NEW NEW NEW

In a coup for Hobart, Chanel Parratt, one of the founders of Launceston’s excellent Havilah bar, is teaming up with Harrison Scarf in a new venue in Battery Point. Lēoht (46A Hampden Road, Battery Point), in the ex-Monsoon Thai space, opens with head chef Patrick Prenter in the kitchen, who was executive chef at Saffire, at Supernormal in Melbourne and also worked at Franklin with David Moyle in its early days. Exciting times for the Battery Point strip. Little Chip Shop (69 Murray Street, Hobart) does exactly what it says on the tin: hot chips! There’s also a huge range of sauces and burgers. The family behind CBD fave Waffle On Cafe are moving on with their new ven­ture, Pademelon Cafe (76 Howrah Road, Howrah). And yes, they promise there will be waffles! Looking for a new CBD coffee joint? Give Uncle Tony Espresso (108 Murray Street, Hobart) a try. More than just coffee, they also serve tropical smoothies and fresh tiramisu. Now for some exciting franchise news. Healthy burger chain Grill’d and Mexican fast food joint Guzman y Gomez (GYG) are set to open stores in Tasmania for the first time. Both franchises plan to open in Hobart. Grill’d is currently hiring for an unknown location, while GYG are in earlier planning stages. Watch this space. Sore back and shoulders? There’s a new place in town that can help: Sparkle Beauty Spa & Massage (Shop 3/122 Liverpool Street, Hobart). Hobart Tesla Centre (402 Brooker Highway, Derwent Park) had its grand opening last month, complete with a showroom and service centre. Maybe you can go learn how to open a Tesla car door. Family-owned Saigon Art Gallery (327 Main Road, Glenorchy) is now open. Enjoy artworks that capture Tasmania’s beauty through the style of Vietnamese artists then sit down for a cuppa at their inhouse cafe. New boutique accommodation One North Terrace (1 North Terrace, Burnie) is set to open its doors this month, with 30 rooms and amazing views of Bass Strait.

SUMMERLEAS SLOW PROGRESS

The Summerleas Road Underpass work, which has caused the closure of the lower section of Summerleas Road in Kingston, has been delayed. Kingborough Mayor, Paula Wriedt, said the delays were out of Council’s control. “Unfortunately, there have been some delays on the Summer­leas Underpass project with some changes to non-council infrastructure planned for have taken longer than anticipated and are outside our control. These delays will have a knock-on effect to the project.” Cr Wriedt said early weather issues also caused some delay and that the road clo­sure was likely to be extended. “Council apologises for these delays and will provide weekly updates on the progress of the project ensuring that the community has a better understanding of the time­line,” she said.

STREET-SIDE DINING SUCCESS

The Hobart City Council has approved the next stage of the Street-Side Dining project at their recent meeting. This project saw temporary seating installed outside three local hospitality busi­nesses as part of the City’s response to COVID-19 to support local traders and business operators, enhance the vibrancy of the city’s streets and attract more visi­tors and locals. The three trial installation sites at Simple Cider, Straight Up Coffee + Food, and Pilgrim Coffee will now be reinstalled using durable materials and will remain in place for five years. The businesses will cover installation and maintenance costs. The City will also develop a formal Street-Side Dining Program, including guidelines for traders interested in establishing their own on-street dining areas.

TASSIE NAPLAN REALITY CHECK

The latest NAPLAN results show the performance of Tasmanian primary and secondary students remains below the national average. Nationally, the results also showed a widening gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students, prompting the Australian Education Union to call for the state government to ensure the federal government secure funding for Tasmanian education. “We welcome the Minister’s commitment to no budget cuts for schools, but any cuts, reductions, freezes or ‘efficiencies’ anywhere in education must be ruled out,” said David Genford, AEU Tasmania President. “Tasmania has the highest level of disadvantage of any state and needs investment and a solution to the staffing crisis – not cuts.”

