NEW NEW NEW

Bean to Brew (25 Greenpoint Road, Bridgewater) has opened at the Brighton Civic Centre. Warm up with coffee, toasties and hot corn chowder. Open Mon to Fri 7am to 3pm. Cocomo and Co (6/16 Cambridge Road, Bellerive) has opened on the Eastern Shore – pop in for a relaxed breakfast, lunch, or small bites at cocktail hour overlooking the Bellerive Quay. Open daily 7am-6pm. Rice paper rolls and noodle salads by day, Aussie pizza by night, Vietnamese Takeaway Huonville (20a Main Street, Huonville) has landed inside Great Southern Pizza. Open Fri, Sat and Sun 10am-2:30pm. Parthenon Souvlaki Bar (9 Springfield Avenue, Moonah) will soon add a touch of Greece to the Moonah food scene. Opa! Lovers of American BBQ are in for a treat! Smoked by Lost Captain (4 Barrack Street, Hobart) has fired up the smoker at Stabla with loads of succulent meaty eats on offer. The Sunlight Kitchen (12 St Johns Ave, New Town) is open at the Kickstart Art Centre and is serving up delicious Afghani beef kofta, samosa and halwa. The kitchen is open every Friday, 11am-2pm. Lovely Nails Sandy Bay (171 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay) has opened for anyone looking to spruce up their hands and feet. Miniso (Shop 7, Wellington Centre Hobart) has recently landed in Hobart CBD’s Wellington Centre. Head in and check out their huge range of all things plush and cute. Chou kawaii! Open seven days from 10am. If you’re looking to deck out smaller spaces, Fold Out Furniture (113 Harrington Street, Hobart) has opened in their new CBD shop, offering foldable and space saving furniture in a wide range of styles to suit any decor.

HCC RAISES RATES FOR AIRBNBS Hobart City residential homeowners who rent entire homes out as short stay accommodation, such as through Airbnb, will pay double the council rates of owner- occupiers or landlords with long-term rentals as of this month. Owners of vacant blocks will also be charged with double rates, whilst general rates will increase by 6.9 per cent. Hobart City Council voted the changes in, 8-3, at their regular meeting on 19 June. A post-meeting statement from Council read, “The Council is encouraging owners of short stay accommodation to make their properties available for long-term rental purposes, while inviting owners of vacant-residential land to develop their land more quickly for residential accommodation.” Councillor Simon Behrakis, who was one of the three councillors who voted against the changes, said on social media, “Council has been provided no opportunity to publicly scrutinise the budget outside of tonight’s debate” and calling the doubling of rates “a cynical cash grab by the Greens…if this move was to help ease housing pressures then the money should go towards that goal as well, it’s clear this was a tax aimed at hurting people certain Councillors don’t like and using them to line Town Hall’s coffers.” Councillors Marti Zucco (who brought a box of Cornflakes into the meeting as a prop) and John Kelly also voted against the doubling of rates for short-stay accommodation, whilst Councillor Louise Elliott did not vote due to a declared interest. Cr Elliott is president of Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association and an Airbnb owner. Since 2014 the City of Hobart has issued 686 whole house change of use to visitor accommodation permits.

RAISE YOUR VOICE! Has Festival of Voices got you interested in joining a choir? The Tasmanian Song Company is a Hobart-based community choir that enjoys singing all kinds of songs. With their upcoming concert Show Stoppers: a choral concert featuring popular songs from musical theatre through the decades, now is a great time to check them out and join in the fun. Rehearsals take place on Mondays at Lenah Valley Community Hall, from 7:30pm – 9:15pm. If you’re keen to raise your voice, head to www.tasmaniansongcompany.org.au.

ZIG ZAG TRACK OPEN The Zig Zag Track, the main walking route up to the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, is now open after months of restoration work. But be quick – it’s closing again from November until early 2024 for the final stage of the works to repair erosion. The team have completed 570m of the track, with 350m to go.

COMMUNITY HELP SAVE VITAL FOOD SERVICE Good news for the northern suburbs with the Waterbridge Food Co-op being saved from the brink of closure. Located in Herdsmans Cove, the Waterbridge Food Co-op is a volunteer organisation run out of the Jordan River Service – it provides affordable produce and precooked meals for people doing it tough. The closure of the Waterbridge Food Co-op would have been a significant blow to the local community, especially during the current cost of living crisis. However, over $10,000 has been raised by the local community through fundraisers, with Brighton Council pledging to match the donations dollar by dollar. The community also lobbied the local government to have the co-op included in the state budget. Because of their efforts the Waterbridge Food Co-op now has access to the 2023-24 state funding of $100,000 for the Gagebrook and Bridgewater Community Houses, ensuring a brighter future for the much-needed service. To support the Waterbridge Food Co-op, head to www.givenow.com.au/jordanriverservicewaterbridge.

