Public seating will be upgraded and a new arbour system and street garden will be installed in Launceston in coming weeks as part of the Launceston City Heart Project.
More than 30 public seats will be replaced across the CBD and in the Mowbray business zone, along with upgrades to existing seating in the Brisbane St Mall to provide new charging points for phones, laptops and other devices.
Six of the new seats are specially designed sculpture seats which reference the city's relationship with local waterways like the South Esk River and the kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary, as well as Launceston's history as a city of innovation.
Among the sculptural seats are a turbine-themed seat, inspired by the historic Duck Reach Power Station, and a brick seat which highlights the development of Launceston's first sewerage scheme.
In addition to the seating replacement program, a new 4.5m-tall arbour system is also being installed in Charles Street, between Brisbane and York streets, which will provide a new overhead garden and a street-level garden featuring native plants.
The new arbour system is similar to the one installed in the Brisbane St Mall in 2020 and is designed to keep plants automatically fed and watered.
Meanwhile, a new garden which has been under construction outside Macquarie House on Charles St will also be completed in coming days.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the upgrades represented the final works in the first stage of the Launceston City Heart Project, with the Council now focusing on preparations for the second stage of the LCHP, which will see redevelopments of St John and Paterson streets.
"These projects are aimed at making our streetscapes more attractive and user friendly for people, through the provision of new seating, conveniences like device charging ports, or the amenity provided through additional greenery," Mayor van Zetten said.
"The additional greenery in Charles St is really going to lift that streetscape and add new vibrancy to the area.
"With the City of Launceston and the Launceston Chamber of Commerce having recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate urban greening projects across Launceston, we're hopeful of rolling our more projects like this in the future."
State Development, Construction and Housing Minister Guy Barnett said the Macquarie House landscaping project completed the beautification of the area in a manner that complemented the redeveloped Macquarie House and Civic Square precinct.
"We look forward to the completion of other City Heart projects such as the urban greening arbour system and the public art seating, which links creatively to Launceston's history, and urban greening work," Mr Barnett said.
"This is another example of how the Launceston City Deal is contributing to making Launceston the most liveable and innovative regional city in Australia."
These projects will conclude the first stage of the Launceston City Heart Project which has resulted in $19.4m worth of investment by the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government and the City of Launceston through the Launceston City Deal.
