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Hell o I'm Ryan Posselt, Councillor at Hobart City Council. I was elected to Council in October 2022 and since then have been working hard to ensure Hobart grows into the best city it can be. I chair the City Mobility portfolio and meet quarterly with stake holders to plan our city's transport network encompassing all movement of people around our great city. ​ I continue to advocate for better strategic forward planning that will enable us to be prepared for the pressures our city will face moving forward. The major pressures I see in our future: Popultion growth: Hobart continues to be one of the hottest places to be right now. Young couples and singles are flocking here for the City's lifestyle and beauty, which has seen our median age fall from 39 to 37 years old. Population growth in Greater Hobart exceeded the high series projection between 2014 & 2021. Demographers and the State Government expect continued strong growth in part due to the rural shift associated with COVID-19 and also "climate refugees" who see Hobart as a safe bet as our climate changes. The continued rapid growth of Greater Hobart will put significant pressure on housing, transport and roads, and community facilities. ​ ​ Climate Change: Climate Change is likely to result in more frequent and ferocious weather events. We must ensure that we have a high degree of preparedness for:​ ​Bushfire​​: Bushland management, development in an around high risk bushland, relationships with the Tasmanian Fire Service and State Governemt, Fuel reduction burns, fire breaks and fire trail maintainance. Floods and Storms: Emergency management, storm water infrastructure. Coastal erosion ​ ​ Population Health: As a serving Paramedic of 14 years, I have a keen interest in ensuring every member of our community is as healthy as they can be. My exposure to poor health comes from the acute care and emergency care sector. Everyday I see community experiencing the consequences of poor health choices and lifestyle and the social and psychological consequences that flow. The pressures of day-to-day life seem to be making Tasmanians sicker as a trend. I know that promotion of healthy lifestyle can result in improved quality of life for all including through: Community facilities like sports grounds, swimming pools, tracks & trails Active transport infrastructure Community programs, like healthy ageing Health advocacy and health promotion. ​ Its not all bad news. I see these pressures as opportunities to build the infrastructure we need tomorrow, today. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and in an amazing community. I'll continue to work for the best community and sporting facilities, great culture, art and events and ensure everything we do at Hobart City Council is community focused and strives for greatness not mediocrity. We're worth it. ​ Ryan. Strive for greatness Hobart, You're worth it! RYAN POSSELT Community | Transport | Recreation Community Driven Family focused Adventurous Community Driven Latest News 3 min Tourism Levy Over the next two weeks about 24,000 interstate and international visitors will descend on Hobart to celebrate the dark, to celebrate the... 1 view Post not marked as liked 3 min The Importance of Design Aspiration Tasmania’s population is expected to continue to rise at a rapid rate moving into the future. Since 2014, we have seen about 65,000... 2 views Post not marked as liked 1 min Cable Car I do not support the MWCC proposal. 394 views 7 likes. Post not marked as liked 7 2 min Addressing the Housing Crisis If elected I will advocate for: • Inclusionary zoning: ensuring large new developments include a proportion of affordable and social... 764 views 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 2 min Mountain Biking in Hobart What actions will I take to strengthen mountain biking in Hobart if elected to council this October? I will advocate for council to: Seek... 341 views 2 likes. Post not marked as liked 2 2 min Community sports: Time to invest in the future I believe in the importance of community sport. Children benefit immensely from being involved in sport from a young age. They learn team... 202 views 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 More News Get in touch As your community representative, I make the most of meeting with ratepayers whenever I'm asked too. In fact, I have never turned down a meeting with a Ratepayer or community representative. Having a face to face chat about priorities in your area, strategic planning or anything council related is a great way for me to understand your needs. ​ So, do reach out if you have an idea or problem and I'll do my best to assist. I'm happy to meet in coffee shops, on building sites or public places or at Town Hall in my office. ​ I look forward to hearing from you! CONTACT cr.posselt@hobartcity.com.au Submit Thanks for submitting!