WRITING RESIDENT TO FOCUS ON KING ISLAND SHIPWRECK The annual Hedberg Writer-in-Residence program will see an award-winning Sydney author spend time in Hobart to write about a King Island shipwreck survivor’s story. Michelle Cahill will spend three months in Hobart from August, working on her novel which tells the story of an Indian sailor – or ‘lascar’ – who survives the wreck of the Brahmin off the King Island coast in 1854. Nineteen lascars spent five months on the island helped by two Tasmanian Aboriginal women before a stroke of luck resulted in their rescue. Cahill is reconstructing the story through the young eyes of fictional character Joao Gomez. The Hedberg-in-Residence program is now in its third year and has previously hosted Tasmanian author Robbie Arnott, who used the residency to work on his novel Limberlost, winner of the Age Book of the Year for fiction and now shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award this year. Michelle Cahill will also work with Hobart students and take part in community conversations.

HOLOGRAPHIC NUMBER PLATES EN ROUTE FOR TASSIE Tasmanian number plates will soon feature new holographic markers to prevent the use of fraudulent plates. The security marks will be embedded in the retro-reflective sheeting used in making of number plates, so they can’t be removed physically or chemically. The new feature will be rolled out on new plates and as existing plates are renewed or replaced.

PLANS FOR WATERWORKS RESERVE NOW OPEN FOR COMMENT Want to throw in your two cents worth about the future of the Waterworks Reserve? The draft master plan is now out for public comment. The draft plans aim to improve outdated infrastructure by implementing new pavilions, BBQ areas, nature-based children’s play areas, walking tracks and trails, and improving social gathering spaces. The plan also includes a centrally located visitor hub with accessible toilets, and outlines work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to promote awareness about Aboriginal history and culture. Consultation on the Waterworks Reserve Draft Master Plan is open until 9 July, 2023. For more information, head to yoursay.hobartcity.com.au/waterworks-reserve.

NEW FLIGHTS TO MELBOURNE Regional Express – aka Rex – will be flying from Hobart to Melbourne daily from next month. The Rex Boeing 737 will depart Melbourne at 12:15pm to reach Hobart at 1:30pm; the return flight takes off from Hobart at 2:15pm, touching down in Melbourne at 3:30pm. The flights join Rex’s other Tassie routes – to Burnie, Devonport and King Island. The new flights begin on 17 August and at the time of print there were $79 flights available on numerous dates.

ENERGY HARDSHIP TO RISE ALONGSIDE POWER PRICE HIKE Power prices are on the rise with the average rate for Aurora Energy residential and small business customers increasing by 9.51%. High wholesale energy costs, along with recent national and global events, have been blamed for the hike. While Aurora has stated that the increases are not unique to Tasmania, it’s of little consolation for Tasmanians struggling in a cost-of-living crisis. Prior to the hike announcement, Aurora Energy topped up the Energy Hardship Fund (which is administered by the Salvation Army), with an extra $200,000 to help those struggling to pay their electricity bills – affected customers can ring 1300 132 003 for help.

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) have welcomed the news but blamed the government for the need for it. TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone said, “This additional funding is only necessary because of the Tasmanian Government’s failure to act on skyrocketing energy prices which is resulting in more people seeking financial support from community service organisations.” TasCOSS is calling for the Government to:

• Cap electricity prices (as it did in 2018 and said it would do again to protect Tasmanian households and businesses from future price hikes);

• Undertake a review of the electricity concession scheme to ensure it is well-targeted and appropriate; and

• Invest in a program of household energy efficiency initiatives to support low-income and rental households to lower their energy bills.

ALL ABILITIES SHINE AT OUT-OF THIS-WORLD ART EXHIBITION Get ready for an interstellar space station and futuristic city landing at Hobart’s Town Hall this month. Ability to Create: ELEVATE is a four-day exhibition created by local all-ability artists in collaboration with artistic mentors, Georgia Lucy, Jon Smeathers, Richie Cyngler and Timothy Hodge. The Ability to Create artists and their mentors have been working since April to make infrastructure and artworks for the exhibition.

This year’s theme, ELEVATE, aims to bring the community together through creativity to lead the way in accessibility, inclusivity and diversity and to motivate change towards a better future. Along with the intergalactic sensory space station, the exhibition boasts a city of the future through green screen animation, electro- acoustic soundscapes, and planetary mayhem. Ability to Create began in 2014 with an eclectic exhibition of art pieces made by artists from local disability organisations. The project has evolved considerably since then and provides opportunities for all-ability artists and their support networks to work together towards a common creative goal. The exhibition is on from 26-29 July.

