Targa's Derwent Valley double

THE 19th running of Targa Tasmania will include two stages in the Derwent Valley this weekend. The long-eastablished Tarraleah stage will be run on the Lyell Highway this Sunday, requiring the highway to be closed between Tungatinah Rd and Oldina Drive between 9.54am and 2.24pm.

After lunching at New Norfolk, the entrants will progress to the new Molesworth stage, which was trialled during last year's southern Targa. As a result, Molesworth Rd will be closed to ordinary traffic from 12.13pm until 4.43pm, between Collins Cap Rd and Glenlusk Rd.

Targa's surprise return to New Norfolk

AFTER an absence of several years, Targa Tasmania returns to New Norfolk this weekend in the manner in which it all started - a regrouping stage in Circle St which will give motorsport fans and car lovers alike the opportunity to get up close to the participants and their vehicles in relaxed conditions between 11am and 3pm this Sunday.

Sadly the event has been quite poorly promoted and news of road closures in the area reached affected residents and businesses only late this afternoon. In a hand-delivered letter, Derwent Valley Council general manager Stephen Mackey said it had come to the council's attention that some residents in Richmond, Tank and Circle St had not been formally advised by Targa Tasmania that the regrouping/lunch break for this year’s event was to be held in Circle St on Sunday May 2. "To facilitate this, Richmond St, Tank St and Circle St will be closed to through traffic from 11am to 3pm," Mr Mackey wrote. 

Mr Mackey continued: "Residents in these areas will still be able to access their properties as long as they communicate with the Targa Tasmania officials at the barricades. Council regret the apparent lack of notification of this event to some residents in the area and we will be taking this matter up with Targa Tasmania," Mr Mackey wrote.

Contrary to the council's advice, the Targa Tasmania website advises that Circle St between Blair and Burnett Sts will be closed between 7am and 3pm. As a result, motorists should be prepared for changed traffic conditions in the area at all times on Sunday.

Molesworth Primary School closed WEDNESDAY

MOLESWORTH Primary School will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, April 28) due to a plumbing problem. The Education Department asks parents to keep students home from school. "It is hoped that the problem will be fixed tomorrow, however parents are asked to listen to local radio for further details," a spokesman said.

Brrr! Winter's not far away

AFTER some glorious autumnal weather in the last few weeks, wintry weather arrived with a sudden fog, frost and frankly chilly weather this morning. At 7.30am it was -2.7 degrees celcius at Ouse and -1.7 degrees at Bushy Park. There was frost on the ground and fog in the air at New Norfolk but we will never know how cold it was because the weather bureau doesn't regard the town as sufficiently important enough to have a weather station. Sigh.

Eagles undefeated after Derwent Valley derby

THE Central Hawks took it right up to New Norfolk in a Derwent Valley derby at Bothwell on Saturday. Both teams went into the match undefeated so far this year in the Southern Football League but in the end it was victory number 26 in a row for the Eagles, 72 points to 114. New Norfolk goal-scorers were M. Smith 4, B. Booth 4, B. Carver 3, R. Belcher 2, L. Horne, J. Kelly, M. Thompson and S. Collis.

The Hawks were victorious over the Eagles in the reserves match, 111 points to 64. Scoring goals for New Norfolk were N. Benson 4, T. Triffett 2, J. Wallner, M. Bearman and C. Ransley.

Meanwhile it was a one-sided game for the colts, with New Norfolk holding Central Hawks to a solitary point while racking up 220 of their own. The long list of New Norfolk goalscorers were J. Walsh 8, S. Triffitt 6, N. Grant 5, M. Horne 3, R. Tebb 2, N. Wakefield 2, B. Coppleman 2, T. Youd, J. Adams, N. Lester, L. Menzie, K. Glover and R. Smith.

Anzac Day in New Norfolk

A LARGE crowd was in attendance for the annual Anzac Day observance in New Norfolk. The Derwent Valley Concert Band led the parade to the cenotaph.

Blackspot funds for Ellendale Rd

A SAFETY barrier costing $52,000 will be built along a section of the Ellendale Rd west of the Dunrobin Bridge in the next financial year. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Lyons MHR Dick Adams last week announced the provision of $476,755 to fix five dangerous "black spots" on roads in the electorate. This included $36,750 to install a safety barrier, with the Central Highlands Council contributing a further $15,750;

Mr Adams said since being elected, the Rudd Labor Government had allocated more than $3.1 million to fix 23 black spots across the Lyons electorate. “This investment is helping to make our local roads even safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with 11 of these projects already completed,” Mr Adams said. “And the good thing about our Black Spot program is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade. “Nomination forms are available from my office.  Alternatively, they can be downloaded from: www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au.”