As we step into 2025, our Brighton region stands at the crossroads of commu­nity transformation. With the new year comes many new opportunities.

I’m excited to share ‘what’s in’ and ‘what’s out’ for our vibrant community, as we work to­gether to create a thriving and inclusive place for everyone. We are running hard and fast to keep up with the growth and collaborating with all levels of government to get the job done.

What’s In for 2025

1. Planning for future population growth:

• Council will embrace building for the future and ensuring that we manage infrastructure needs and growth in our communities effectively. This includes engaging with the commu­nity to develop relevant masterplans across all of our suburbs and precincts.
• South Brighton Develop­ment Precinct: On 15 Jan­uary 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Brighton to announce $10 million dollars of funding through the Housing Sup­port Program. The project will be undertaken in part­nership with TasWater, and the funding will go towards the construction of critical infrastructure to service what is planned to be 600 new homes near the new Brighton High School. This will include a new sewerage pump station, upgrading local roads and delivering a shared path to connect the development to the Brigh­ton (Industrial) Hub.
• Council will continue to work on masterplans in Old Beach and Boyer Road in Bridgewater to allow for growth in these areas.

2. Major upgrades to parks and sports grounds/rec­reation precincts:

• Works have commenced on the upgrade of Seymour Street soccer fields and facilities, marking the be­ginning of major works to achieve the overall master­plan for the Seymour Street and Ted Jeffries Memorial Park precinct in Brighton.
• The Hobart Gymnastics Academy Inc. (HGA) will be planning for a new home in Bridgewater, with $2.5 million in support from the Tasmanian Government.
• A review and update to the masterplan for Lennox Park in Old Beach and the Pontville Park sports and recreation precinct.
• The Brighton Town Square located next to the new Brighton IGA complex will be completed, heralding a new era for gathering space in the Brighton township.
• A pocket park/truck stop in the Brighton Hub.

3. Engaging with and en­abling community to find solutions to challenges

• Asset Based Community Development (ABCD): we will support authen­tic social change through building capacity in our communities and empow­ering community members through strengthened relationships. Our Brighton Alive network sits at the heart of facilitating this and shifting from connection to collaboration.

4. Inclusivity

• Brighton Council will part­ner with five other councils in metropolitan Hobart to launch a campaign against racism. Sparked by Pe­ter Gutwein’s ‘Walk’, the campaign will focus on the power in us all standing together against racism and coming together to cele­brate our diverse commu­nities. The campaign will launch on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, with all six mayors leading a walk together to Parliament House.
• Work towards the devel­opment of an Action Plan to support the Brighton LGBTIQA+ communities.
• Lobbying hard for equity in access to reliable and effec­tive public transport for our communities.
• Progressing the co-design of a Youth Hub in partner­ship with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS).

What’s Out for 2025

1. Litter: Introduction of the Container Refund Scheme in the middle of 2025 for Tasmania and continued emphasis in the Brighton municipality on waste education in schools and at events to assist with the reduction in litter on our streets and in our waterways.
2. Discrimination and racism in any form.
3. Barren streetscapes and lack of cafes or bump in places: The Greening Brighton Strategy 2024- 2033 has been reinvigorat­ed and Council has worked hard to bring good coffee and café spaces to all our suburbs. This is so import­ant for the social well-being of our communities and cannot be underestimated.
4. Food insecurity: The Brighton Community Food Hub and all our community food services have worked hard to make affordable food and meals readily and easily available for our community members.
5. Young people being forgotten: The Brigh­ton Youth Action Group (BYAG), Engage Youth Cove Creek and our Com­munity Development Team, just to name a few, have worked hard to make sure voices of our young people are consistently listened to and heard.
6. Lack of access to healthcare: New owners at Jordan River Health, the introduction of an Urgent Care Clinic in Bridgewater and brand new medical facilities for Brighton Re­gional Doctors have meant increased access to GPs and allied healthcare in our region.

2025 will be a year of growth, planning and constant change to ensure we can continue to make Brighton a thriving and liveable place, that we can all be proud of. Thank you to you, the residents and ratepayers, for your commitment to making our municipality the best it can be.

Brighton Mayor

Leigh Gray