Latest News
October 2008
(updated monthly during the first week of the month)
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held on 2 October at 7.30 p.m. Blue Waters Orford.
GENERAL COMMUNITY NEWS (Provided by Councillor Mick Fama)
A General Meeting occurred at Swansea on Tuesday the 26th August. Mayor Cadart chaired the meeting after returning from overseas.
PLANNING ISSUES
Several planning applications were put to Council for approval. Local applications included;
A dwelling at 83 East Shelly Beach Road. This was passed however questions were raised as to why the dwelling was built up against the side boundary. There were several conditions on the approval of this application.
An application for two holiday accommodation chalets and a dwelling at Saltworks was passed with several conditions attached to the approval.
Some 538 hectares of the Ringrove farm was approved to be set aside for a plantation and harvesting of forest. This property consists of 1854 ha and some 116 ha of the 538ha will first be harvested before replanting. Several conditions re spraying and water testing were placed on the approval.
Two new small shops were approved for 3 Franklin Street, Swansea.
A Strata Title application was approved for each of the units known as the Riverside Cottages at Orford. All, including the caretakers cottage will now be on separate title.
A lengthy report on the objections to the sandstone business at Buckland was tabled at the meeting. The Planning Officer is required to outline all objections and his replies to Council in the draft amendment. Some 452 signatories were received, with 449 supporting the application. Council continues to support the amendment subject to a number of conditions. The case will be heard in the RPDC in November.
WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ORFORD
You will be aware that several residents mainly "shackies" have complained about the change of the waste collection days in Orford, from a Sunday to a Friday. The new collection will occur from this week
Council received some 50 phone calls and letters requiring more information on this area. There are 850 residents in the Orford area who have their rubbish collected.
As a result of lengthy discussions, council will be mailing out letters to those affected people advising them that the collection day will remain i.e.; Friday, however they have the choice of returning their bins to council and obtain vouchers. The voucher will entitle free access to the tip so they can take rubbish at the same volume as a bin on a weekly bases. There will be no refunds of fees charged in relation to waste collection or waste management (transport to the Copping site from Orford etc).
RATES REMISSION FOR JETTY LEASES
Clr Mick Fama raised a motion last month regarding the increase of rates raised against leases of jetties in the Prosser River at Orford. This year rates jumped from $325 to $488 an increase of 50%. Clr Fama asked that part of the increase be set aside for river mouth improvement however that motion was lost.
Another motion was put to council last meeting requesting that a $100 rate remission be offered to all 86 leases of boatsheds and jetties within the municipality and that Council correct the anomaly when setting the rates for the 2009 / 2010 year. This motion was passed.
RE NAMING OF THE TASMAN HIGHWAY AT ORFORD
You may be aware that house numbers south of the Prosser Bridge are the same as those north of the bridge. As a result Council have suggested that the highway south of the bridge and onto the town boundary at Dam Corner be re named Prosser River Road. Residents in that area have been advised. This will greatly assist emergency vehicles.
TRIABUNNA MARINA DEVELOPMENT
Owners of the above development are moving ahead with the project after the RPDC approved their application. However dredging will not commence in the marina until winter next year. Updates will continue.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
This is a new segment to Council meetings, inviting the public to ask questions to Council on any subject. Maximum of two questions and a total time set aside of 15 minutes. No person present took advantage of this however it will remain on the coming Agendas.
COUNCIL MEETING TIMES
Councillor Parker put forward a motion relating to Council meetings, the timings and the number, up to 24 per year. It was agreed that Council review their meeting procedures to be more in line with LGAT guide lines, i.e.; starting later in the day to allow employed persons to become involved in council.
COUNCIL GOES "GREEN"
The General Manager is keen to save both money and carbon and has introduced a new vehicle to the fleet. This new vehicle a Hyundai I30 diesel only uses 4.7 litres per 100km and has a very "clean" engine. The new Tourism Development Officer Jo Anne O'Brien will use this vehicle up and down the municipality. Council hopes to replace more of the present vehicle fleet with these fuel efficient vehicles.
DOG REGISTRATION
If you received your Dog Registration account with the tag and put the tag on the dog without paying the registration, look out. Council officers will first advise by mail then be visiting the 300 who "forgot" to pay the fee. A $200 fine can be imposed so be warned. 700 dogs were registered this year.
SPEED CHECK TRAILER
The Road Safety Task Force have donated a new Speed Check Trailer to Council. This trailer costing around $20,000 will soon be seen alongside the highway checking your speed as you pass by. The information given out by the trailer can include warnings on road conditions, accidents, floods and is controlled from a mobile phone. The trailer has GPS fitted and an alarm will sound in it is tampered with or moved from its location. And NO, it will not check your maximum speed as it will cut out if you are 20 km over the stated speed limit. The trailer will not take pictures of you speeding by but the police down the road will. It is for your benefit so look after it.
BREATH TEST BEFORE DRIVING
The Blue Waters Hotel have a Alcohol test device on loan so participants can test their sobriety before driving. No excuse for driving under the influence now.
SPORT AND RECREATION TASMANIA GRANTS 2008/9
Applications forms and info have been sent out to all sporting clubs in our area so if you want to improve your club here is one way of securing very cheap funding. Enquiries to Lona at the Council.
