Community grants closing Friday

APPLICATIONS for funding under the Derwent Valley Council community grants program close this Friday, October 15. Non-profit, sporting and community groups in the municipality are eligible to apply for assistance in cash and kind under this scheme. Preference is given to applications with broad community benefit in the range of $200 to $500. More information is available on the council website here.

Praise for tree-planting

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CLIMATE-CHANGE minister Nick McKim has congratulated Greening Australia and the University of Tasmania on the start of a project to plant more than 30,000 trees in the Upper Derwent Valley with the aim of restoring dry landscapes and conserving biodiversity. Titled "Biodiverse carbon for landscape restoration: The establishment of a permanent research site in the Derwent Catchment, the project is being is being funded by the Tasmanian Government and the Australian Research Council.

>Mr McKim said the State Government would provide $540,000 over five years for the establishment of permanent "biodiverse carbon restoration research sites" at Hamilton and Bothwell. “This project provides an opportunity for Tasmania to lead the development of a major climate change adaptation and mitigation solution for Australia,” Mr McKim said. “Climate change projections show that the agricultural landscape in Tasmania’s midlands will become warmer and drier."

“To help prepare for changes in conditions, the project team has this week started planting genetic strains of locally sourced native Tasmanian species that have an ability to survive and grow in low rainfall regions. The reforestation of this private land will build resilience into the landscape to allow for the movement of species of plants and animals that is anticipated with climate change,” he said.

Mr McKim said the project had the potential to improve agricultural productivity and property values by restoring degraded landscapes. “It will also highlight opportunities to develop new income stream models for landholders in the carbon market, as well as new models for securing private land conservation and reforestation through forestry right covenants for biosequestration. The information from the project will be used by land owners, land managers and government in planning for future resource management and policy.”

The project is also supported by a number of Tasmanian businesses offsetting their carbon emissions including Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Stornoway, and Targa Tasmania.

Glenora vineyard remains in family hands

THE original Meadowbank vineyard at Glenora will remain in the hands of the Ellis family following the sale of the newer estate in the Coal River Valley, ABC News reported today. Meadowbank's main vineyard and winery at Cambridge were to be sold to neighbouring Frogmore Creek Wines, but the company's Derwent Valley vineyard would continue to be owned and operated by its founder, Gerald Ellis, under a different label. Read more at the ABC News website here.

Sunday bus arrives after 10 years

GREENS MHA Tim Morris has welcomed increased bus services in the Derwent Valley, with the reintroduced Sunday services between New Norfolk and Hobart starting yesterday. “After more than 10 years of work and lobbying I am very pleased to at last see that New Norfolk and Hobart will be connected by public transport seven days a week, and as a bonus there will be increased weekday services and a doubling of Saturday services,” Mr Morris said.

“Now it will be convenient for Hobart residents to catch a bus to New Norfolk to visit friends or to enjoy the many recreational opportunities that exist in and around New Norfolk. For New Norfolk residents who work in, or simply wish to access Hobart on weekends they will now have a service seven days a week including until 9pm on most nights,” Mr Morris said. “This will also provide a significant boost to local small businesses, as both locals and visitors will have increased flexibility in their transport options,” he said.

Mr Morris said seed funding from the State Government would underwrite the new public transport services for a year, after which those that had become commercially viable would continue. “The Greens have every confidence that most or all of these trial services will remain in place beyond the period of the seed funding after having watched the significant increase in patronage over the past 20 months that O’Driscoll Coaches have operated the Derwent Valley Link bus service,” Mr Morris said.

“Peter O’Driscoll also deserves congratulations for being such a progressive service operator and one prepared to take advantage of the government incentive so quickly after it was announced in this year’s Budget.”

Sunday bus service to be reintroduced

DERWENT Valley bus services would be increased on a 12-month trial basis, Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy Minister Nick McKim said yesterday. Mr McKim announced "funding agreements" that would trial new services to the Huon and Derwent Valleys, the Tasman Peninsula and East Coast.

“The trials will be for 12 months and are an important step in improving bus services for all Tasmanians,” Mr McKim said. “After community consultation, and market research, operators have identified routes and times where they believe there is significant unmet demand.  “For example, O’Driscoll Coaches will be introducing new Sunday services, additional Saturday services and extra weekday evening services operating between the Derwent Valley and Hobart."

Mr McKim said State Government seed funding would provide sufficient time during which passenger numbers could grow to support ongoing operations. “Expanding services into unproven markets is not without risk. The long-term viability of these services will depend on the individual operator’s professionalism, the quality of service delivered and community support. Passenger numbers are the key and the long term future of these services really is in the hands of bus patrons. I would now strongly encourage these communities to support their local operator and the environment by making use of the new services.”

Mr McKim said other new services would be announced as more funding agreements were reached.

For full details of the new Derwent Valley services visit the O'Driscoll Coaches Derwent Valley Link website here.

Corumbene plans for the future

A SUCCESSFUL year at the Corumbene Nursing Home was reported to last night's annual general meeting by president Peter Rouleston, despite a small operating loss. Of particular interest in Mr Rouleston's report was news of a master plan for further development of the home with seven stages to be implemented over the next 10 years.

"Stage 1 of the master plan is due to commence in late 2010/early 2011 and comprises a new block of 12 residential rooms, with eight of them to be fitted out in Stage 1 with the addition of a lounge/dining room," Mr Rouleston said in his report. "Additional features of Stage 1 include a new laundry, a new staff room and four new car spaces."

When complete, the Corumbene complex will have an additional 28 resident rooms and 22 independent living units with care on-call. The development will be contained within the existing area owned by Corumbene in Lower Rd, New Norfolk.

Mr Rouleston also announced the retirement of his predecessor and long-serving board member Alan Pearson. "Alan has been a member of the Corumbene Board of Management for 13 years, of which almost nine years he held the office of president. He leaves his position with our grateful thanks for his dedication and the contribution he has made towards the long-term viability of Corumbene," Mr Rouleston said.

Date change for open day

ORGANISERS of the next Willow Court open days have announced that the dates have changed to November 27 and 28 to coincide with the Lachlan Festival being held on November 28. The Willow Court & Barracks Working Group hopes to have more wards open for inspection than on the last open days earlier this year.