COUNCIL SET TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR WALK OR RIDE TO SCHOOL

The City of Hobart is working with select local schools to encourage active travel modes – think walking, cycling, catching a bus – rather than increasing reliance on car travel. The City has developed School Access Travel Plans with three primary schools: Goulburn Street, New Town, and South Hobart, with support from a Community Road Safety Partnership grant. The Hobart City Council endorsed the School Access Travel Plans for these schools in their most recent meeting and will consider projects from these plans during the annual budget process. Similar plans will be developed with other schools as funding becomes available.

NEW ICE, ICE BABY

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s popular Islands to Ice exhibi­tion (the Antarctic gallery) has reopened after a major revamp. New stuff include a massive nine-metre sperm whale skull, a refashioned ‘Ice Map,’ and the Sky Country Theatre, an audio-visual experi­ence of Pakana storytelling.

GOODBYE GLENORCHY GRAFFITI

Glenorchy CBD’s traffic signal boxes have been brightly adorned in an effort to tackle graffiti. Glenorchy Council is currently trialling the plastic wrap, lam­inated in anti-graffiti film and incorpo­rating the fault-reporting phone number into the graphics. Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey said that one of Council’s priorities is to tackle graffiti in the city. “We have heard very clearly that people are concerned about graffiti,” she said. “We know that traffic signal boxes are a target for tagging, and we hope that this project is yet another way that we can enhance the look of our public spaces so that everyone can be proud of our city.” It’s hoped that young people and community groups can design artwork for future boxes.

LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR SOUTHERN OUTLET WORKS

The Southern Outlet between Kingston and Hobart carries one of the highest daily traffic volumes in Tasmania. Construction has started on a new lane between Davey and Macquarie streets on the Southern Outlet to help manage the traffic flow better. Work is hap­pening from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with no lane closures or speed changes during the day. They will also be working at night from 6:30pm to 6:30am, Sunday night through to Friday morning. During night hours there may be some impact to traffic with lane closures, detours and reduced speed limits, with eight minutes extra travel time expected. The project will take around eight months to complete, weather permitting.

IS FOREVER OVERRATED?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its Marriages and Divorces report for 2023, revealing a slight decline in the number of divorces compared to the previous year. In 2023, 48,700 divorces were granted, marking a 1.1% decrease from 49,241 in 2022. The data also shows that the median duration of marriages before divorce has in­creased to 13 years, up from 12.8 years in 2022. This suggests that Australians are staying married longer before opting to divorce. Additionally, the median age at divorce has risen slightly, with males divorcing at a median age of 47.1 years (up from 46.7 years) and females at 44.1 years (up from 43.7 years). On the marriage front, there was a notable drop in new registrations, with 118,439 mar­riages recorded in 2023 – 6.9% fewer than the record high of 127,161 in 2022. The most popular date for weddings was 11 November 2023.

LAUNCESTON PANTRY OF GIVING

A Community Pantry has arrived at Launceston’s Civic Square behind the Police Station. This is a spot where you can donate food and hygiene products for those who need it. Some examples of accepted products include tinned meals, cereal, bread, instant noodles, and per­sonal hygiene products. Find out more about what you can and cannot donate at www.launceston.tas.gov.au.

HAPPY FEET AT LOW HEAD

Wildcare group Friends of Low Head Penguin Colony have worked hard install­ing over 100 nest boxes for Low Head’s little penguins. Their efforts have not only provided shelter and safety for the penguin population, but they have also achieved higher breeding success rates than what is typically seen in natural burrows.

LIFE JACKETS DO SAVE LIVES

Tasmania has seen a significant reduction in boating fatalities since life jackets became compulsory in 2001. Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) has reported a drop from 146 deaths in the 23 years before the law came into play, to 63 since its implementation. MAST highlights that while the decrease is promising, even one death is too many. The majority of fatal­ities involve men, with a notable rise in incidents among older individuals boating alone in cold water. Fishing-related deaths remain high, and nearly half of the fatali­ties occur on weekends. MAST CEO Lia Morris said their main safety messages remain the same. “Check the weather, ensure your safety gear is accessible and ensure your inflatable life jackets are fully serviced and maintained – if they don’t work, they are not life jackets. If you are boating alone, use your kill cord,” she said. “Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.”

