Council - 27 Jan 2026 4.00pm

Key decisions

• Hobart: A City for All - Action Plan 2026-29 approved
  The meeting approved the 'Hobart: A City for All' document in its current form.
  Sets the city's inclusion and equity actions for coming years.
• Extreme Weather Protocol support for rough sleepers endorsed
  Council carried clauses calling on the Tasmanian Government to fund Homes Tasmania to partner with Council on a pilot Extreme Weather Protocol, and also carried a clause to allocate Council funding in the next budget for a two-year trial if state funding is again refused.
  Could expand emergency shelter and support for people experiencing homelessness during heatwaves, bushfires and winter storms.
• Collins Street trial issues deferred for further consideration
  A motion seeking urgent fixes to safety, access and traffic issues arising from the Transforming Collins Street trial, plus public messaging about e-scooters in separated bike lanes, was deferred to the Hobart Workshop Committee.
  Residents, businesses and road users affected by Collins Street changes will need to wait for workshop review before any formal decision on further changes.
• No external investigation into Elected Members Lounge matter
  A motion to require the CEO to engage an external investigation into alleged offsite removal of refreshments and snacks from the Elected Members Lounge, and to make related organisational changes, was lost.
  No new investigation or immediate policy change was adopted on this matter.
• Council submission on electoral reform included support for campaign expenditure cap
  During consideration of Council's submission on the draft Local Government Electoral Bill 2025 and related electoral reforms, Council supported drafting its submission to support a $10,000 expenditure cap applying to all councils.
  May influence future local government election rules and campaign spending limits.
• Annual Report 2024-25 adopted
  Council adopted the City of Hobart Annual Report 2024-25.
  Confirms the city's yearly reporting on operations and performance.
• Code of Conduct determination report noted
  Council resolved to receive and note the Code of Conduct Determination Report concerning a complaint by Councillor Ryan Posselt against Councillor Louise Elliot.
  Finalises Council's formal consideration of that conduct report in open meeting.

Important topics

• DKHAC new fees and charges 2025-26
  An officer report on DKHAC fees and charges was listed and item 10 was later taken, but the extracted text does not clearly record the final resolution.
  May affect users of the relevant council facility or service, but the exact fee changes are unclear from the extracted material.
• Farmers Market relocation investigation
  In public question time and questions without notice, councillors and a resident raised the possible move of the Farmers Market from Bathurst Street to Collins Street. The CEO said Council had workshopped the proposal and requested more investigation, including wind advice, with an update scheduled for the Hobart Workshop Committee next month.
  Could affect market access, nearby traders, traffic and street use in central Hobart.
• Collins Street transport and safety concerns
  Issues raised included turning space at Collins and Harrington Streets, removal of a drop zone outside Village Cinema, Victoria Street traffic lane changes, and illegal e-scooter use in separated bike lanes.
  Directly affects drivers, bus operations, businesses, cinema visitors, people with disability access needs, and active transport users.
• Elector poll threshold in electoral reform submission
  Council's submission material argued elector polls are costly and should require signatures from 10 per cent of electors rather than the proposed 20 per cent threshold.
  Relates to how easily residents can trigger local elector polls in future.

Resident impacts

• Potential future emergency shelter support for rough sleepers during extreme weather, including possible council budget funding if state funding is not provided.
• No immediate resolution on Collins Street trial complaints; further review will occur through the Hobart Workshop Committee.
• Council has approved the 'Hobart: A City for All' action plan, which will guide inclusion-related work across the city.
• Possible future changes to local election rules may be advocated by Council, including a $10,000 campaign expenditure cap.
• Further investigation continues into a possible Farmers Market move to Collins Street, with workshop consideration flagged for next month.

Places affected

• Collins Street (road/project area)
  Subject of the Transforming Collins Street trial, possible Farmers Market relocation, bike lanes and access concerns.
• Bathurst Street (road)
  Current location referenced in questions about moving the Farmers Market.
• Harrington Street (road/intersection)
  Raised in relation to turning safety issues into Collins Street.
• Victoria Street (road)
  Raised over lane reductions and traffic delays exiting toward Collins Street.
• Village Cinema (facility)
  Mentioned in relation to removal of a drop zone affecting access and trade.
• Centrepoint Carpark (facility)
  Referenced as affected by traffic queuing from Victoria Street changes.
• Elected Members Lounge (council facility)
  Subject of the proposed but unsuccessful investigation motion.
• greater Hobart (service area)
  Area proposed to benefit from an Extreme Weather Protocol for rough sleepers.

Next steps

• Prepare Council submission supporting a $10,000 expenditure cap in response to the draft Local Government Electoral Bill 2025 reforms.
  Following the meeting as part of the submission process
• Bring Collins Street trial issues to the Hobart Workshop Committee for further consideration.
  Future workshop committee meeting
• Investigate further matters relating to the proposed Farmers Market relocation to Collins Street, including wind advice.
  Update scheduled for the next month at the Hobart Workshop Committee
• Consider allocating funding in the next Council budget for a two-year Extreme Weather Protocol trial if state funding is refused again.
  Next budget process

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES Open Portion Tuesday, 27 January 2026 At 4.00pm Council Chamber, Town Hall Minutes (Open Portion) Council Meeting 27/1/2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS PRESENT, APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ................................................... 4 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ................................................................ 4 3. TRANSFER OF AGENDA ITEMS ............................................................. 5 4. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON .................................... 6 5. NOTIFICATION OF COUNCIL WORKSHOPS ......................................... 6 6. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME ............................................................