Motions Public Register of Interests Successfully moved 12/12/22 Link: Page 7 For: Posselt, Reynolds, Burnett, Sherlock, Dutta, Harvey, Bloomfield & Lohberger. Against: Zucco, Elliot, Kelly & Behrakis Limiting Short Stay Accomodation Successfully moved 20/02/23 Link: Page 35 For: Posselt, Reynolds, Burnett, Sherlock, Dutta, Bloomfield & Lohberger. Against: Zucco, Elliot, Kelly, Behrakis & Harvey Notice of Motion Governance Successfully moved 22/05/22 Link: Page 37 For: Posselt, Rey nolds, Burnett, Sherlock, Dutta, Harvey, Bloomfield, Kelly, Zucco, Elliot & Behrakis Against: Lohberger Developer Contact Register Successfully moved 12/12/22 Link: Page 12 For: Posselt, Reynolds, Burnett, Sherlock, Dutta, Harvey, Bloomfield & Lohberger. Against: Zucco, Elliot, Kelly & Behrakis Inclusive/Welcoming City Successfully moved 20/02/22 Link: Page 36 For: Posselt, Reynolds, Burnett, Sherlock, Dutta, Harvey, Bloomfield, Kelly & Lohberger. Against: Zucco, Elliot & Behrakis

Transport Vision Transport is an essential part of life, we use it everyday and many of us don't realise that we all use multiple modalities, walking, private vehicle, taxi or uber, buses, cycling, e-transport, ferries and in the future trackless trams. No matter which modalities you frequently use, your journey should be safe, comfortable and efficient. ​ No one likes being stuck in traffic No one likes not being able to find a car park No one likes walking on uneven, overgrown footpaths No one likes negotiating intersections without roll curbs with a pram, wheelchair or mobility device No one likes suffering a close pass on their bike No one likes bike lanes to no where No one likes standing in the hot sun or rain waiting for a bus ​ These are just some of the reasons transport can be stressful and have a meaningful effect on our happiness. Thats why Council should invest in proper transport infrastructure to support the movement of people both around the municipality and in and out of the city. Car Transport Driving around Hobart as a paramedic for the last 7 years, I am acutely aware of the worsening traffic issues affecting mobility in and around Hobart city. It effects the productivity of small business, frustrates all users and hampers emergency vehicles. Did you know that Hobart has the worst change in travel time percentage during peak hour of any capital city in Australia? There are a number of things council can do to address the ever worsening situation ​ 1. Engage a traffic management consulting firm - properly investigate ways to improve traffic flow in and around the city. With solutions focused on both right now and in 20 years. Allow consultants to consider all possible solutions and make recommendations based on cost, efficiency and productivity gains. ​ 2. Review traffic light cycles - Have you ever sat in traffic and wondered why you get every red light? This simply shouldn't happen, it is evidence of a lack of cohesive strategy to move vehicles around the city. If you follow a straight line or major route, once you are on the green cycle it should remain that way until you turn off onto a different route. This audit should also look at increasing the use of turn arrows. ​ 3. Audit traffic control infrastructure - Many traffic lights have broken traffic sensors, checking the function of all traffic lights in Hobart LGA is a solution for today. As traffic increases, sensors can become problematic, and sometimes are better replaced with lights on a sequence. ​ 4. Identify choke point intersections - There are numerous choke points in the city that predictably cause traffic woes day in, day out. These should be identified, reviewed and re-designed to optimise vehicle movement. A great example is the domain highway, Brooker highway intersection. Cycling & e-transport Cycling and e-transport, such as e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-bikes all form an important mix in the transport solutions for Hobart. As technology improves and prices come down, many people will choose the convenience of an e-transport device to move around, particularly in the city precinct and the suburbs immediately adjacent to the city. Hobart City Council needs to develop a 5 year cycling and active transport plan as a priority. It should have shovel ready projects, prioritised in order of importance, so that when State of Federal grant money is available, Hobart City Council can be first cab off the rank applying. We know that there are two key to components to encouraging people out of their cars and onto personal mobility devices. ​ 1. Build a cohesive & connected network of bike lanes & cycle paths - this is the most important part of the equation. Some cyclists are happy mixing with traffic, many are not. Building a cohesive network of protected bike lanes and bike paths, taking into account topography and traffic flow, is key to moving people out of cars and improving the transport efficiency for all users. ​ 2. Separate users by speed - Speed differential is at the heart of all conflicts between different transport modalities. Whether its between pedestrians and e-scooters, or cars and cyclists, speed differential is a key difference between the users. Car drivers don't mind sitting behind a cyclist who is doing the speed limit, but heading up hill when the cyclist is working as hard as