PROSSER DAM SLOWING FILLING
The Prosser Dam is filling at the rate of 1.5 million litres a day. No doubt you have seen the improvement. The capacity is 280 million litres. When full the Brockley Dam sluice gate will be closed so that dam can also refill. Council will be meeting with Hobart Water this week to consider lowering the Water Restrictions.
Orford's water use decreased slightly last month however some 503 mgl was used per day last month. Orford received 43.2mm of rain during July.
Bradys Dam at Triabunna is also 70% full. Lets hope for good Spring rains.
LATEST ECONOMIC NEWS – TASMANIA
Major Economic News (May 2008 to August 2008)
North-West:
The Central Coast Council has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of the Ulverstone sports and leisure precinct. The expected cost of the project is $7.3 million.
The Government has announced that it will undertake extensive consultation on a proposed $23 million tourist road in the Tarkine in the North-West of the State.
The Lake Margaret power station is set to receive a $14.7 million redevelopment following opposition from the West Coast community at Hydro Tasmania’s earlier plans to close it. The power station will operate as a tourism attraction if approved by the West Coast Council and the Tasmanian Heritage Council and is expected to be completed in 2009.
North:
Vos Constructions and Joinery has begun work on a $20 million upgrade to the Launceston Airport. The work will be done in two stages and is expected to be completed by July 2009.
J Boag & Son has announced a $25 million expansion of its brewery over the next 18 months aimed at doubling production. The expansion will include a new brew house and two new fermenters.
The JAC Group’s proposed $30 million redevelopment of the old Launceston General Hospital has been approved by the Resource Planning and Development Commission. Construction of the hotel and apartment complex is scheduled to begin in late 2008.
Statewide Independent Wholesalers are planning to build a 60 000 square metre grocery distribution centre to service more than 200 outlets across Tasmania. The $106 million centre is expected to be operational by late 2010.
It has been announced that $150 million will be invested in a natural gas plant to cut trucking operators’ reliance on diesel. This would be the first commercial pipeline-to-truck supply in Australia and is expected to be established at Wesbury, west of Launceston.
South:
Construction has begun on the $40 million co-location of the University of Tasmania’s Faculty of Health Science and the Menzies Research Institute.
Hobart property developer Ali Sultan has submitted plans to council for a mixed-use development in Montpelier Retreat. The multi-million dollar development includes a car park, accommodation and office space, a cinema and shops.
Hydro Tasmania plans to undertake works estimated at around $17 million at the Catagunya Dam in the Upper Derwent Region. Work is expected to begin in October 2008 and take around two years to complete.
Hobart is experiencing a surge in hotel developments, with $50 million of construction under way and projects worth tens of millions more waiting in the wings.
The plan for the redevelopment of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has been released. Plans for the redevelopment are on display at the Bond Store and open for public comment.
MONTHLY SNAPSHOT OF THE TASMANIAN ECONOMY
September 2008
Economic Data
Recent data indicate that Tasmania’s economic fundamentals remain very strong despite global and national economic conditions becoming less favourable. The very strong labour market data are supported by the State Accounts data on economic growth.
The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures for Tasmania estimate that real state final demand increased by 1.4 per cent in the June quarter 2008 (in trend terms), and increased by 6.7 per cent in the year to June 2008, above the national annual growth rate of 5.1 per cent. Private investment has continued its recovery, increasing by 5.1 per cent in the June quarter 2008, to be at a record high level in real terms.
In August 2008, the level of employment in Tasmania increased by 1 500 persons (or 0.6 per cent) to 239 500 persons (in trend terms). The number of Tasmanians employed in August 2008 has increased by 5.2 per cent, or 11 900 persons, compared to the number in August 2007. In the past five years, around 64.4 per cent of employment growth has been in full-time positions.
Tasmania’s trend participation rate increased by 0.3 percentage points in August 2008 to 62.4 per cent, the highest value since the current labour force survey began in 1978. The current rate is 1.9 percentage points higher than the rate of one year earlier. The Tasmanian participation rate has been trending upwards since a low of 57.7 per cent in March 2002.
Tasmania’s trend unemployment rate fell by 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.1 per cent in August 2008, the lowest rate recorded. The current rate is now ranked fifth lowest of all the states and territories, with a lower rate than South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, and is one percentage point below the rate in August 2007. Tasmania’s unemployment rate is below the national rate, the first time this has occurred since October 1980.
Tasmania’s overseas export sales eased by 2.0 per cent in nominal terms in the twelve months to July 2008, to $3.65 billion. This decline was predominantly in export sales to Hong Kong, due, in part, to a large fall in the price of non-ferrous metals, particularly zinc. Export levels remain very high by historical standards and have been contributing to real income growth in Tasmania.
Tasmania’s estimated resident population grew by 1 223 persons (or 0.25 per cent) in the December quarter 2007 to 495 772 persons. Through the year to December 2007, Tasmania’s population increased by 4 068 persons (0.83 per cent), which is the strongest level of growth since the year to September 2004. Overseas in-migration, in particular, has been high in recent quarters and there has been a return to net interstate in-migration.
Troy D Merchandise
Caps and tops available. Please contact Chris Peterson at cpeterson@tassie.net.au.
Triabunna Market
The Lions Club of Spring Bay conducts a Market on the third Sunday morning (10 am to 2pm) of each month at the Triabunna Village – opposite the school in Melbourne Street Triabunna – Fresh Vegies available at reduced prices – Undercover, plenty of parking – come along