AIRPORT DRONE WARNING

Police are investigating the flying of drones near Hobart Airport recently. On 19 August, police received reports that two drones were seen flying dangerously close to an inbound aircraft at Hobart Airport. Inspector Jon Cooper said, “Tasmania Police are taking this breach of airspace seriously and remind drone pilots that you cannot operate a drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property.” He added, “The potential outcome of this breach could have been devastating.” Police have made enquiries with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and ask anyone who saw drones being flown in the Primrose Sands or Carlton River area on 19 August at around midday to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers at www.crimestop­perstas.com.au or 1800 333 000.

IMPORTANT 3G REMINDER

Telstra and Optus have extended the closure of their 3G networks to conduct a public safety awareness campaign ahead of the shutdown. The 3G network will now shut down from 28 October, rather than the planned August cut off. If your device is reliant on 3G for emergency calls, you won’t be able to call Triple Zero after 28 October. If you’re with Telstra or Optus text 3 to 3498 to find out if your mobile phone is impacted. Keep in mind it could also impact on medical monitors, sensors, EFTPOS and antennas

MORE DRAMA ON THE HIGH SEAS

The Spirit of Tasmania ferry project, which concerns the construction of two new vessels with higher capacity – Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V – to replace the exist­ing fleet of Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II, has hit a series of stumbling blocks that have fueled frustration and a bit of drama.

Issues predominantly surfaced late-May when Treasurer Michael Ferguson revealed that TT-Line, the company that operates the Spirit of Tasmania, made the decision to pay $81 million to Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), the Finnish shipbuilding company building the new vessels. This payment was made outside the terms of their fixed-price contract, on 21 March, just two days before the State Election. Despite the significant amount of taxpayer money involved, this crucial detail was not disclosed to the government until 5 April.

The issue deepened in mid-August, when Ferguson and Eric Abetz, the Minister for Transport, acknowledged that the port infrastructure necessary for the new vessels was delayed and over budget. In order to berth the new vessel, upgrades are required to the Devonport wharf, which now won’t be completed until at least 2026, and will cost $375 million.

In response to the mounting issues, the Tasmanian Government request­ed then accepted the resignation of TT-Line chair Michael Grainger. The relationship between Grainger and the government had become strained. Da­mian Bugg AM KC, a TT-Line board member since 2019, was appointed as interim chair. To address the project’s delays, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that Ben Moloney, who is currently managing the new Bridge­water Bridge and oversaw the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment, was tasked with overseeing the delivery of the berth facility.

With a new interim chair and addition­al measures in place, the government is aiming to bring the project back on track. With many Tasmanians relying upon the Spirit of Tasmania for business and travel, as well as the state relying upon tourism dollars, the sooner the better. However, none of this stopped TT-Line from recently announcing the two new Spirit of Tas­mania vessels will include dog-friend­ly cabins. A seemingly small detail in the grand scheme of the project. Woof.

HOOPTASTIC JACKJUMPERS NEWS

The Tasmania JackJumpers are set to build a new high-performance centre next to the Kingborough Sports Centre in Kingston. This new facility will give the team a top-notch training space, free up courts for local leagues, and offer oppor­tunities for young basketball players. A development application has been lodged with Kingborough Council to begin the process. There is also hope that the area can become a recreational hub. In other Jackies news, the JackJumpers will be making their debut at the 2024 Myer City of Hobart Christmas Pageant, on 23 November. Ho, ho, ho-ops.

BEACHED DOLPHINS SAVED

Six short-beaked common dolphins that washed up on Hawley Beach near Devonport were successfully returned to the sea recently. Staff from Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources assisted with the rescue, keeping the animals safe until high tide came. The cause of the stranding is unknown, but for now it’s just a relief that all six dolphins made it out safely.

MACQUARIE ISLAND LIFE THRIVING

Thanks to the eradication of rabbits on Macquarie Island back in 2011 and the tireless work of researchers, several plant species and the humpback whale might soon be taken off the Threatened Species Protection Act list. Plants that were once barely surviving, like the prickly shieldfern and Cook’s tussock grass, are now thriving across the island. Humpback whales have also been making a strong comeback, with the western and eastern populations now exceeding 40,000 and growing rapidly. Amazing stuff.