they can to achieve a speed of 15km/h is extremely frustrating for a driver who wants to go 50km/h, and even more frustrating for the cyclist who may be the target for road rage - they feel they are doing their best! So infrastructure needs to support the mingling of users that share speed in common, e-scooters and bikes can safely mix and sort them selves out, high density pedestrian corridors should never be in the same zone as a formal bike lane like is found in Salamanca, and uphill and flat corridors used by high volumes of cyclists should have a separate cycling lane or path. ​ Building appropriate transport infrastructure will help solve many of the issues raised in the e-scooter trial, while serving all users. Walking If you walk to work from one of the inner suburbs, you know there are a large number of people who use this modality to get exercise and feel the sun on their face before a the long day in the office ahead. But people don't just walk to work, they walk to get coffee, they walk to school, they walk for exercise, they walk the dog, they take their toddler on a scooter ride or the baby in a pram. Our footpaths and walking infrastructure is used by everyone and I think they need some upgrades! ​ 1. Roll curbs on every intersection - I am constantly shocked by the lack of roll curbs in Hobart. While able bodied folk may not even notice a crossing has a square curb, as soon as you have a pram, a child on a scooter or bike, find yourself wheelchair bound or require the use of a mobility scooter in old age you do. Our city and suburbs should be accessible for all, no on should be forced onto the road because of a lack of roll curbs. ​ 2. Wider and smoother footpaths - In high density areas, footpaths need to accommodate many people simultaneously. Council needs to review how street furniture and poorly placed signs and sandwich boards create pinch points for pedestrians. ​ 3. Increase pedestrian crossings (Wombat crossings) - I am c onstantly shocked by the lack of safe crossing spaces in suburban Hobart, particularly around schools. I believe every school should have a safe crossing. Council should consider increasing the use of "wombat" or raised pedestrian crossings around schools. Council should also consider and study the most frequented walking routes to and from schools and put in place a program to build a series of safe crossings for children and families to get to and from school on foot. Ensuring safe passage of young families will help to encourage more families to leave the car at home for school drop off/pick up. ​ 4. Improve city pedestrian safety - Unfortunately, there have been a number of pedestrian deaths in greater Hobart in the last 5 years. In more than one case, the driver simply didn't see the pedestrian step off the curb, even though they were crossing on a green "walking man". Programming traffic lights to have a delayed green or installing a red turn arrow allows pedestrians to be in the middle of the roadway, and in clear vision of drivers before they move off. The program to roll these out should be expanded and fast tracked to enhance the safety of all pedestrians in the city centre. Buses Buses are important in the transport mix, they are efficient and cater to most abilities. They are often used by active transport commuters when the whether is inclement. I believe a significant impediment to more people utilising buses is the exceptionally poor bus stop infrastructure. We can increase patronage by working with Metro to: ​ 1. Increasing the number of bus shelters - Tasmania has inclement, unpredictable weather, from sleet to 80km/h wind gusts, rain to beating sunshine. Most suburban bus stops have no supporting infrastructure, not even a seat to rest your legs. I believe bus stops should provide a safe, comfortable and sheltered place to wait for your bus. Shelters should be sensitive to the area and architecturally designed. ​ 2. Implementing in lane bus stops - In high density suburban areas, where parking is at a premium, in lane bus stops increase parking spaces by three spaces for every stop. It further allows for proper shelters to be built on a flat, currently unused area. ​ 3. Reviewing the Elizabeth street bus mall - Elizabeth street bus mall is rudimentary, it is ugly and poorly designed. I believe Elizabeth street bus mall presents an opportunity to provide great public space, better than a wide expanse of paved road. Council should engage architects to design a proper bus transport hub, ​ Electric Vehicle strategy Like it or not, electric vehicles are coming. They may not be taken up by the masses this year or next, but by the mid 2030s they will have overtaken internal combustion engine vehicles, even in Tasmania. As a city, Hobart needs to plan for the changeover. Electric vehicles also improve the amenity of the city as they are quiet and emission free. I believe Council needs a comprehensive electric vehicle strategy that not only addresses complexes issues but encourages people to make the transition to an EV sooner rather than later. It should consider: ​ 1. Charging infrastructure needs - Many of Hobart's heritage suburbs and precincts have no off street parking for their residents. As we move toward an electric future, we need to identify ways for residents without off street parking to charge