Committee for Greater Hobart

We’re helping create a Greater Hobart that is fulfilling its potential and is the best it can be, for everyone who lives here.

The Committee for Greater Hobart is a community-funded think tank working with the Greater Hobart community to create a better future for all.

We exist to work with Greater Hobart to envision and fulfil the potential that we all know it has.

In doing so, we also want to work with the community in our region to collectively define the challenges and opportunities we share and find ways to strategically address them.

Like the many other Committees for Cities around the country (we’re the 23rd to be set up), we do this through engagement, research, leadership and advocacy and a deep passion for this place we call home. We’re a connector and catalyst for strategic conversations, not a competitor, and we work to bring our community in Greater Hobart together.

Ultimately, we’re helping make our region a vital, inclusive, progressive and sustainable place to live for all.

What we do

Engagement

We believe a positive, collaborative and diverse culture is vital to our region’s success, which is why we create connections and networks across Greater Hobart. To do this, we run events and education initiatives, and share information as widely as we can — because Greater Hobart gets better when we work together. It’s also why we’re deeply passionate about giving a voice to the young people of Tasmania, to ensure they have a say in what the future of their home looks like.

Research

We commission research, using best-practice techniques and a range of methods, that look into the challenges and opportunities our region is facing. We make sure what we find is accessible and useful to everyone in our region, not just members or experts. If our research starts debate and discussion, that’s great – we’re here to grow knowledge and find better ways to realise our potential.

Advocacy

We passionately advocate for our region, but we don’t take hasty positions on anything. We always think in the long-term, so we put our energy into promoting the outcomes from the independent research we commission, which allows decision makers and communities to use them in the most strategic and effective ways possible.

Membership

We create opportunities for our members to become part of an active network of leaders, experts and citizens who share knowledge and resources, and develop relationships that help our communities and organisations to thrive. We also collaborate with our members to shape the Committee’s priorities, as we all work together to benefit everyone in the Greater Hobart region.

Learning Summaries

To pave the way for a better future in Greater Hobart, we've drawn inspiration from other places, engaged with our members, and tapped into the wisdom of the younger generation.

We’ve also reviewed existing plans that are charting our path forward. By embracing diverse perspectives, we can collaboratively shape our subsequent initiatives. We acknowledge the ongoing need for insights and remain dedicated to deepening our collective understanding.

Growing Cities

Learning from comparable cities around the world.
Read the report

Members Workshop

Defining a shared understanding.
Read the report​

Visions Scan

Investigating plans for Hobart’s future.
Read the report​

Youth Workshop

Envisioning the future of Greater Hobart.
Read the report​

Foundation Members

Our inaugural Foundation Members have been instrumental to our journey, with all 15 providing input, thoughts and guidance on our direction. Twelve of these have also generously backed us financially, with three offering invaluable in-kind support. 

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Find out more about memberships

Our moment to shape our future.

We all know there’s something special about living in Greater Hobart.

But we also know that we’re not all that we could be.

There are places around the world where life flows better. Where communities are designed for people, not just cars. Where children can walk to school and parks. Where local businesses thrive. And where neighbours meet with ease. These places are not just dreams; they are real and they work well for everyone.

And here’s the thing: Hobart has everything it takes to be one of those places.

Our city’s liveability scores are not where they should be. We’ve heard loud and clear that people need and expect something better to live here, to stay here.

We believe it’s clear that the solution lies in a bigger, united strategy. Housing, transportation and community development aren’t separate issues; they’re pieces of a larger puzzle that affects us all.

The opportunity to build denser, well-serviced communities is key for housing. It’s about making sure that everyone, especially our younger generation and skilled professionals, can find a place to live that’s close to where they work and play. By doing this, we fuel our economy with a vibrant, creative culture in spaces that are safe, easy to get to and affordable.

Where we live, work and unwind are central to planning our transport network — a network that needs to serve every corner of our region effectively.

Recognising the interconnectedness of our region helps us understand the impact of the decisions made to this point. Decisions that have not necessarily worked in anyone’s favour.

We know that commendable efforts have already been made, particularly by our friends across the Greater Hobart metros, yet so much planning is still done in isolation. With plans and data scattered, the time has come to weave these threads together into a Greater Hobart Plan that’s well thought out and well supported.

To achieve this, we need to bridge the gap between local and state efforts. That’s why the Committee for Greater Hobart is spearheading the push for a more cohesive planning structure. We’re calling on Local and State governments to embrace a new model of collaboration; one that’s grounded in accountability, engagement and decisive action.

Our first step will be engaging with local and state officials to propose what this model looks like and to then start fulfilling it without delay. We are not advocating for another document to gather dust; we want to lay down a roadmap for a thriving Hobart, inspired by success stories from around the globe.

This moment offers a unique opportunity for our state leaders to commit to a new structure, a new model that prioritises integrated planning and accountability. Our State needs to make this a priority. What we do today will shape our future for the better.

So let’s come together, and plan together.

The time to act for a truly Greater Hobart is right now.

Our moment to shape our future.

We all know there’s something special about living in Greater Hobart.

But we also know that we’re not all that we could be.

There are places around the world where life flows better. Where communities are designed for people, not just cars. Where children can walk to school and parks. Where local businesses thrive. And where neighbours meet with ease. These places are not just dreams; they are real and they work well for everyone.

And here’s the thing: Hobart has everything it takes to be one of those places.

Our city’s liveability scores are not where they should be. We’ve heard loud and clear that people need and expect something better to live here, to stay here.

We believe it’s clear that the solution lies in a bigger, united strategy. Housing, transportation and community development aren’t separate issues; they’re pieces of a larger puzzle that affects us all.

The opportunity to build denser, well-serviced communities is key for housing. It’s about making sure that everyone, especially our younger generation and skilled professionals, can find a place to live that’s close to where they work and play. By doing this, we fuel our economy with a vibrant, creative culture in spaces that are safe, easy to get to and affordable.

Where we live, work and unwind are central to planning our transport network — a network that needs to serve every corner of our region effectively.

Recognising the interconnectedness of our region helps us understand the impact of the decisions made to this point. Decisions that have not necessarily worked in anyone’s favour.

We know that commendable efforts have already been made, particularly by our friends across the Greater Hobart metros, yet so much planning is still done in isolation. With plans and data scattered, the time has come to weave these threads together into a Greater Hobart Plan that’s well thought out and well supported.

To achieve this, we need to bridge the gap between local and state efforts. That’s why the Committee for Greater Hobart is spearheading the push for a more cohesive planning structure. We’re calling on Local and State governments to embrace a new model of collaboration; one that’s grounded in accountability, engagement and decisive action.

Our first step will be engaging with local and state officials to propose what this model looks like and to then start fulfilling it without delay. We are not advocating for another document to gather dust; we want to lay down a roadmap for a thriving Hobart, inspired by success stories from around the globe.

This moment offers a unique opportunity for our state leaders to commit to a new structure, a new model that prioritises integrated planning and accountability. Our State needs to make this a priority. What we do today will shape our future for the better.

So let’s come together, and plan together.

The time to act for a truly Greater Hobart is right now.