Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor Growth Strategy released, outlines plan for ‘new way of living’ in Hobart

A glossy new strategy document has detailed grand plans to revitalise the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor, promising to offer a “new way of living” in Greater Hobart.

The disused rail line on the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor at Moonah. A strategy to activate the corridor has been released. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

An activated Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor will “offer a new way of living” by encouraging the construction of medium-density infill housing and mixed-use development along the disused rail line between Macquarie Point and Granton, a new report has declared.

Prepared by Cox Architecture for the Department of State Growth, the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor Growth Strategy, which will be released by the state government on Sunday, outlines a vision to “accelerate growth and shape the long-term direction of Greater Hobart”.

The activation of the corridor is a key component of the Hobart City Deal, which was signed by the state and federal governments, as well as the four Greater Hobart councils, in 2019.

Anchored by the proposed new bus rapid transit (BRT) system that will run on the corridor, the strategy identifies the four-kilometre stretch between Glenorchy and New Town as the first focus area for the project.

The state government will release the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor Growth Strategy on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

It details a plan to prioritise the development of “compact and well-designed precincts” around five new BRT stations in the region, which is projected to accommodate a significant proportion of the new homes and population along the corridor in the coming decades.

Business, Industry and Resources Minister Eric Abetz said a new rapid bus network would bring with it surrounding investment because it could provide residents with “fast and direct access to employment, education, and services”.

“The Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor will offer a great lifestyle, housing choice, fast and direct public transport, and a sustainable vibrant economy, nestled between the mountains and river,” he said.

The government will also release draft Medium Density Design Guidelines on Sunday, emphasising terrace, townhouse, and low-to-mid-rise apartment developments and responding to the trend of urban sprawl by focusing instead on infill projects.

A mix of rental, affordable, and social housing would be provided on the corridor and the strategy suggests the government could put in place provisions to incentivise affordable housing so that growth in the area doesn’t create a “social divide”.

Business, Industry and Resources Minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The document does not make clear a timeline for the corridor’s activation but says the project would be divided into three stages: pre-activation, during-activation, and post-activation.

It says the during-activation stage would consist of an “approximately first 10-year period”, while the potential duration of the pre- and post-activation phases are not specified.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said critical ways of addressing the city’s housing crisis were “offering development certainty” and “minimising obstacles in the development appraisal process”.

“We are pleased to see the opportunity open for the people of Hobart to have their say on the new draft Medium Density Design Guidelines and encouraged to see the state government release the draft guidelines for public comment,” she said.

Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey said more needed to be done to provide people with greater housing choice and the new guidelines were “a great first step to show us how”.

“The Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the makeup of Glenorchy’s urban areas and bring more people to live closer to services, ideally supported by high quality public transport,” she said.