Council - 23 Feb 2026 5.15pm

Key decisions

• Dog Management Policy 2026-2031 adopted
  Council adopted the Dog Management Policy for the City of Hobart for 2026-2031 after considering public submissions received during consultation.
  Sets the rules for dog management across Hobart, affecting where and how residents can exercise dogs.
• Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens land-transfer clause amended
  An amendment carried to replace clause 3 so that the CEO is authorised to negotiate with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens regarding land transfer to Hobart City Council and return a report to Council.
  Could affect future management or access arrangements for land involving the Botanical Gardens, but no final land-transfer decision was made at this meeting.
• South Hobart Oval provisions retained in adopted dog management attachment
  A proposed amendment to limit off-lead dog exercise at South Hobart Oval to weekday mornings only was lost. Attachment C, including the section referencing South Hobart Oval, was then adopted as recommended.
  Dog access arrangements affecting South Hobart Oval were not reduced in the way proposed by the failed amendment.
• Meeting time-limit proposal deferred
  A motion to amend standing orders so ordinary council meetings must end by 8:30 pm, with only limited extension to 9:00 pm, was deferred to a workshop for further consideration.
  No immediate change to how late council meetings can run, but governance changes may return later.
• Motion on second-generation rodenticides advanced in extracted record
  A motion was presented for the City to write to LGAT and the Federal Minister and run a community awareness campaign to discourage second-generation rodenticides. The extracted text records the motion and officer commentary but does not clearly show the final vote outcome.
  If progressed, this could influence pest-control practices and public education about rodent poisons.

Important topics

• MacPoint Northern Access Road concept design
  Listed as an officer report on the agenda, but no clear decision text is available in the extracted content.
  Potentially relevant to transport access and redevelopment around Macquarie Point.
• Southern Tasmanian Regional Land Use Strategy
  Listed as an officer report, but the provided extract does not include a clear decision or outcome.
  Regional planning settings can affect future housing, transport and land-use outcomes.
• Mount Nelson Local Area Mobility Plan
  Listed on the agenda and also referenced in a recent council workshop.
  May affect local traffic, walking, cycling and street access in Mount Nelson.
• Argyle/Campbell Street bike lanes review
  A twelve-month review of the Argyle/Campbell Street bike lanes was listed on the agenda, but no decision is clearly captured in the extract.
  Relevant to road use, safety and active transport in the central city area.
• Collins Street private bus stop relocation proposal withdrawn
  A motion concerning relocation of private bus activity from Collins Street was withdrawn with the seconder’s consent after officer advice said broader removal of buses from Collins Street was not warranted.
  No immediate change to current private bus use on Collins Street.
• Closed session included legal proceedings and commercial matters
  Council moved into closed session for matters including current legal proceedings and an Elizabeth Mall Booth EOI.
  Some consequential decisions may have been made in closed session, but details were not available in the open extract.

Resident impacts

• Dog owners should expect Hobart's updated dog management rules to apply for 2026-2031.
• South Hobart residents and oval users were directly affected by debate over dog access at South Hobart Oval; the proposed tighter weekday-only morning restriction did not pass.
• Potential future changes involving land at or with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens will return to Council after CEO negotiations.
• No immediate change was made to Collins Street private bus arrangements because the motion was withdrawn.
• Any city advocacy or awareness campaign on second-generation rodenticides remains uncertain from the extracted record because the final vote outcome is unclear.

Places affected

• South Hobart Oval (facility)
  Debated in the Dog Management Policy review regarding off-lead dog exercise arrangements.
• South Hobart (suburb)
  Residents are affected through proposed and adopted dog management settings for the oval.
• Collins Street (road)
  Subject of a withdrawn motion about relocating private bus company stopping activity.
• Elizabeth Mall (city precinct)
  Referenced in a closed-session item concerning a booth expression of interest.
• Mount Nelson (suburb)
  Referenced through the Mount Nelson Local Area Mobility Plan and a council workshop.
• Argyle Street (road)
  Included in the twelve-month review of Argyle/Campbell Street bike lanes.
• Campbell Street (road)
  Included in the twelve-month review of Argyle/Campbell Street bike lanes.
• Macquarie Point (redevelopment area)
  Referenced through the MacPoint Northern Access Road concept design assessment.

Next steps

• CEO to negotiate with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens regarding land transfer and report back to Council
  In due course
• Meeting time-limit proposal to be considered at a workshop
  Future workshop
• Any further action on second-generation rodenticides depends on the unresolved motion outcome in the full minutes
  Unclear from extract
• Further details of closed-session matters, if any become public, may appear in later council reporting
  After the meeting or in subsequent agendas/minutes

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES Open Portion Monday, 23 February 2026 At 5.15pm Council Chamber, Town Hall Minutes (Open Portion) Council Meeting 23/2/2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS PRESENT, APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ................................................... 5 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ................................................................ 5 3. TRANSFER OF AGENDA ITEMS ............................................................. 6 4. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON .................................... 6 5. NOTIFICATION OF COUNCIL WORKSHOPS ......................................... 7 6. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME ............................................................