OVERLAND AND THREE CAPES TRACK HIKES HIKED Fees for the iconic Overland Track and Three Capes Track have risen significantly this month. The Overland Track will now cost $285 for adults (up from $200) and it will now cost an adult $595 to walk the Three Capes Track (up from $495). The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service stated the fee increases were necessary to cover increasing maintenance costs in remote and harsh landscapes. It’s the first price rise for the Overland Track since 2012, and the first for the Three Capes since it opened in 2015.

SEPARATE BIKE LANES COMING TO THE HOBART CBD Hobart is getting its first separated cycle lanes along sections of Argyle, Campbell, Liverpool and Bathurst Streets. The new trial lanes will connect the existing onroad bike lanes on Argyle and Campbell Streets, the Rose Garden Bridge and Queens Domain, the InterCity Cycleway and Sullivans Cove. Alison Hetherington, from Bicycle Network Tasmania, said more commuters would choose to ride if they felt more safe on the roads. “We know the majority of the population would consider riding instead of driving, but they don’t want to mix with traffic,” Ms Hetherington said. “Creating cycleways that are physically separated from traffic helps more people feel confident to ride…we need this sort of cycling infrastructure if more of us are going to make that choice.”

The trial bike lanes will sit between the kerb and parking spaces, with some locations requiring a peak-hour clearway lane, meaning parking will not be allowed at times. Some parking spaces will be removed. The $1.725 million trial is co-funded by the Australian Government’s Road Safety Program and the Tasmanian Government’s Vulnerable Road User Program and will start later this year, to be completed in 2024.

IT’S A WRAP FOR PLASTIC THIS JULY Did you know we create around 400 million tons of plastic waste globally each year and that a huge 91% hasn’t been recycled? Whether you’re just getting started or an avid plastic-avoiding veteran, reducing the amount of single-use plastics from our lives is a good thing. Plastic Free July is a global challenge that provides tips, tricks and resources for people wanting to help reduce plastic pollution. Here are a few tips on how you can remove plastic from your life this July:

• Make simple swaps: use a BYO cup for your daily coffee, BYO shopping bags and containers for groceries and have a reusable water bottle handy. Also consider not buying fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic and if there are bulk wholefoods options available.
• Avoiding single-use plastic at work: avoid paper where you can by going digital and do bin audits to make sure rubbish is going into the correct bin. Also, have proper kitchen crockery and utensils that can be washed up and use refillable cleaning products.
• Avoid single-use plastic at home: use plastic free toiletries and refillable cleaning items. Invest in reusable containers for your pantry and for storing leftovers in place of cling wrap. Switch to plastic free hygiene items like shampoo bars where possible and jump on the ‘naked bin’ idea by simply washing it out or lining it with paper instead of plastic bin liners.

Whether you start with a few tips or go all in, every little bit helps when it’s on a global scale. To check out the Plastic Free July Challenge or to find out how you can get involved, head to www.plasticfreejuly.org.

HIP HIP HOORAY FOR HAMLET Congratulations to Hobart social enterprise cafe Hamlet, where staff have recently celebrated not only the cafe’s 7th birthday, but also their 400th graduate. Situated on Molle Street where the Hobart rivulet walking track meets the city, Hamlet provides the base for two dedicated training programs that provide cafe and kitchen skills to empower Tasmanians who are experiencing barriers to employment…plus they serve delicious food made from local, seasonal produce. Here’s cheers!

STOP THE TASSIE PUPPY FARMS Tasmania’s Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) say more needs to be done to stop puppy farming in Tasmania. The RSPCA is receiving many reports of puppy farms, puppy flipping, and puppy scams and are calling on the state government to get in line with mainland states when it comes to regulating the industry. Jan Davis, RSPCA Chief Executive, said the RSPCA takes complaints relating to companion animal breeders very seriously. “Unfortunately, some breeders may appear reputable to potential buyers but, behind closed doors, their animals are not being given appropriate food, shelter or veterinary care,” Ms Davis said. “RSPCA inspectors receive many calls reporting breeding operations like this. Much more needs to be done to protect the companion animals of Tasmania.” Ms Davis said other states have been far more proactive in addressing these issues, in several states any individual, breeder, or organisation selling, adopting or giving away a dog, cat, puppy or kitten needs to use an official identification number in any advertisement of the animal. The RSPCA is now calling for our government to urgently follow this lead by:

• implementing a public searchable online Pet Exchange Register. Anyone who wants to sell a companion animal must register their details and a ‘breeder ID’ number must be included in all online ads.
• introducing penalties applying to any online trading site which allows ads to be published without a pet exchange register number.

Homely Retreats: Helping Families ‘Take a Break’ from Cancer

We’ve featured Homely Retreats in The Hobart Magazine before, but please remind our lovely readers what you do. Homely Retreats provide respite experiences to those affected by cancer (with young children), to enable their family unit to take a break from cancer treatment schedules for rest and connection, during their toughest battle. This also allows families time to pause from the stress of their situation to create positive and long-lasting family memories – no matter the outcome of their cancer journey.

