City of Launceston passes first LGBTIQ+ Action Plan during bumper Sept

Published on 04 September 2026

The City of Launceston has affirmed its commitment to strengthening inclusion, belonging and participation for LGBTIQ+ people across the municipality through the adoption of its first LGBTIQ+ Action Plan. 

At Thursday's September Council meeting, City of Launceston Council endorsed unanimously the adoption of the City of Launceston LGBTIQ+ Action Plan to guide Council's actions over the next four years to foster a safe and welcoming city for all.  

The adoption of the Action Plan follows work that began in June 2024, when Council endorsed a Notice of Motion supporting the development of an LGBTIQ+ Action Plan for the City of Launceston. 

The motion called for a comprehensive program of community engagement to identify and understand the experiences, challenges and opportunities faced by members of the LGBTIQ+ community in Launceston.  

As part of the extensive community consultation and engagement efforts, the City of Launceston LGBTIQ+ Community Survey received over 600 responses and the research report LGBTIQ+ Inclusion in Launceston received responses from more than 1000 participants.  

This was one of several decisions made by the City of Launceston Council at its last Council meeting prior to the October local government elections.  

SUMMARY OF KEY COUNCIL DECISIONS

  • Carried a motion to determine to not proceed with the inclusion of a chain-link lift orchestra pit in the ongoing redevelopment of the Princess Theatre and examine alternative options. 
  • Carried a motion to recommend to the Tasmanian Planning Commission to rezone the land at 23 Racecourse Crescent from Recreation to Commercial. 
  • Carried a Notice of Motion tabled by Councillor Alex Britton to approve a one-off sponsorship contribution of $20,000 to the Tasmanian Turf Club.  
  • Carried a Notice of Motion tabled by Mayor Matthew Garwood to request the CEO to prepare and present a report to Council regarding potential enhancements to the Northern Entranceway Project.   
  • Carried a Notice of Motion tabled by Mayor Matthew Garwood to waive applicable permit fees for the installation of a headstone for Private John Graves [or Greaves] at Carr Villa. 
  • Carried a motion to approve the Australian Transplant Games with in-kind support, including the use of the Launceston Leisure and Aquatic Centre facilities during the Games and the cost associated with the installation of city-wide banners to increase visibility of the event.  
  • Carried a motion to adopt the schedule of proposed heritage assets and the schedule of proposed reassessments under the Heritage Stewardship Project.  
  • Carried a motion to receive an update on the Launceston Bus Interchange Project.  
  • Carried a motion recommending the adoption of the Domestic Wood Smoke Plan as part of a broader Launceston Clean Air Strategy.  
  • Carried a motion approving up to $5 million for the Lindsay Street Wharf Redevelopment and Convention Centre. 
  • Carried a motion to amend the 2026/7 rating framework that was adopted in the Special Council meeting of 18 June 2026 to set a maximum percentage increase of 20% on the general rate components. The maximum cap does not apply to any increase in the general rate component because of changes to a property's assessed annual value (AAV).  
  • Carried a motion to adopt the Long-Term Financial Plan 2026-2036 
  • A motion to consider the disposal of 84 Lindsay Street to the National Automobile Museum at market value was defeated. An alternate motion to approve a 10 + 10-year lease option to NANT, moved by Councillor Alan Harris was carried.  
  • A motion to accept surrender of the lease at 8A Blaydon Street, Kings Meadows was carried. 
  • A motion to lease part of the land situated at 2 Invermay Road, Invermay be leased to Tasmanian Blacksmiths Inc was carried. 

Minutes from the council meeting can be found here: Agendas and Minutes - City of Launceston

Download the Media Release(PDF, 487KB)

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