THE Tasmanian Government last week announced the release of the Macquarie Point community consultation report, which provides an outline of the qualities and distinguishing characteristics viewed as most important by the community in any future site development.
Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the 'Shared Vision – Consultation Report' demonstrates the significant of the project, with more than 1,200 community members taking the 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to provide feedback and help shape Hobart's economic, social and cultural growth.
TASMANIAN Sustainable Transport Minister Nick McKim last week joined with Hobart Lord Mayor, Damon Thomas, and the Glenorchy Mayor, Stuart Slade, to launch the new brand for Hobart's proposed light rail service, as well as likely operating details and graphic impressions of the project.
The service will be known as Riverline and its first stage will involve a Hobart to MONA return route. It is expected to require a minimum of five light rail vehicles, with each vehicle capable of carrying up to 300 passengers at a time.
TASMANIAN Premier Lara Giddings last week announced that the First Home Builder Boost will be doubled to $30,000 to stimulate activity and job creation in the building industry, following an earlier increase in the grant last year.
The grant for first home owners who choose to buy or build a new home will now be increased from $15,000 to $30,000, effective immediately. Ms Giddings said the take-up of the grant, which was increased from $7,000 last year, had been slower than expected.
THE Tasmanian Government last week said the community is being given the opportunity to shape the future of one of Hobart's most exciting and important long-term projects – the remediation and redevelopment of the Macquarie Point railyards site.
Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the redevelopment of Macquarie Point will be a centrepiece of the city for generations to come so it is vital that the community have a say on the shape it will take.
THE Australian Government last week reaffirmed its commitment to Tasmania, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, announcing that the government will deliver on its pre-election commitment of providing more than $100 million in an economic package for Tasmania.
Mr Truss said the $100 million economic package, along with other initiatives associated with the government's Economic Growth Plan for Tasmania, will fund projects aimed at stimulating Tasmania's economy by supporting economic growth and jobs.
TASMANIAN Planning Minister Bryan Green last week announced that more than half of Tasmania's local councils now have new planning schemes, following the declaration of the West Tamar and Meander Valley planning schemes.
The Minister, who also declared planning schemes for all local councils in the Cradle Coast Region last week, said that the signing-off on schemes for the West Tamar and Meander Valley councils brings the total of new schemes to 15.
TASMANIAN Planning Minister Bryan Green has announced the declaration of nine new planning schemes for all councils in the Cradle Coast Region, as part of the government's planning reform program that aims to deliver contemporary and more consistent planning schemes across the state.
Making the announcement last Wednesday, Mr Green congratulated the councils on being the first region in the State to have consistent new planning schemes, adding that the government's reforms are focused on reducing costs and barriers to job-creating developments and housing through streamlined planning systems.
THE Tasmanian Government last week announced that demolition work has begun to make way for Citta Group's $100 million redevelopment of Parliament Square, which aims to revitalise the cultural, business and heritage of Hobart's cityscape and provide a link from the city centre to the waterfront.
Premier Lara Giddings said the stage one demolition works, which involve 6 Salamanca Place, 2-4 Salamanca Place and other auxiliary buildings in the Parliament precinct, will take about six months, with construction of the new office building and refurbishment of heritage buildings scheduled to commence in early 2014.
TASMANIAN Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Bryan Green this week welcomed the release of draft new planning schemes for all southern Tasmanian councils as another major step in the overhaul of Tasmania's planning system.
Making the announcement on Tuesday with the chairman of the Southern Council's management committee chairman, Lord Mayor Damon Thomas, Mr Green said the draft interim schemes for the 12 southern councils were now available for public consultation.
TASMANIAN planning reforms to introduce new planning schemes based on a common state-wide template are moving ahead, with Planning Minister Bryan Green this month declaring planning schemes for Northern Midlands and Break O'Day councils.
The declaration of the Northern Midlands Interim Planning Scheme 2013 and the Break O'Day Interim Planning Scheme 2013 follows the declaration of the state's first new planning scheme in October last year, the Launceston Interim Planning Scheme 2012.
THE first turbines at Tasmania's largest wind farm development, the $395 million Musselroe Wind Farm located 100 kilometres north-east of Launceston at Cape Portland, are now turning and generating energy into the state's electricity grid.
The wind farm, developed in partnership between Hydro Tasmania and Chinese energy company, Shenhua, is expected to generate 168 megawatts, or enough energy to supply the needs of up to 50,000 homes when fully operational.
THE Tasmanian Planning Commission has issued a permit and rezoned land to allow Claremont Golf Club to proceed with a proposed $85 million residential, tourism and sporting development on the Claremont Peninsula.
A combined permit issued by the Commission allows for the subject land to be used for the purpose of multi-storey dwelling units and to be developed by construction of 50 three bedroom and 25 two bedroom apartments in 5 residential towers, with car parking and associated site works.
THE Tasmanian Government last week revealed the recommended options to boost access to Tasmania's busiest public transport corridor between Hobart and Glenorchy, which will inform the draft Transit Corridor Plan to be released for consultation by April 2013.
Sustainable Transport Minister Nick McKim said the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources together with Metro Tasmania, Hobart City and Glenorchy City Councils, has developed options to make it easier for people to use public transport between Hobart CBD and Glenorchy.