For a person living with cancer what can Homely Retreats mean? The flow-on effects of a life-changing cancer journey include financial hardship, sudden changes in family dynamics, emotional distress, logistical and physical challenges, and more. Our unique and tailored respite experiences nurture the family unit as a whole. It can be hard to measure the value of creating space for families to rest and recharge, whilst reconnecting with their loved ones, but the beautiful heartfelt thank yous we receive in testimonials say it all.

You have an awesome raffle on now – what will the funds be used for and how can readers enter? Our annual fundraiser raffle has launched for 2023, running until 29 July, with six amazing prizes all donated by local Tasmanian business owners. As a charity, 80% of our team are incredibly passionate volunteers. We all work remotely and keep expenses low, so all funds raised go towards providing much needed respite experiences for our clients and their families.

People can enter our raffle through our website, www.homelyretreats.com.au, and we also have a Quiz Night/raffle draw event at Howrah Community Centre on 29 July, from 7-10pm. If you would like to reach out and lend a hand, email info@homelyretreats.com.au for more information

ARE YOU WASTING POWER THE CORRECT WAY? Did you know throwing away batteries into your bin is dangerous? Not only are batteries full of toxic chemicals that can leach into our soil, but incorrect disposal of batteries can cause a fire! To dispose of batteries correctly, follow these steps:

1. Tape the terminals. If they can touch, they can create a spark.
2. Store them in a glass container (only glass) and make sure it’s not airtight. Pressure can build inside the container otherwise.
3. Label the container as ‘used’ and keep away from children and pets.
4. Once full, dispose of the batteries at a dedicated battery recycling drop off point or your local council recycling unit.

For more tips and information on battery safely and recycling, or where to recycle them, head to www.bcycle.com.au/dropoff.

DARK MOFO NUMBERS ECLIPSED Dark Mofo organisers are celebrating a successful festival with numbers eclipsing those from last year and those from the last pre-covid festival in 2019. There were a total of 427,000 entries (a 60% increase on 2022 and a 77% increase on 2019), with the Winter Feast alone welcoming 110,000 entries (with almost 20,000 pouring in on the final Sunday night, post Ogah Ogah Burning). Dark Park saw 90,000 entries across the festival, Night Mass had 15,000 attend, and 17,500 people witnessed The Burning. Drew Berridge,

WOMEN’S FIFA WORLD CUP KICKS OFF THIS MONTH The FIFA Women’s World Cup is right around the corner with the Australian Women’s team, Matildas, to face off against Ireland when the tournament officially opens on 20 July. The renowned international women’s football competition will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to the action and wish the Matildas the best of luck!

LOWER SPEED LIMIT ON THE WAY FOR SANDY BAY SHOPPING STRIP The Sandy Bay shopping precinct will see speed limits modified starting from 9 July, 2023. The current 50km/h stretch of Sandy Bay Road between Ashfield Street and Osbourne Street will be permanently reduced to 40km/h and will encompass the Sandy Bay retail precinct. The speed limit change is part of an enhancing road safety measure by the City of Hobart and aims to ensure a safer environment for the large number of pedestrians utilising the busy retail zone. Message boards informing the travelling public of the changes have been installed and will remain in place for a further two weeks beyond 9 July to remind commuters of the change.

VICTIM SURVIVORS INVITED TO NEW COUNCIL Eligible community members are invited to express their interest in joining an inaugural Victim Survivor Advisory Council to amplify the voices of victim survivors of family and sexual violence. Members of the Advisory Council will be paid for their time and expertise and will assist to shape the implementation of the state government’s living action plan. The expressions of interest process is open until Monday 21 August. For more information, visit www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au.

ZIP LINE ON THE MOUNTAIN? An entrepreneurial Tasmanian has announced his grand plans to create a zip line down kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Shane Abel, who has developed a zip line in New Zealand and also designed the Tahune Airwalk near Geeveston, wants to build a zip line from The Springs to Strickland Falls. The potential line could be 1266 metres long, with a 25-metre takeoff tower near the Springs carpark, and could see riders travel up to 100km per hour (!!) at up to 50 metres above the forest floor. The plans have yet to be put to Hobart City Council, so watch this space.

COSY FASHION FOR TASMANIAN GUIDE DOGS Guide Dogs Tasmania have launched their brand new winter merch for you to get cosy in AND help raise money. The new range features crew necks, hoodies and beanies for the whole family with proceeds raised directly funding Guide Dog Tasmania’s training program. Guide Dogs Tasmania provides Guide Dog services to help improve the quality of life of Tasmanians in need. The organisation relies on community support in order to continue making a meaningful difference for those living with disability. To check out the range or to support these hard-working puppas, head to www.guidedogstas.com.au.