Premier Jeremy Rockliff says plans to relocate Heritage Tasmania’s Northern Office from central Launceston have been abandoned following significant backlash from staff and local advocates.
The Premier made the announcement during question time on Wednesday, telling parliament the government would “no longer pursue the proposed move” and that staff would remain at their long-standing home on St John Street.
Independent Bass MP Rebekah Pentland raised the issue directly, pointing out that the office has occupied its central location for over 20 years.
“For more than two decades, the central location has served a strategic purpose, giving staff access to historic buildings they help protect and the proponents they deal with,” Pentland said.
She questioned whether shifting the office to Prospect, about six kilometres from the city centre, would undermine staff’s ability to do their jobs effectively.
Rockliff acknowledged the strong community reaction, saying the government had heard concerns loud and clear from staff.
“The proposed move was seeking to provide Heritage Tasmania staff with the opportunity to co-locate with their agency colleagues and therefore have greater access to shared resources,” Rockliff said.
However, he emphasised that he “would never seek to diminish the ability of Heritage Tasmania staff to undertake their statutory duties”.
The Premier added that security concerns about the existing building had been part of the case for the move.
Pentland applauded the decision as a “humble but important win”.
“This is a fantastic outcome for Heritage Tasmania … It’s also a credit to the Premier, who listened to the concerns and showed leadership in reversing the decision,” she said.
“Heritage belongs in the heart of the community it serves.”
