2018-2019 Budget

The Council comprises 12 Aldermen who are elected by the community to represent them and make decisions about the management of the City of Hobart, on their behalf.

The General Manager is responsible for implementing Council decisions and policies and managing the operation of the organisation, which has a very diverse workforce made up of 614 full time positions responsible for the delivery of a wide range of services and projects for the community.

The following services are provided:

• customer contact centre
• customer service management
• Aldermanic support
• management and delivery of Council and Committee schedule of meetings
• organisational governance which includes insurance portfolio, risk management, audits, and quality control
• legal services
• workforce management including workplace health and safety advice and support, and payroll services
• business innovation, digital technology and information management
• marketing and communications

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. Community Engagement and Community visioning are also key components in building a city that is involved, active and participating.

The City manages parking on public streets in the Hobart city centre and suburban areas, as well as on land it owns.

Where demand for parking is higher than the supply, parking restrictions are enforced to provide opportunities for workers, visitors and shoppers to find vacant spaces.

The City aims to provide car parks for shoppers and visitors within easy walking distance of key destinations, with multi-storey car parks placed in strategic locations throughout the city centre, offering over 2300 parking spaces.

Parking and Information officers work in the City-owned multi-storey car parks and patrol and enforce 2000 metered and voucher car parking spaces.

Rubbish, or wastes, is collected from residential and commercial properties weekly and recyclables and green waste are collected fortnightly, totalling more than 1.5 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
• recycling unit for difficult to recycle items
• waste education activities.

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 10 year capital works program.

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 around 3000 kilometers per month.

City cleansing is also responsible for 43 public toilets, sporting facility change rooms and removing graffiti.

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

• food safety
• noise nuisance management
• 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 land pollution
• smoke-free public places

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.

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 major events

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

They include the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre in Hobart, Salamanca Market, and the annual Taste of Tasmania.