Future Tasmania: Leaders reveal how Launceston can become great

The planning and projects laid out now will determine whether in 10 years Launceston is one of the most liveable cities in Australia, or whether the opportunities before it pass by.

LAUNCESTON is at a sweet spot in its history says Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose.

“Probably the best time ever,” he told the Mercury.

The planning and projects laid out now will determine whether in 10 years, Launceston is one of the most liveable cities in Australia, or whether the opportunities before it pass by.

Mr Grose said money is flowing in the region with major developments underway, plenty of construction work, tourism on the up and niche agriculture with potential to boom in the north-east.

Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“We’ve got a huge natural advantage in that we’ve got the City Deal and it’s funded and there’s a whole range of tasks in that which will make our city a better place,” he said.

The Launceston City Deal is a collaboration of local, state and commonwealth Government as well as local partners to deliver a joint vision for Launceston to become one of Australia’s most liveable and innovative cities by 2027.

University of Tasmania and Mona’s interest in the region also pose major opportunities.

Mr Grose said Launceston has not yet seen the growing pains experienced by Hobart, but

“we have the opportunity to set those planning parameters right now.”

The first step to ensuring Launceston is a key part of Tasmania’s bright future, he says, is targeted population growth.

With the construction industry “going really well” and major road, mining and agriculture projects underway, the city needs to attract skilled workers to the region to stay.

“We need skilled people in that 18 to 55 [year old] demographic who bring with them skills with trades, businesses and so on,” Mr Grose said.

“In pretty much every trade, there’s a deficit in skills.”

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Mr Grose said TasTAFE also needed to be better supported and funded to deliver trade training.

He said the way to attract new skilled workers to the region was by making Launceston an attractive place to live and encouraging people to move into the CBD.

“Even if you increase the population of Launceston by 500 people in the CBD, it would change the economic dynamic of the city and it would change the social dynamic as well.”

He said as well as the CBD being activated and revitalised, there needed to be recreation and tourism opportunities outside the city for it to be become a “really cool place to live”.

University of Tasmania and Mona are currently two of the state’s most influential cultural institutions with bold visions for the city.

The University has recently had the first stage of its ‘Northern Transformation’ in Launceston approved by council.

If all stages are approved, it would see an ‘Inveresk Cultural and Educational Precinct’ developed on both banks of the North Esk River with 390 students living on campus.

The university expects the $300 million project, which includes new campuses at Burnie, to become central to the life of the city and region with “vibrant places where the community, business, industry, and the university can connect and collaborate”.

Accommodation for at least 50 students will also be built in the CBD, depending on demand.

Pro vice chancellor (Launceston) Dom Geraghty said the transformation would be a “heart of education, culture and sport for Launceston”.

University of Tasmania Professor Vice Chancellor (Launceston) Dom Geraghty. Picture: SUPPLIED

He said the development would grow Launceston’s student population, which he believes will include a significant increase in international students over the next 15-20 years.

“We’ve already had quite an influx of diversity in the form of migrants and refugees into Launceston, which has created a huge, wonderful multicultural concept for our lovely city.

“This idea is that we will have the students living in the city from all around the world … all around Australia and all around Tasmania, mingling with the long term residents of Launceston. That can only be a good thing.”

“Vibrancy is what we’re trying to create.

“With vibrancy … comes safety. The more people you have in a place, the safer that place becomes.”

Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie recently told the Mercury he wanted the Mona Foma festival to eventually change the culture of Launceston.

Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie at the launch of the Mona Foma festival program for 2020. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“We had a plan to change the culture [in Hobart] in 10 years and we changed it in about five years. Our job is done,” he said.

“The culture was changed. We’re hoping to do the same here or at least offer something.”

Mr Grose said he had spoken Mr Ritchie about the opportunities art projects could provide Launceston in terms of culture, tourism and liveability.

“The last thing we want to do is recreate Mona in Launceston, because we’re not Hobart,” he said.

“We have to find our niche, and our niche, I think, should be public art rather than gallery based art. We’ve got some beautiful river banks, parks and beautiful wide streets.

“We got plenty of scope for it, we’ve just got to be a bit bold.”