STATE LIBRARY WORKS UNDERWAY

Libraries Tasmania is updating the ground floor of the State Library and Archives Building. Works commenced mid-Au­gust and are expected to end sometime in Spring. During this time, entry to the library is from Bathurst Street, with directed signs showing the way, and the building carpark will be closed. Items can be returned at new return chutes at the top of the ramp on Bathurst Street. The updated space promises to be more acces­sible and contemporary, with improved areas for reading, studying and socialis­ing. We can’t wait to see it.

THE SOUNDS OF NIGHT LIFE

Want to explore wildlife sounds at night? From September this year until March 2025, you can borrow top-notch sound recorders from libraries all over Tasmania, including Launceston, Smithton, Devonport, St Helens, Whitemark, and Hobart. Record animal sounds and help track how wildlife numbers and habitats change over time. To get more info on the CallTrackers project, contact your local library.

LIMBERLOSTWIN

Acclaimed Tassie author Robbie Arnott has won yet another major award. His latest novel Limberlost won the prestig­ious Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History, earning him a $25,000 prize. Arnott wrote it during his residency as the inaugural Hedberg Writer-in-Residence. The novel explores the life of Arnott’s grandfather through the story of teenager Ned on his family’s orchard during World War II. Congrats Robbie on the win.

TASMANIAN FOOD AND WINE UNSTOPPABLE IN RECENT AWARDS

New Norfolk’s The Agrarian Kitchen hit a major milestone recently, becoming the first Tasmanian restaurant to snag Gourmet Traveller’s national Restaurant of the Year award. This paddock-to-plate venue, founded by Rodney Dunn and Séverine Demanet, has wowed critics with its high quality food and sustainable practices. Based at the former Wil­low Court psychiatric hospital in New Norfolk, The Agrarian Kitchen includes a cooking school, takeaway kiosk, and restaurant. Meanwhile, Bream Creek’s 2023 Pinot Noir beat 1,750 other wines to be awarded Best Wine of Show at the 2024 Sydney Royal Wine Show. This is the youngest red wine to win the award in over 24 years, the first Pinot Noir to win since 2015, and the first Tasmanian wine to win since 2016. Wow. Lastly, Derwent Distillery’s Last Sanctuary Organic Gin won Gold and the Editors Choice prizes as part of the Clean+Conscious Awards, Australia’s largest sustainability award body.

10 YEARS OF CRADLE VOLUNTEERS

Wildcare Cradle Mountain volunteers recently celebrated 10 years of assisting Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service in protecting and conserving the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. The volunteers undertake a wide range of important activities and programs including track maintenance, wombat monitoring and assisting at the visitor centre. Thanks team!

24/7 CARE NOW AT CALVARY

Calvary Hospital’s emergency depart­ment, in Lenah Valley, is open 24/7 again, after operating for limited hours for over two years. Calvary has teamed up with Care 24-7, enabling round-the-clock care, a new patient management system, and some fresh upgrades to the triage area. The extension in hours will reduce the strain on Royal Hobart Hospital’s ED, and provide the community with more options for emergency medical care.

NEW HELP FOR VICTIM-SURVIVORS

Tasmanian Legal Aid (TLA) have launched a new program to give voice to those silenced by institutional abuse. TLA Director Kristen Wylie said TasVOCAL (Tasmanian Victim-Survivors of Child Abuse Legal) will offer face to face legal support and empower and support victim-survivors to explore their legal options and access therapeutic services. “Tasmanians who have experienced child sexual abuse in institutions now have access to free, confidential legal support to assist them seeking compensation and support,” she said. Funded by the Tasmanian Government, TasVOCAL is part of the recommendations of the Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings. Victim survivors can call TLA directly on 1300 366 611 and ask for TasVOCAL. TLA is also receiving referrals through the broader community including coun­sellors, Redress Support Services, local Arch Centres and Police.

