Proposal for public walkway around waterside mansions survives vote

A proposed walkway around the waterfront mansions of Hobart’s Battery Point has survived another council vote, despite a recommendation to abandon it.

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strong strategic rationale

Hobart City Council voted six to five against discontinuing work on the route, which would connect AJ White Park in Battery Point with Errol Flynn Reserve in Sandy Bay. The proposal has been debated for decades, with earlier plans dating back to the 1990s.

Chief executive Michael Stretton said investigations found a strong strategic case for a walkway and broad community support. A council-commissioned survey of 400 residents in 2024 found 89 percent backed the project. A design review also concluded that the walkway could add value to the city’s transport network, although it described the design as overly complex and said part of the inland route would not suit cyclists.

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a valuable addition

The main obstacle involves Crown licences covering private jetties, slipways and boatsheds along the proposed route. Stretton’s report said affected property owners had shown strong opposition and that there was no realistic prospect they would voluntarily change or surrender their licences. The council lacks the authority to alter or end those arrangements, while the Tasmanian government is not considering such action for the walkway.

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strong opposition

Parks and Heritage Minister Nick Duigan urged the council to continue examining options that limit the impact on licence holders and to engage directly with residents. The council’s vote means the Friends of Battery Point Walkway proposal remains under consideration.

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do the work