By Launceston Central

Launceston – known as “Launnie” by locals – is a city of around 72,000 people located in the north of Tasmania, an island-state south of mainland Australia. Launceston Central is an independent not-for-profit whose mission is to promote and bring vibrancy to the city centre and encourage Launnie locals to share their love for the beautiful place that they call home.

Like many regional cities, the Launceston CBD suffers in the wintertime. In the colder months, fewer people visit the city as many prefer to hibernate at home. This results in quieter streets, fewer people shopping in local businesses, less passive citizen surveillance contributing to higher rates of antisocial behaviour, and a general feeling that there’s not as much ‘going on’ as there might be at other times. All of this has a detrimental economic impact, affects business morale, and lessens positive sentiment about the city. In the community, people suffer from loneliness, isolation, poorer mental health, and boredom.