CATARACT GORGE UPGRADE OPEN

The City of Launceston has finished a $130,000 upgrade of the Duck Reach Track in the Cataract Gorge Reserve, enhancing the popular trail between Duck Reach Power Station and Trevallyn Reserve. Over recent weeks, the Coun­cil replaced ageing timber steps using a helicopter to transport materials into the Gorge. The track’s bluestone stair land­ings have also been refurbished. Now that days are getting a bit warmer, it’s a good time to go check out the walk.

AGRICULTURAL LIVING LEGEND REACHES 80 YEARS OF SERVICE

Last month a luncheon at the Cornelian Bay Boathouse was held to honour David Skinner, OAM, who has served the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania (RAST) for nearly, brace yourselves, 80 years! Skinner, who was declared a Living Legend of the Royal Hobart Show in 2018, decided to retire from the RAST Board after all these decades. His involve­ment with RAST started in 1946 as a Junior Steward.

NEW PLATYPUS WALK

Have you tried the new self-guided platy­pus walk in South Hobart? Head along the lower rivulet track and keep an eye out for the bright blue information boards, created by Beaker Street Festival and the City of Hobart in collaboration with Pete Walsh from Hobart Rivulet Platypus and some South Hobart Primary School students. Fingers crossed you get to spot a platypus too!

HATCHING HOPE FOR SKATE

Big news from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies! For the first time, scientists have hatched a baby Maugean skate from an egg laid in captivity. This breakthrough is a huge win for the conser­vation of this endangered species, which has seen its numbers drop sharply in its last known home, Macquarie Harbour on the west coast. An adult female skate was brought into captivity back in December and she’s been laying eggs regularly, with over 100 produced so far. These eggs take about seven months to develop, and sci­entists are now gearing up for more hatch­lings to emerge soon. Interestingly, the new baby isn’t the result of mating with the male they also have in captivity, as the female used stored sperm from previous encounters in the wild. The team hopes the captive pair will soon start mating, as they’ve seen some promising courtship behaviour recently.

SLUGS AND BUGS COMING TO LAUNCESTON PUBLIC TOILET

A new mural will bring colour to the Criterion Place public toilet facilities in Launceston’s CBD. Tasmanian artist Tom O’Hern was selected following a public expressions of interest process earlier in the year. O’Hern has more than two decades of experience creating large-scale wall murals across Tasmania, and is known for the papier-mâché mask he wears during public appearances. So, what will the mural look like? “Lots of slugs and bugs,” O’Hern said.

TACKLING RACISM IN HOBART

Kingborough Council, which has one of Tasmania’s most multicultural popu­lations, has launched a Multicultural Action Plan to address racism within the community. “The community engage­ment survey reported many people had experienced and/or witnessed racism in the community,” Mayor of Kingborough, Paula Wriedt, said. “We were not naïve about racism in Kingborough, though we were somewhat surprised and saddened by the reports. But as well as Council showing leadership on this issue, it’s up to all residents to stand up against racism and to embrace our newest residents, making them feel part of the local community,” she said. “Just reaching out to a new neighbour can be a powerful way of making people feel welcome and part of our community, which is so important.” In 2021, 21.2% of people in the Kingborough Council area were born overseas, compared with 15.4% in Tasmania as a whole. The Multicultural Action Plan outlines the many ways Council can address racism through the delivery of positive events and activities to promote social cohesion and celebrate diversity over the next two years.

DEVIL TOOTH FAR FROM HOME

Researchers in Western Australia have found a tooth from a Tasmanian devil during an excavation. This was at Juukan Gorge, in the state’s north, the site of a rock shelter which was destroyed by mine blasting in 2020. Archaeologists believe this tooth arrived at the site through trade with people from the south, as there’s no sign Tasmanian devils ever lived in this area. Interestingly, though, evidence does indicate that the animals lived in south­western Western Australia about 3,000 years ago.

HOW SPRING CLEANING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Fiona Mason of Ace of Space, organ­ises and declutters homes profession­ally – here’s the low down on how to get on top of your clutter.

