News from the Hobart City Council Meeting on 27 July 2026

Land Hand Back – Queens Domain

Hobart City Council has taken a significant first step in what could become a first for an Australian capital city – endorsing in-principle support for the return of a portion of the Queens Domain to the Aboriginal community.

Council has endorsed a recommendation to proceed with the next steps for a hand back of a 4.9 hectares of the Queens Domain to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT).

The decision is the first important step before further investigations, community engagement and statutory processes can commence.

The decision recognises the significance of this landscape and the opportunity for a celebration of Tasmania’s Aboriginal culture and history.

The City of Hobart’s Master Plan for the public parkland says the Domain should be understood as an Aboriginal cultural landscape shaped over a long period by Aboriginal fire management practices. Ecological studies interpret the Domain’s rare grassy woodland as a surviving remnant of a much wider Aboriginal-managed landscape around the lower Derwent.

The proposal relates to approximately 4.9 hectares of land within the 230-hectare area of Queens Domain and follows requests from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and the ALCT for land to support an Aboriginal-owned and operated cultural centre.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the decision marked a positive milestone in a proposal of cultural significance for Tasmania – if it proceeds, it will be the first land hand back in twenty years, the first by a Tasmanian local government and one of only a small number by local government Australia wide.

The Council resolution does not approve the transfer of land, nor does it approve the construction of an Aboriginal cultural centre. Instead, Council has authorised the Chief Executive Officer to undertake the legal, planning, environmental, heritage and land tenure investigations required to proceed to future stages of consideration.

Community engagement will also form part of the process.

Any future proposal involving the transfer of public land would require a separate Council decision and would be subject to the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993, including public notification and opportunities for community input.

The report considered by Council noted that public access arrangements would need to be resolved as part of any future proposal.

The ALCT has advised that it intends for the land to remain accessible to the broader community.

LGAT Motion Supported

Council endorsed support for a motion from Break O’Day Council calling on Local Government Tasmania (LGAT) to advocate for a review, amendment or removal of Regulation 11(3) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Regulations 2024, which currently caps fees for permitted visitor accommodation applications at $250. Council noted that allowing councils to set cost-reflective fees aligns with the City of Hobart Housing Action Plan and would better reflect the costs associated with assessing these applications. Council also endorsed the City of Hobart’s own motion seeking LGAT advocacy to address the continued closure of licensed post offices across Tasmania and to call for a review of federal legislation governing Australia Post to help maintain a well-distributed network of post offices throughout the state.

Risk and Audit Panel – Revised Terms of Reference

Council has endorsed updated Terms of Reference for the Risk and Audit Panel to ensure it continues to operate under a contemporary governance framework that supports effective oversight, accountability and compliance with the Local Government Act 1993. The changes include allowing an alternate elected member to attend meetings when an appointed member is unavailable, removing references to responsibilities outside the Panel’s remit, extending elected member appointments for the full four-year Council term, clarifying the Panel’s oversight role across all strategic risks and internal audit findings, and making general administrative updates.

Transforming Collins Street Trial – Safety Issues – Notice of Motion Cr Louise Elliot

Council has endorsed a notice of motion seeking to address several issues identified following the Collins Street Trial. The motion calls for officers to investigate and resolve safety concerns at the Collins and Harrington Street intersection, restore a suitable drop-off zone near Village Cinema to improve accessibility and support local businesses, and address traffic congestion caused by changes to vehicle access from Victoria Street and the Centrepoint car park. During discussion, officers advised that some of the items called for in the motion have been previously identified and resolved. Council also endorsed a community awareness campaign, including on-site signage, to educate the public that the separated bike lanes on Collins Street are not permitted for e-scooter use.

Interim Dog Access – Notice of Motion Ald Louise Blomfield

Council acknowledged that the proposed off-lead dog exercise area at Lower Wellesley Park, which underpinned restrictions on dog access at South Hobart Oval, is no longer going ahead.

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