their EV in close proximity to their residence. ​ 2. Incentivising EV use through parking - Many cities around the world encourage people to take up electric vehicles through parking incentives. Offering free charging in premium locations will provide a significant incentive to make the transition. It has the benefit that the free period can be wound back as EV take up accelerates. It also means infrastructure will be in place ahead of time and ready to go when it is truly needed. Mass transport I believe an efficient public transport system that uses mass transport modalities is essential to Hobart's future. Hobart has experienced considerable population growth in the last 10 years and there is no reason to believe this will slow. Planning for our future should start now. Thats why I will work with state and federal governments to: ​ 1. Expand the use of ferries on The River Derwent - Committing to an infrastructure program that connects the Eastern, Northern and Southern communities with the city, using an efficient, modern fast ferry service. ​ 2. Prioritised use of the northern suburbs rail corridor - Hobart has the amazing asset of an existing rail corridor that connects large swathes of the population to the north, as far as Brighton, to the city. This corridor has sat idle for too long. I believe we need to get on and build something today. Personally I believe trackless trams look promising. However, I am open to working with state and federal governments, as well as neighbouring councils to identify the best technology and get it built.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT Do you believe Hobart can be a great place, where families and communities can be happier and healthier? ​ Do you want to see great local infrastructure? ​ Do you want transport of all modalities supported, and easy to use? ​ Why not reach out via email or phone to arrange a time to meet with me and discuss your concernes, ideas or vision for our collective future. ​ Get in touch today! Contact cr.posselt@hobartcity.com.au 0491 967 336 First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for submitting! Send

My Philosophy As a paramedic of 12 years I've realised that our society needs to work for all cross-sections of society: the young, the old, families and people of all abilities. I believe that a sense of belonging and community are important parts of a cohesive, and happy society. Study after study shows that deep and meaningful relationships are the key to happiness. ​ I also know that healthy communities are happy communities. Providing infrastructure that enables all members of society to get out in the sunshine and get some exercise is an important role of councils. Encouraging active transport, providing safe footpaths for the elderly and less able, and enhancing sporting facilities and parkland are all important parts of a healthy community. ​ Get in Touch Community Councils can play a key role in enhancing a sense of community by providing well thought out community infrastructure. This can include parks, sporting facilities, playgrounds, public transport infrastructure and recreation areas. It also includes supporting local bussiness and enhancing streetscapes that surround them to create a village type feel in each and every suburb. Somewhere where you interact regularly with the same people in your community: you see the same people at the bus stop, the dog park or the shops. Comfortable, well designed facilities encourage people to pause, maybe striking up conversations and forming new relationships within their community. Transport I believe that life is often complex and stressful. Council's can make your quality of life better, reducing stress and allowing you to spend more time doing what ever you love. Transport is a constant in our lives. Every day people move about for work, play and the essentials. When transport systems don't work well, it creates unneccesary stress in our lives. Thats why I support a number of transport modalities such as, busses, cars, uber, bikes, personal e-transport, ferries and trackless trams. All transport modalities should be safe, efficient, easy to access and cost effective. Whether its bus stop infrasturcture, protected bike lanes or adequate footpaths, you should feel safe and comfortable. Council can provide this by building appropriate, cohesive and well thought-out transport facilities throughout the municipality to suit all needs. Recreation Recreation plays an important role in all of our lives. It may be kids playing sport, digging in the local community garden, taking the dog for a run, getting back to nature on Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, mountain biking or taking a stroll around the local streets. Regardless of what takes you to your happy place, council can support and improve facilities making your "me" time more rewarding and rejuvenating. Council plays an important role in many aspects of recreation including: Maintaining our wild places, while making them accessible for all. Distributing community grants for projects important to your community. Supporting community gardens. Maintaining greenspace and sporting facilities in your community. Listening to and consulting with communities to build and maintain facilties that are tailored and appropriate for that commuity.