How did you become a professional organiser? After a strong love affair with Pinterest and learning tips and tricks from organisation blogs, I found out there were people working as professional organisers and that it was helpful and beneficial to those who find decluttering and organising over­whelming. I created Ace Of Space and got to work decluttering and organising homes around Hobart. Nine years on, and I’ve helped a whole spectrum of people to reclaim their homes and space.

What do you enjoy about organising and decluttering? Decluttering a person’s space helps to declutter their life as well, and being able to walk alongside them in their journey is a huge privilege. There’s a real satisfac­tion in completing a project and getting feedback from the client that they still feel a sense of relief and that they are loving their space.

Do you get to see the positive impacts a more organised space can have on people? Yes, all the time. I see it in the faces of my clients when they become unburdened from the accumulated stuff that has taken over their home-space and head-space. I also love to work with people who are neurodiverse and who struggle with executive functioning skills, the skills most needed for organisation. I love working alongside them to create systems and homes that they can manage, a space that works for them, not against them.

Do you have any tips on starting a declutter? Start small. Break the work down into small steps helps to lessen overwhelm, one box, one drawer, one shelf at a time is the best way to get started.

How can people find you? You can find me at www.aceofspace.com.au.

OUR NEXT ICONIC WALK ON TRACK

The concept plans for Tassie’s next iconic walk are out. The walk, to be created in the Tyndall Range region on the west coast, is a proposed three-day, two-night adventure between Lake Plimsoll and Lake Margaret Power Station that will showcase the rugged environment and rich history of the area. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service will host public information sessions in Launceston and Hobart in mid September, follow­ing sessions held in Queenstown and Ulverstone, where members of the public can view the draft designs and chat with the project team including repre­sentatives from Charlie Bravo Designs, JAWS Architects and ERA Planning and Environment. Launceston’s information session will be at the Tailrace Centre on 11 September from 2-4pm and 5-7:30pm. Hobart’s will be on 17 September at the Old Woolstore Hotel from 2-4pm and 5-7:30pm. Following these information sessions, detailed design and planning will continue before draft plans are released for public consultation in 2025. Subject to approvals, it is anticipated that construction will begin in 2025-26 and the walk will open in 2029.

PLASTICS SURVEY NOW OPEN

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is rolling out a consultation about phasing out certain plastic items and materials. They’re keen to hear from the community through an online survey, which you can check out at www.nre.tas.gov.au/plastics-consulta­tion. The government is aiming to tackle single-use plastics that are deemed unnec­essary and problematic. This includes things like plastic utensils, food and drinkware, bags, and some cosmetics. The survey seeks to understand how banning certain plastics will affect Tasmanians, businesses, and the environment. You have until 1 October 2024 to weigh in.

PORT HUON POOL STILL CLOSED

The reopening of the Port Huon pool has been pushed to next year. Originally slated for reopening last month, the pool will now open early 2025 after electrical supply upgrades are done. A Huon Valley Council statement explained that all other works essential to re-opening will be finished this year, but that the electrical supply upgrades were not anticipated in the initial project plan. Sally Doyle, Huon Valley Mayor, apologised for the delay. “We understand the delay in reopen­ing will disappoint many, and we do apologise for this. We are confident that it will be worth the wait. The refurbished pool, pool hall and ventilation system will enhance our patrons’ year-round swimming experience.” Other facilities at the Port Huon Sports Centre remain open to the public, and the Huonville pool will open for the summer season on 2 November.

PRANK OR PAYDAY?

Fake $100 notes have been circulating across Southern Tasmania recently, according to Tasmania Police. They’re urging locals and businesses to be on the lookout for the counterfeit bills. You can tell one is fake if it says in small text on the note, “For motion picture use only” or “Prank use only”, and apparently they do not feel like a real note. These fakes are not legal tender. Residents and businesses that find a counterfeit note are advised to contact police, to handle the note as little as possible and store it in an envelope. The only question now is, where did they come from? Is the hit ABC3 show Prank Patrol finally back? Scott Tweedie we miss you.