalatable decision was to be honest and open about our decision-making process — we didn’t sugar-coat it, and provided evidence of our situation,” Ald Johnston said.

Last January, Ald Johnston romped home to victory in the 2018 local government election, held after the State Government sacked the council in 2017, citing years of infighting and poor governance.

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The council is forecasting another tight budget. Adding to its woes is the need to address the significant challenges associated with the limited life of the Jackson St landfill site.

The council is considering several strategies to extend the life of the landfill beyond 2020, the development of a waste transfer station and the transport of waste to the regional facility at Copping.

“With our landfill site filling fast, the council is working hard to ensure we manage our waste services so we are environmentally and financially sustainable,” Ald Johnston said.

Last year, the Integrity Commission report made findings against two former Glenorchy City Council officers and a former mayor over attempts to improperly gain financial benefits of up to $1 million.

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“The legacy issues of the past administration will continue to have an impact for many years to come on our finances, however we believe that the saving and expenditure measures taken in the ’18-’19 budget provide a solid foundation for moving forward,” Ald Johnston said.

“The lack of justice for our community is unacceptable and without prosecutions it sends the wrong message to the sector that you can abuse the trust of the community you are elected to serve and get away with it.”