Devonport's Moon Cheese Studio takes a look back at where the port city once was and where it is now.
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00:00Hello, welcome to Storytime. My name's Jazz, and the story we're reading today is one
00:11from the archives. It's called Dreary Devonport. This was written in the late thousands and
00:18was published in a nonfiction travel book by Lonely Planet. Let's take a look.
00:26Dreary Devonport. It's a mildly menacing place, where speeding rednecks yell abuse
00:36at pedestrians. He doesn't look very happy, does he? Where people who live here imagine
00:48places elsewhere that are more interesting. Where the McDonald's drive-thru is the place
00:57to be on a Saturday night. Actually, I'm not so sure I like this story. What if we changed
01:09it? Throughout the 20th century, Devonport flourished and quickly became a growing hub
01:19for the northwest region. However, as the 21st century rolled in, the city faced challenges.
01:26Many felt that Devonport was underperforming, and while there were attempts to breathe new
01:30life into the city and surrounding area, little changed. In 2009, the Devonport City Council
01:39knew that a switch needed to be flipped. With community input, a strategic plan was
01:44developed and an exciting new vision for Devonport emerged, focused on tourism, economic growth
01:50and community spaces. While the plan has been modified over time, it remains the blueprint
01:56which guides council decisions to this day. In 2013, the council went a step further,
02:03gathering over 1,000 survey responses from the community to build the vision for the
02:08Living City project, changing the heart, reviving the region. In September 2014, the
02:16Living City Master Plan was officially adopted. It was the largest urban renewal initiative
02:21ever undertaken in regional Tasmania, generating over 830 full-time jobs and injecting over
02:29$112 million annually into the northwest economy. For the first time in years, the vision of
02:36Devonport becoming a vibrant and prosperous regional city for future generations was finally
02:42realised. Over the past 10 years, the first stages of the Living City project have now
02:51been completed. Stage 1 included milestones such as the construction of the Paranapple
02:56Centre, a multi-purpose building housing government services, the Devonport Library, council offices
03:03and a world-class convention centre. Then followed the development of a multi-storey
03:09car park and the Paranapple Arts Centre, including a new visitor information centre and regional
03:15gallery, as well as the creation of Market Square Pavilion, an undercover food, market
03:21and community space. Notably, Stage 1 provided training for over 60 trade apprentices who
03:28were now all qualified tradespeople, helping to meet the current day construction demand.
03:36Stage 1 also saw the urban renewal of the southern end of Rook Street, including the
03:41demolition of old buildings for car parking and the attraction of major new businesses
03:45to underpin commercial activity and attract investment. Stage 2 realised a long-held vision
03:54to better connect the CBD to the Mersey River and foreshore, with the construction of the
03:59Waterfront Hotel opened in February 2023. The redevelopment of the surrounding parklands
04:06has given the city a connected waterfront community space like no other, with Haynes
04:11Park even winning the Tasmanian and Victorian Park of the Year in 2024. With the recent
04:18launch of the Sound and Light Show, the foreshore has become a thriving destination for locals
04:23and visitors, both day and night. Devonport today is, thankfully, a different
04:30place to 10 years ago. The city is seeing economic growth, a shift in perception and
04:36game-changing initiatives, even taking home gold at the National Top Tourism Town Awards
04:41in 2024. The next chapter of Living City is already underway, with the development of
04:47a mixed-use western precinct, further connecting the CBD and the community. As we celebrate
04:57this 10-year milestone, we remember that Living City was always about more than just development
05:02and new buildings. It's about building a Devonport that past, present and future generations
05:09will be proud of. A Devonport that you're excited to visit and where you're proud to
05:14live. Living City is a vision realised. And while Maccas are still an option on a Saturday
05:20night, it's not so much a feature, but more of a footnote. Devonport has become and continues
05:27to become a living city and a living region for a living future. So there you have it.
05:35That brings us to the end of our storytime for today, but only because the rest is still
05:40being written. This is only just the beginning.