The identity of a city tends to form over a long time period. A city is shaped by its geographical characteristics, cultural elements, architectural character, tradition, customs and lifestyle. For that reason, these elements that define a great city should be considered together, as a whole.

Such is the challenge now facing Launceston. A beautiful city maintaining a rich cultural and architectural heritage, while also confidently re-imagining itself as a 21^st Century city – a great regional city, a city of education, a city of entrepreneurism, a city of start-ups; and a vibrant city doing surprisingly well in a post-pandemic context. If new developments are to succeed, they need to confidently contemplate all those objectives and build them into the fabric of the building. We’ll be bursting into print on those topics in the lead-up to the May 1st election, but we draw to your attention a development that reeks of confidence and must surely be applauded. We all wish for city vibrancy? Here’s a city heart-starter…

The Tatler Arcade re-development in St John Street creates a dining precinct in the retail heart of the city. Featuring a collection of eateries – cafe’s, restaurants, wine bars, retail and office spaces; the mock-up images we’ve seen, and indeed the site tour our Board undertook is reminiscent of Melbourne’s laneway culture. It’s something new in the heart of Launceston, and it embodies Launceston’s confident entrepreneurial spirit.

But what of the buses at it’s doorstep? Relaxed, unhurried outdoor dining is at odds with buses noisily belching diesel smoke all day as they drop-off & pick up. They should’ve been relocated by now but Council’s plans for the Paterson Street Bus interchange have been stymied by others. For now,  the problem needs a re-think and an interim solution for getting the buses out of St John Street …now! The success of the Tatler Arcade project needs it. Indeed, the City of Launceston’s Draft Transport Strategy needs it too… That envisions a city more connected and suited to active transport, one of tree-lined streets with pedestrians and cycleways. We’re thrilled by this – people cant spend in the retail heart while they’re sitting on their wallets in cars…. But again it’s at odds with the Buses.

There’s too much at stake to let problem sit unattended. To maintain the confidence of developers risking private capital on projects that benefit the city as a whole, there needs to be an interim solution until Paterson street gets underway. Let me hear your ideas – we’ll make sure they get heard by others.

If you haven’t heard about the Hydrogen Opportunity for Northern Tasmania, you may well be living under a rock! The investment opportunities and the long term economic benefits accruing to Northern Tasmania are not to be ignored.

You may recall we hosted a breakfast just before Christmas with NTDC on the same topic.  It was enthusiastically supported by members and non-members alike, especially the Premier and Energy Minister. Yesterday, we co-hosted a very successful Hydrogen lunch with the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone at Platinum Chamber member Country Club [link]. The Federal Minister for Energy Angus Taylor MP and State Energy Minister Guy Barnett MP outlined some of the opportunities that lay ahead and the future is indeed rosy, but with a decided green hue. There’s the USP.. Tasmanian Hydrogen is ‘green’ hydrogen made from 100% renewable energy and so deemed a more desirable product. Mr Taylor elaborated on the principal opportunities for Tasmania’s production of  ‘green & clean’ Hydrogen:

• Using a green H2 (hydrogen) source in the metals processing industry, converting H2 to NH3 (ammonia) for use as a fuel and as a cost effective way to transport H2.
• Future global demand for NH3 is as a shipping energy source that is low to no emission.
• Local opportunities arising from use of H2 and its downstream derivatives for  fuel cell manufacture and the eventual use as a vehicle energy source.

A key point he made is the importance of innovation in driving technological improvements and a decarbonisation of the economy rather than price impediments. That is by encouraging technical innovation rather than simply imposing taxes on old models.

Of the 5 principal approved proponents, at least 2 of them are a long way down the path of feasibility studies towards investment decision; and at least one of them is readying to commence community engagement with construction trades very soon… be assured the Chamber is keeping a focus on this important opportunity and working with BBAMZ, NTDC and the proponents themselves to ensure we maximise every opportunity for Northern Tasmania.