Early adulthood I met my wife, Bronwyn, at the tender age of 17. We were engaged at 19 and married at 24. She moved to Sydney aged 18 to pursue a career in medicine. I followed her shortly thereafter. Finding a job working in realestate sales with LJ Hooker, Kingsford. I learned quickly, that I could sell property, but yearned for something that gave a little more back to society. I moved to administration, working at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. Over 3 years, I moved my way up from ward clark to personal assistant to the Director of Clinical Services. Even though I was vicariousy helping people by making the hospital function, I still wanted to do more to help. So I applied to NSW Ambulance, I was successful and began my training in May 2010. About me Hi. ​ I'm Ryan. ​ I'm a passionate 34 year old who lives with his wife and loveable toddler in West Hobart. I love hanging out with my family, mountain biking, hiking, camping and watching Formula 1. I have tertiary qualifications in Paramedic Science (CSU), Nursing (UTAS) and Health Research, focusing on system performance (UTAS). I've been a paramedic for 12 years and have been exposed to so many of society's problems in that time. In my day to day work, I endeavour to make people's lives better, but I can only fix one person at a time. Hence, I have decided that I can put my skills, compassion and kindness to work on a larger scale by running for elected office. I am a hard worker who values efficiency, accessibility and quality in the systems that we interact with every day. I believe we should live sustainably with the resources this planet has to offer. ​ I also believe in transparency and accountability: I am unashamedly me. I am not owned by anyone, my campaign costs come from my own hard earned savings and I have no vested interests in property, business or share holdings.

Recreation Recreation is whatever it is you do in your spare time for enjoyment. That may be going for a bike ride or trail run, playing competitive sport, taking the dog to to the dog park, going for a stroll around your neighbourhood or engaging in local culture, be that art music or theatre. ​ Recreation is key for happy and healthy communities. Without recreation life can be a drag. Recreation connects us to people and place and often involves physical exercise. Council is an essential part of our recreation activities. Council provides, maintains and improves almost all of the spaces used for recreation, including: Bushland - Kunayi/Mount Wellington Knocklofty, Queens Domain, Waterworks etc. Sporting facilities and ovals Road and footpaths Community halls Community gardens Parkland Dog parks Communal shelters and barbecue facilities ​ And much more Hiking/Trail Running One of Hobart's key assets is Kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Many locals and tourists alike love to get up on The Mountain to get some cool mountain air and exercise. Council is responsible for managing this reserve. I believe The Mountain should be: Managed sensitively, considering environmental and cultural significance A place for all to enjoy, including those less able A place of safety - signage should assist walkers and trails should be well marked to avoid search and rescues Easy to access - improvements can be made to improve access including safety enhancements to the roadway and surrounds, resurfacing works, and subsidy of the bus service. Sporting Facilities and Playing Fields Sports are a key element of a happy, healthy and cohesive society. Whether its A grade football, under 7s soccer or social touch football, many people in society partake in organised sports. I believe sports facility management is a key responsibility of council. I support Council to: Ensure all playing surfaces are maintained to a high standard Review supporting infrastructure , like clubhouses and spectator facilities to ensure they meet community expectations Work with clubs and stakeholders to ensure their infrastructure is appropriate and well maintained to suit their unique needs Mountain Biking Mountain biking is an incredibly popular sport, that is growing in popularity with every passing year. The construction and maintenance of a variety of trails, supports the mountain biking community to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Mountain biking is also a tourism draw card that Hobart City has not fully capitalised to date. I believe council should: Expedite the construction of the proposed "riding the Mountain" plan using world class trail builders Review existing mountain bike trails, both formal and informal to further enhance the riding experience by constructing and supporting cohesive and connected loops within the network Consider building some supportive infrastructure like barbecue shelters, toilets and water fountains at popular mountain bike destinations

