Students build bike rack for tourists

NNHS teacher Todd Appleton and students Cameron
Coy, Dale Evans and Braydon Reardon with Justin
Lazenby from Mt Field National Park.

THERE is a new bike rack for pedal-powered visitors to Mt Field National Park thanks to the students at New Norfolk High School.

About 18 months ago Mt Field visitor services co-ordinator Maureen Lowery asked whether students at NNHS would build a bike rack for our local national park visitor centre. The idea was in response to cycling visitors who had mentioned a lack of secure storage for their bikes, some of which are worth thousands of dollars.

The school took up the challenge and worked with Mt Field asset maintenance co-ordinator Justin Lazenby who visited the school to guide the students with the project. With the assistance of Justin and teacher Todd Appleton, the students designed and built the steel bike rack at school and then prepared the site near the visitor centre, mixed the concrete and installed the rack just in time for the coming summer season.

“It’s been a great partnership,” Maureen said. “It was an outstanding achievement for these students." The National Parks and Wildlife Service will provide certificates in recognition of the work done by the participating students.

Award for New Norfolk friends

A GROUP that brings people together to share a meal in New Norfolk is the winner of a Rural Wellbeing Champion Award – an initiative developed by Anglicare to celebrate Mental Health Week (October 6-12). The awards recognise Tasmanian groups or individuals who promote health and wellbeing in rural
communities.

More than 40 people attend the "Eating with Friends" event which is held regularly at the Derwent Valley Community House in New Norfolk. “Volunteers set up tables, cook food, serve the meal and then sit and eat with the participants,” Anglicare spokesman Brett Williams said. “It encourages community connection, particularly for people who might otherwise be feeling lonely and isolated”.

Reader's letter: Tip talk

LAST weekend I planned my Saturday around a "trip to the tip". I loaded the station wagon with all sorts of smelly rubbish and set off just after lunch only to find at the bottom of the street leading to the tip a sign saying "TIP CLOSED".

If it is likely to happen that the New Norfolk tip is closed at any time for any reason (especially on high volume days like the first Saturday in the month) why can an alert not be placed on the Derwent Valley Council website (surely a two-minute job for someone with access) so that out-of-town residents can check before leaving home and making (in some cases) a 20-30km round trip for nothing. This problem could also no doubt lead to some (irresponsible) people dumping rubbish over embankments or worse.

Also signs should be placed on town entrances e.g. Molesworth Rd, Magra, Lachlan etc saying "Tip Closed - Check Website" and saving unnecessary traveling.

PAUL BERESFORD

Molesworth 

Frost warning

Frost Warning
for the Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts

Issued at 2:19pm on Sunday 6 October 2013.

Please be aware temperatures at ground level can be many degrees lower than those recorded by standard weather stations, especially in calm conditions with clear skies.

Frosts with temperatures down to 0 degrees are forecast for Monday morning in parts of the Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts.

No further warnings will be issued for this event.

New Norfolk Hotel photo up for sale

This photo is being sold in an online auction. Does anyone
know the names of the three men?

A PHOTO showing the New Norfolk Hotel with its verandah still intact is being offered for sale in an online auction with a starting price of $19.99.

The eBay listing describes the image as being from the 1920s but the clothing and the sight of the present council chambers in the distance suggests it is more likely to be the late 30s or early 40s.

Above the front door is a sign naming the licensee as E.C. Smith and it was this that gave the hotel the informal name "Smith's" which is still used by many today.

The eBay listing can be seen here.

River levels high for the weekend

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania

FINAL WARNING

MINOR FLOOD WARNING FOR LOWER RIVER DERWENT

Issued at 4:04pm on Saturday 5 October 2013

by the Bureau of Meteorology, Hobart

Minor flood warning for the lower River Derwent is now finalised.

River levels in the lower reaches of the River Derwent are below their minor flood levels and easing.

Derwent above Ouse River

River levels are below their Minor flood levels and easing.

Ouse River

River levels are below their Minor flood levels and easing.

Clyde River

River levels are below their Minor flood levels and easing.

