Tunnel photos - judge for yourself

THE release of a video showing about 100m of the tunnel between Willow Court and the River Derwent has sparked a flurry of suggestions about its origins and purpose. A further investigation is clearly warranted, from end to end.

This is where the film starts, showing the tunnel to be
six flagstones wide.





The tunnel undergoes various changes along the way,
here the floor is brick - about eight wide.



Another change in the floor's surface, and the wall can be seen to be
six or seven bricks tall before the start of the arched roof.



This repaired section, dated 1928, is said to be where Burnett St
crosses High St. A pipe enters from the left.

The repaired section is in part of the tunnel that was carved from
solid rock.

Here the tunnel has been repaired with a section of cement pipe
which is said to be dated 1920.

Another view of the rock-carved section of tunnel.

This is where the film ends, a silted section said to be somewhere
near the Riteway Supermarket.

Family centre opened

TASMANIAN Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne yesterday performed the official opening of the Derwent Valley Child and Family Centre in New Norfolk. Now called Ptunarra after an endemic but threatened Tasmanian butterfly, the centre has been built on the Ellis Dean Reserve next door to Blair St Kindergarten.

Ms O'Byrne said the centre was already delivering a range of services to support families and give children the best possible start in life. "Like similar centres around the state, Ptunarra is an example of Government and communities working together to provide the services families want and need," she said. "The State Government is committed to providing every child with the opportunities they deserve."

Ms O'Byrne said Ptunarra would be a hub for lifelong learning for families and a support centre for children in their early years. "Ptunarra will offer a range of programs to improve the health and well-being, education and care of Tasmania's very young children by supporting parents and enhancing accessibility of services in the local community."

Programs and services already available at the centre include Launching into Learning, a first aid course for parents, and courses titled "Being a Parent" and "Plant, Grow and Eat." Ms O'Byrne said Ptunarra would also provide a perfect place for children to learn through playing and socialising with other children and their families.

Similar child and family centres are being established in communities throughout Tasmania with 11 already operational at Beaconsfield, St Helens, Ravenswood, Burnie, East Devonport, Queenstown, Bridgewater, Clarence Plains, Geeveston, Chigwell and now New Norfolk.

Wade's cricket tips - week three

Southern Cricket Association
Finals week two

MY tips for this weekend's matches are New Norfolk I in 2nd Grade to continue on their winning way and defeat Molesworth I by four wickets or 45 runs and make the grand final from the elimination final. Captain Glen Williams has his team up and about and will be hard to stop. This match will be played at Boyer Oval at 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday).

In 4th Grade I'm tipping Bushy Park to bounce back from last Saturday's loss to defeat Old Beach by three wickets or 35 runs and play in their second grand final in a row. Captain Shaun Fenton will be looking for a much better show with the bat from his players and I'm sure they won't let him down. This game will be at Tynwald Park at 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday). Good luck to all teams.

Junior Trophy Day Reminders 

The Gretna Junior Cricket Trophy Day will be on this Saturday March 16 at the Gretna Oval starting at 9am. The Under 13s and 15's will play a mixed cricket match followed by a barbecue and then trophy presentations.

The Molesworth Junior Cricket Trophy Presentation will be this Sunday March 17 at Tynwald Park (Rotunda Hut) starting at 10am. Spit roast and barbecue supplied. Players and parents will play a cricket match.

See the tunnel video

PART of the video from the Derwent Valley Council's investigation into the Burnett St tunnel has been published online by the Mercury.

• Read the Mercury's article here and see the video
• Watch the ABC TV News report

New Norfolk "tunnel" unearthed

DERWENT VALLEY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
Historic tunnels unearthed in New Norfolk

Derwent Valley Mayor, Martyn Evans, was very excited today with the release to Councillors of a video of historic tunnels that run under New Norfolk. “There has been speculation for some time about tunnels running under our town, the video shown to Councillors today at a Council Workshop confirms this important discovery.

“The tunnels run in vicinity of Burnett Street to The Avenue area and are believed to have been built in the mid 1800s; with significant repairs having been done in the late 1920s. “Much of this find is still to be confirmed; however it opens up a whole new world of heritage and tourism opportunities for New Norfolk and the wider Derwent Valley,” Martyn Evans said.

For many years there has been speculation that New Norfolk housed a series of underground tunnels.  Some belived they were used for transferring convicts or patients to and from boats and Willow Court, while others thought that they were drains put in during the settlement period. The video shown to Derwent Valley Councillors confirms that these are tunnels that are wide enough for people to walk through comfortably.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, including further investigation and filming of the find. Council is hoping to work with Heritage Tasmania and the State and Australian Governments to ensure that this important find is conserved and if safe, made available to the public to see.

“These tunnels compliment the Derwent Valley’s already strong reputation as a heritage hot spot in Tasmania, and will provide not only tourism but also research opportunities well into the future,” Mayor Evans said.

Glenora reunion this Sunday

This Sunday at the school, 11am-2pm, $5 for barbecue & refreshments, BYO alcohol

Shopping centre approval appealed

TODAY'S issue of the Derwent Valley Gazette reports that there have been two appeals against the Derwent Valley Council's recent decision to grant planning permission for a major shopping centre on the outskirts of New Norfolk. The newspaper names local retailer Ray Williams and property developer Robert Rockefeller as the two appellants and states that a hearing will be held on Wednesday next week.

At its February meeting the council approved developers Raif and Roostam Sadri's proposal for a large supermarket with baker, butcher and delicatessen; seven retail tenancies; petrol station; takeaway shop; future tenancy; and five warehouse/showrooms. Councillors rejected the municipal engineer's recommendation of a roundabout for the junction of Hobart Rd and Glebe Rd and substituted slip lanes as a means of dealing with the anticipated increase in traffic.

The Gazette quotes Roostam Sadri saying he was hoping to attract a supermarket brand never before seen in Tasmania, and goes on to say Mr Sadri was in negotiations with the Aldi chain. In an interview with ABC TV News on March 3, Mr Sadri said the new supermarket could be "...any of the big ones. Could be Coles, could be Woolworths, could be Aldi, could be Costco."

• The ABC TV News item here.