Key Issues Councils manage a diverse range of community issues, from rubbish and waste management to fire and flood mitigation, from managing our wild places to providing urban infrastructure. I believe that communities, transport and recreation are three key areas of council business that impact on our everyday lives. Well thought out facilities in each domain will make your life easier, happier and healthier. See the sections below for more detailed positions. You can check out my blog for my thoughts and position on other issues. I don't profess to be an expert in urban planning, or to have all the solutions, but identifying areas in need of improvement will enable council to work with experts to find the best solution to specific problems. Community A sense of community is important to a harmonious society. Local communities make us feel valued, relied upon and interconnected. Councils play an important role in community infrastructure and developing stronger communities. ​ ​ Find out more Transport Transport plays a key role in our everyday life, whether its getting to and from work, picking the kids up from school or heading out to an appointment, transport is a constant in our lives. Councils play a key role in transport facilities. Getting places shouldn't be hard! ​ ​ Find out more Recreation Recreation describes whatever it is you do in your spare time: play sport, bush walk, garden, take the kids to the park, engage with community activities, or head out to a show or gallery. culture. Recreation is a key part of our happiness and councils are heavily involved in this space. ​ Find out more

Communities Communities are an integral part of the very fabric of society. Caring, civilised and engaged communities improve connectedness creating a shared vision and purpose, all the while improving happiness. ​ Councils play a key role of enhancing the sense of community. They do this in a number of ways including: Providing beautiful, well designed infrastructure that makes places more pleasant to be. Encouraging communities to come together in shared spaces Promoting community programs, like community gardens. Working closely with volunteer community groups, from mountain bikers keen to enhance trail networks, to senior citizens groups, to bushcare, like the friends of Knocklofty Working with Tasmania Police and neighbourhood watch groups to promote safe neighbourhoods Rewarding people who contribute to their neighbourhood's community though community awards Offering grants to community groups to enhance whatever activity they support within their community Providing safe and appropriate community facilities for shared use by groups that enhance all of our lives Housing Having a roof over your head is one of the basic life essentials that many of us take for granted. However, we all know that there are some people in Hobart who are not fortunate enough to say that they have a home to go tonight. I believe that the most basic thing a community can do for each other is ensure people have a safe space to go home to each night, a roof over their heads and a place to call their own. Heck, even a place to grow, thrive and live their best lives. Through council by-laws and zoning, we can encourage development of housing that includes small numbers of social homes built into larger developments to help ensure that each and every Hobartian has a place to call home. ​ We also know that we are losing potential long term professionals, like doctors and nurses, to other states because they cannot find appropriate housing in Hobart. So we must ensure that we work toward urban consolidation, looking for under-utilised land and building homes for the future to ensure our City's service needs are met, and to build new communities for a brighter tomorrow. Community Gardens As our city grows, there are increasing numbers of residents who are living in apartments and townhouses. Whether its a young couple who have bought their first place, a school leaver living in a unit or a retiree who has downsized, there are increasing numbers of people in the community who live with no private outdoor space. Community garden programs provide an important connection to place and enhance happiness for those among us who enjoy gardening but don't have their own space. The need for more community gardens will grow as more people are pushed into higher density living. I believe councils should ensure community gardens are nice places to be, with attractive fencing and appropriate seating. I further believe council should support these programs by: Supplying reduced price essentials, like soil and compost Providing shared covered spaces within gardens Providing professional gardeners to provide workshops Maintaining essential structures like fences and storm water management. Public Toilets Anyone who has travelled to Europe will know how lucky we are to have freely accessible public toilets in Australia. I believe that the provision of public toilets helps to build local communities. Knowing that you can hang out at your local reserve, oval or bushland with your community, without having to worry about what to do when you need to go, encourages people to stay local, promoting a sense of small communities within the larger Hobart community. I believe Council can enhance public toilets by: Ensuring an appropriate distribution of public toilets in all neighbourhoods Removal of unsightly toilet blocks around our suburbs and replacing them with well considered and beautifully designed public toilets Ensuring a regular cleaning and inspection service. Community Gathering Facilities Areas for communities to come together to socialise, celebrate, commiserate, organise, practice, learn and plan are