“City let down”: Hobart needs new leadership, Alderman says

A Hobart Alderman, who is putting up his hand for re-election, says the city deserves better and the leadership is letting Hobart down. ELECTION BID>>

Alderman Simon Behrakis says there’s a need for a change in leadership in Hobart ahead of local government elections, announcing his plans to run for deputy mayor.

If re-elected it would be Mr Behrakis’ second term as a Hobart City alderman.

“It’s been an interesting four years,” Mr Behrakis said.

“Some days you think they’re very rewarding, you think you’re accomplishing good things. Other days you feel like bashing your head against the desk in frustration at the some of the goings on and resistance to action”

Mr Behrakis said there was an appetite for change in the Hobart community.

“I think Hobart’s leadership team has let the city down, I think the city deserves better,” he said

“It’s a leadership team that that’s catered to a cohort in the community that share their ideological views.

“It’s one that’s actively stood in the way of development numerous times and that bears out in voting records.”

Hobart City Council Alderman Simon Behrakis in the lead up to council elections. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Behrakis believed some councillors were getting in the way of progress.

“There’s an attitude of anti-development, there’s an attitude of standing in the way of projects, not just housing projects but also infrastructure that would help grow the city,” he said.

“There’s confected reasons as to why they should be refused and these always come back before council inevitably having been overturned by the tribunal.

“It’s the capital city for our state so it plays a very important role in how Tasmania is presented to the rest of Australia.”

Mr Behrakis said the community had been clear about the issues that mattered to them, but that often concerns fell on deaf ears.

“The council commissioned a survey of the business community and the broader community as to what issues were important to them and what they thought council was doing well at,”

“The issues that came out of both surveys were the same, it was parking availability, it was congestion, it was planning, they’re the things we need to do better on.”

He said he would fight for the issues which community members are passionate about.

“Ultimately my priorities are the priorities the community has, that’s what the community has told us their priorities are,” Mr Behrakis said.

“I’ll be listening to them.“

“My only hope is the next four years will be productive and the only way that’s possible is with some better alderman around the table,” Mr Behrakis said.

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