Hobart Workshop Committee - 16 March 2026

The City of Hobart Workshop Committee meeting held on March 16, 2026, focused primarily on discussions around the Argo Street car park operating hours, the Hobart bike plan 2026, the waterfront interpretation project, and the status and future options for Dorney House. Regarding procurement and budget matters, the committee reviewed a financial analysis of extending Argo Street car park to 24-hour operation, which would incur an additional $172,000 in labor costs. The recommendation was to delay such an extension until technology upgrades improve financial viability. The Hobart bike plan was presented as a consolidated citywide cycling network plan, with discussions emphasizing the need for clear implementation strategies and cost estimates for infrastructure projects. The waterfront interpretation project was introduced with a $230,000 capital budget approved for installation of interpretive storytelling sites along the waterfront. Finally, the Dorney House update highlighted significant maintenance costs of about $200,000 annually, with no current revenue, and recommended issuing an expression of interest (EOI) focused on tourism-related uses. The committee discussed the need for further studies on road access, infrastructure upgrades, and potential lease models to support sustainable use of the heritage-listed site. No formal votes were recorded, but several action items were identified, including pursuing technology upgrades for parking, refining the bike plan with costings, progressing the waterfront project, and initiating the EOI process for Dorney House.