The City of Hobart manages and maintains an extensive system of parks, gardens, bushland reserves, sports fields, recreational facilities and streetscapes.

This includes:

• conservation of 4500 hectares of Hobart’s unique natural and cultural heritage bushland
• services, recreational facilities and programs, including the Bush Adventures program and Bushcare volunteer program
• maintenance of 130 parks and playgrounds and 19 sports fields
• operating an industry-accredited nursery to grow trees, shrubs and seedlings.

The City of Hobart operates high-quality sporting ovals and venues of state significance.

The Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre is the largest in Tasmania. It offers:

• an Olympic size pool
• large modern gym
• wide variety of classes, including a highly-subscribed Learn to Swim program
• spa, sauna and steam room

The City delivers services and programs for older people, young people, children and families, people with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

It is responsible for community facilities, including the Youth Arts and Recreation Centre and Mathers House, as well as neighbourhood halls. It also delivers a community grants program to fund projects, services and events, organises citizenship ceremonies and has a key role in delivering community safety projects.

The Hobart City Council is the planning authority for the Hobart municipal area.

City Planning provides assessment services to ensure that planning, plumbing and building applications comply with the law.

Activities undertaken by City Planning include:

• assessment of development applications
• help in assessing planning applications with heritage implications
• promoting awareness of Hobart's heritage
• assessment and inspections of regulated plumbing works
• action on unlawful or unacceptable building and plumbing works.

City Planning also works to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions and helps the community to prevent or adapt to climate change impacts.

These functions promote Hobart as a destination of choice for business investment and tourism, as well as contributing to a more vibrant and active city for residents.

Economic development seeks to engage with business; facilitate quality development and investment; support the retail sector; attract students and international visitors, and contribute to the economy through international relationships.

Tourism and events include the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre in Hobart, marketing the city centre, Salamanca Market, and the annual Taste of Tasmania and Hobart Christmas Pageant.

Arts develops and supports programs and activities to enhance the cultural life of Hobart, including public art.

The Council comprises 12 elected representatives who are the decision makers and direction setters. In support of that role is the City of Hobart led by the General Manager, who is supported by the executive leadership team to implement Council decisions and policies.

The executive leadership team comprises the General Manager and director of each of the six divisions. The City of Hobart workforce consists of 585 full-time-equivalent officers who deliver services, projects and programs to the community.

Corporate Operations activities include:

• Customer Service Centre
• Aldermanic support and administering Council and Committee meetings
• managing portfolio of insurance policies
• risk management
• internal and external audits and quality control
• legal services
• human resource services
• workplace health and safety advice and support
• payroll services
• information and records management systems
• information and communication technology services

Strategic planning includes strategic and operational planning and development for the City.

Financial services include:

• development and implementation of financial management plans
• maintaining ratepayer records
• invoicing and receipting rates revenue
• procurement and contract services
• managing accounts payable and receivable
• managing loan and investment portfolios
• financial accounting, budget development and external reporting services.

The environmental health program provides inspection and assessment services to protect public health and includes the following activities:

• food safety
• disease prevention and control
• public health education and promotion
• assessment of applications for public gatherings such as festivals
• unhealthy premises
• cooling towers and warm water systems
• public health risk activities
• administering school and community immunisations programs
• exhumations
• onsite waste water management
• recreational and bathing water quality
• responding to public and environmental health complaints
• air, water and solid pollution
• smoke-free public places

In 2014–15 the Environmental Health Unit inspected and/or assessed 1563 food businesses; immunised 3718 babies, school children and adults; issued 1265 licences to businesses and investigated and resolved 309 public or environmental health issues.

The animal management program is responsible for dog licensing and control. Activities include dog registrations, applications for kennel licences, investigation and action on complaints about barking dogs, roaming animals or dog attacks.

The City is responsible for maintaining roads and footpaths and traffic management.

The road and footpath network includes:

• more than 280 kilometres of sealed roads
• over 5 kilometres of unsealed roads
• more than 425 kilometres of footpaths
• 67 bridges.

The City's inspection program identifies hazards, such as uneven footpath surfaces, damaged signs, potholes and trees overhanging the footpath.

The City also owns and manages more than 339 kilometres of stormwater mains, more than 550 other stormwater assets such as kerb and gutters, and 60 kilometres of rivulets and creeks.

An in-house design and project management unit supports the Transforming Hobart capital works program which will include the revitalisation of a number of local retail precincts over the coming years.

Waste is collected from residential and commercial properties weekly and recyclables and green waste are collected fortnightly, totalling more than 1.6 million bin collections every year.

Other activities include:

• emptying 450 public litter bins
• managing the McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre, which handles 26,000 tonnes of general waste, 500 tonnes of recyclables and 5,500 tonnes of green waste annually
• free-entry weekends at the centre for green waste and general mixed waste
• working with government, industry and community sectors to improve waste management.

The City has a comprehensive cleaning regime to prevent pollution, maintain clean public spaces and reduce risks to public health.

Sweeping streets, footpaths and other paved areas is a vital frontline operation in preventing leaves, cigarette butts, litter, drink cans, bottles and debris entering our waterways and catchments.

All City of Hobart streets and footpaths are cleaned regularly, with street sweepers travelling about 3000 kilometres per month.

City cleansing is also responsible for 44 public toilets, sporting facility change rooms and removing graffiti.