essential for healthy communities. The Queens Domain community pizza oven is an outstanding example. This facility brings together people from all walks to celebrate Hobart, the sunshine and healthy spaces. There are many other examples of spaces where people come together as part of their community, including Mathers place and Criterion House, Waterworks reserve BBQ shelters and many parks, community halls and small buildings in Hobart municipality. I believe that whatever service the facility is providing to the community, they should be treated equally. Council can support community facilities by: Ensuring the current facility meets the needs of the groups who use it Ensuring all community facilities are maintained to a high standard Designing new community facilities that are contemporary, considered and beautiful Listening to local communities and working with them to ensure their needs are being met Playgrounds Playgrounds are an important gathering place for many families. They provide an interactive and engaging environment for children of all ages to come together to play and learn. In recent times, councils surrounding Hobart City have built new, modern playgrounds that provide an exciting play space for the local community. I believe council can improve its playgrounds and play spaces by: Identifying a suitable location to build a new, contemporary play space Ensuring equipment is maintained to a high standard Replacing old, tired and unused play equipment with modern equipment Making sure playgrounds are meaningful and not tokenistic Enhancing existing playground with supporting infrastructure, like toilets and barbecue shelters where appropriate. Dog Parks They say a dog is a man's best friend. And they are right. Animals bring great happiness to many people and shared facilities, like dog parks, help to build communities centred around a love for animals. Although there are many ovals and reserves that are dog friendly outside of peak times, it is important to provide areas where dogs can be exercised off leash at all times of the day. Dog parks are a great addition to any community, and I believe there is opportunity in Hobart to create more speciality dog parks.

Ambulance life Paramedicine became my focus and passion for the next decade. Moving through NSW from Metropolitan Sydney to Gloucester, Kempsey to Tamworth and many more in between. Throughout this time, Bronwyn was finishing her medical studies in Sydney and Port Macquarie before moving to Dubbo Base Hospital in 2013. Distance between Bronwyn and I varied from 500km to 130km but we never achieved the elusive goal of both living and working in the same town. In 2012, we travelled to Tasmania for 3 weeks and both fell in love. I had travelled to Tasmania a few times before that with my family and on school trips. On that trip we decided that we would make Tasmania our home, a place to start a family. ​ On each trip we made to Tasmania, I fell deeper in love with the place, particularly Hobart. So we set to work to make our dream come true. Bronwyn ended up getting a job as a senior resident in critical care at The Royal Hobart Hospital, one level below a position she had been offered as a registrar in Anaesthetics at Orange Base Hospital. She made the sacrifice of taking a lower position to facilitate our move to Tasmania. I resigned from NSW Ambulance in December 2014 and we packed the house to move.

Tasmania In the early stages of 2015, I was unable to get a job working with Ambulance Tasmania, so I enrolled in a nursing degree with UTAS. It was through an unfortunate mountain biking accident that I ended up getting the right contacts at Ambulance Tasmania, and was gainfully employed in mid 2015, working casually with Ambulance Tasmania while completing my nursing degree. I remained casual with Ambulance Tasmania while successfully completing an honours degree in health research focusing on heart attacks in the South of Tasmania. Once again, Bronwyn and I found ourselves living apart through 2016 and 2017 with Bronwyn appointed to North West Regional Hospital as an anaesthetic registrar. I through myself into activities with the paramedic college over those years as vice president and then president of the local chapter, organising educational events for my colleagues. I also worked briefly as a scrub nurse in the neurosurgical theatres at The Calvary Hospital in 2018, before returning to my passion working full time with Ambulance Tasmania.

Family life After Bronwyn finally returned home to Hobart, we felt that the hard work had finally paid off and we were once again living and working in the same town. With the certainty of government jobs, Bronwyn and I decided it was time to start our family and our son Emerson, joined us in mid January of 2020. Since then, I have been working part time with Ambulance Tasmania, and looking after our son, watching him develop and learn every day has been one of the greatest joys I have experienced. Bronwyn completed her training at the start of 2022, finally reaching consultant anaesthetist. It was then that I decided I needed to help the community become a better place, and that we, as a family were well placed to support me running for Hobart City Council, with the aim of making our community a happier, healthier place.