Below Meadowbank Dam

River levels below Meadowbank dam and at Macquarie Plains are below their minor flood levels and easing.

Tyenna River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

Styx River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

New Norfolk

River levels at New Norfolk are below their minor flood levels and easing.

Inflows from Meadowbank Dam will maintain high river levels into the weekend, with the river to remain below the minor flood level.

Predicted River Heights/Flows:

NIL

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.tas.gov.au.

Road closure information is available at www.police.tas.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.

For life threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Weather Forecast:

Mostly sunny.

Next Issue:

NIL

Latest River Heights:

Location	Height of River	Date/Time of Observation
Derwent River below Lk St Clair	2.16m falling	03:05 AM SAT 05/10/13
Ouse River at Ashton	1.05m falling	01:00 PM SAT 05/10/13
Clyde River at Bothwell	0.5m falling	02:00 PM SAT 05/10/13
Derwent River below Meadowbank Dam	4.12m falling	03:30 PM SAT 05/10/13
Derwent River at Macquarie Plains	2.92m falling	03:30 PM SAT 05/10/13
TYENNA RIVER AT NEWBURY	0.84m falling	02:00 PM SAT 05/10/13
STYX RIVER AT BRUCES BRIDGE	1.1m falling	03:31 PM SAT 05/10/13
Derwent River near Bryn Estyn	2.79m falling	02:00 PM SAT 05/10/13
DERWENT RIVER AT NEW NORFOLK	0.95m falling	03:24 PM SAT 05/10/13

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood/

Flood warning update

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania

RENEWED WARNING

MINOR FLOOD WARNING FOR LOWER RIVER DERWENT

Issued at 4:08pm on Friday 4 October 2013

by the Bureau of Meteorology, Hobart

Minor flooding continues about the lower reaches the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam. Further flows from the upper Derwent catchment area are expected to maintain minor flooding during Friday.

River levels at New Norfolk peaked overnight near the minor flood level and are now easing slowly.

Storages within the system are at high levels, with most dams in the system now on spill.

Derwent above Ouse River

Minor flooding is now easing in the middle reaches of the River Derwent as the flood peak moves through the system. Additional inflows during Friday will maintain high river levels into the weekend.

Ouse River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

Clyde River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

Below Meadowbank Dam

Minor flooding continues below Meadowbank Dam and around Macquarie Plains this afternoon.

Additional inflows during Friday will maintain high river levels into the weekend.

Tyenna River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

Styx River

River levels are below the Minor flood level and easing.

New Norfolk

River levels about New Norfolk peaked at 1.9 metres overnight and are now easing slowly. Additional inflows during Friday will maintain high river levels into the weekend, with the river to remain below the minor flood level.

Localised flooding in adjacent creeks and surrounding low lying areas around Bushy Park and New Norfolk is likely to continue.

Predicted River Heights/Flows:

NIL

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.tas.gov.au.

Road closure information is available at www.police.tas.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.

For life threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Weather Forecast:

Partly cloudy.

Next Issue:

By 10AM Saturday 4/10/13

Latest River Heights:

Location	Height of River	Date/Time of Observation
Derwent River below Lk St Clair	2.35m steady	11:05 PM THU 03/10/13
Ouse River at Ashton	1.25m steady	12:30 PM FRI 04/10/13
Clyde River at Bothwell	0.64m steady	02:00 PM FRI 04/10/13
Derwent River below Meadowbank Dam	4.99m falling	03:00 PM FRI 04/10/13
Derwent River at Macquarie Plains	3.7m falling	03:20 PM FRI 04/10/13
TYENNA RIVER AT NEWBURY	1.02m steady	02:00 PM FRI 04/10/13
STYX RIVER AT BRUCES BRIDGE	1.25m steady	03:31 PM FRI 04/10/13
Derwent River near Bryn Estyn	3.25m steady	02:00 PM FRI 04/10/13
DERWENT RIVER AT NEW NORFOLK	1.17m steady	03:24 PM FRI 04/10/13

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood/