News from Hobart City Council meeting January 2026
Published on 27 January 2026
Local Government Electoral Bill 2025 & Local Government Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2025
The Hobart City Council has endorsed providing a submission to the Tasmanian Government on the draft Local Government Electoral Bill 2025 and Local Government Amendment (Electoral Reforms) Bill 2025.
The submission outlines Council’s detailed positions on a wide range of proposed electoral reforms, including changes to voting methods, enrolment eligibility, candidate nomination requirements, transparency measures, and the introduction of caretaker provisions for councils during election periods.
Council’s feedback reflects its long‑standing advocacy for fair, transparent and modern electoral processes, while also raising concerns about proposed investigatory powers and elector poll thresholds, recommending alternative approaches.
Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre –New Fees and Charges 2025-2026
The City of Hobart has endorsed a new parking fee structure for the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre to improve access and manage ongoing parking pressures.
New innovative licence plate recognition technology will is being installed to ensure fairer use of the car park, with free parking for Centre users followed by fees in line with other City on street parking. Members will receive up to three hours free parking per visit, and casual users up to two hours. A $60 daily fee will apply to non‑validated parking or stays beyond five hours to deter non‑Centre users.
The new system maintains affordability, rewards member loyalty and supports fair access for the community.
Hobart: A City for All – Action Plan 2026-2029
The City of Hobart has endorsed the Hobart: City for All –Action Plan 2026-2029, a consolidated framework outlining key community inclusion and equity actions for the next three years.
The Action plan brings together seven former community commitments into a single, streamlined approach covering key program areas including youth, older people, multicultural communities, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, community safety, equal access, and housing and homelessness, developed through extensive community and stakeholder engagement. Council will receive annual progress reports on implementation.
2025 Children’s Mayor Program – Outcome Report
The City of Hobart has received and noted the 2025 Children’s Mayor Program Outcome Report, noting the strong engagement from local primary school students and the valuable ideas submitted through this year’s program.
The 2025 Children’s Mayor, Deputy Mayor and highly commended students were recognised for proposals that are now informing Council projects, with officers considering opportunities to progress the children’s ideas where possible.
Extreme Weather Protocol Motion – Cr Ben Lohberger & Cr Mike Dutta
The City of Hobart has called on the Tasmanian Government to partner with Council to establish a pilot Extreme Weather Protocol to support people sleeping rough during periods of extreme weather. The proposed protocol would activate temporary emergency shelter during events of extreme heat or cold, supplementing existing Safe Space facilities when demand increases due to weather conditions.
The City has long advocated for a coordinated approach to emergency shelter during extreme weather, recognising the significant health and safety risks faced by people experiencing homelessness.
Working through the Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance (GHHA), City of Hobart staff have developed a detailed proposal for a State‑funded model. The work draws on collaboration with multiple agencies and organisations, including the Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Health, State Emergency Service, LGAT, neighbouring councils, Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, Hobart City Mission and the University of Tasmania.
Council resolved to provide funding for the proposal if the Tasmanian Government refuses, and to allocate the required funding in its next budget for a two-year trial, with the intention of passing the responsibility for the program funding back to the Tasmanian Government at the end of the trial period.