Council criticism 'not warranted'

Cr Ben Shaw.

CRITICISM of the Derwent Valley Council's decision to replace regional council meetings with community forums is unwarranted, Derwent Valley mayor Ben Shaw has said in a Facebook post.

While sharing a council Facebook post that announced next week's regional forum at Westerway, Cr Shaw said "most people only look at a headline or a comment from someone's personal opinions and then off they go without looking at all the details."

"At last month's meeting we voted on changing up how we do regional community engagement," Cr Shaw said in his post, noting that under previous councils the only engagement some regional areas had experienced was a council meeting in one of the areas every three months. "But honestly, in my five years on council I can say it was really not very engaging and honestly not ever relevant within those communities," he said.

"I truly think this is a great initiative and thank Councillor Browning for bringing it up as a motion recently. I’ve heard criticism around this move and ... I will say that is not fair or warranted. Let’s try something different. We don’t have great engagement in those communities now, so let’s try something new?

"I have always and always will be firmly in the camp of moving on form the old adages, 'But that’s the way we’ve always done it' or 'we’ve done it this way for years.' I hear this in our community and I make no apology for trying to be someone who is backing in some change, because you know what, in most instances the old ways of doing things have not served us well!"

Cr Shaw asked how anyone who had read the council's post could possibly say the council was restricting access. "I would say quite the opposite," he said. "Anyway I urge the Upper Derwent residents to get along and have a chat about relevant things in your specific area, catch up and ask questions of your elected members and staff in an informal setting.

"Change should not be feared but embraced, we can always go back to the old ways if it doesn’t work. See you there," Cr Shaw said. Deputy mayor Jessica Cosgrove congratulated Cr Shaw on his remarks. "Well said," she said in a response posted online.

The council posted on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon that a Westerway Community Forum would be held at 6pm next Tuesday, February 18, in the Westerway Hall, for updates and to be involved in discussions about:

• Derwent Catchment Project works including: Willow Warriors program, environmental Working Bees and Workshops, Tyenna Flood Plans and other projects
• Glenora Rd works
• Speed limit consultations on Glenora Rd and Cawthorns Lane
• Westerway Primary School Hundred Year Celebrations
• Westerway Hall upgrade
• Public discussion time.

The post said councillors and staff would be in attendance to take questions from the community.

Local cricket - round 12

New Norfolk II opening batsman Rohan Heron scored 102
during his team's big win on Saturday.

Southern Cricket Association 
Men’s 50-over matches (Derwent Valley games)
Round 12

FIRST GRADE: New Norfolk I sit five points clear on top of the First Grade ladder after defeating Sorell by seven wickets at Pembroke Park on Saturday. After winning the toss, the Red Caps put the Eagles into bat and bowled them out for 124 off 38.5 overs. Jye Lester did the early damage with the ball, removing both openers with just 15 on the board and finishing with 2-13 (5). Jason Rigby was also tight taking 2-17 (6) as was Josh Rowlands with 2-12 (4). Seb Wishart 2-15 (5) did no wrong and Jordan Banks-Smith was 2-22 (4.5). In the run chase, it was captain Matthew Bowden leading from the front with a well-made half-century of 56 not out from 68 deliveries. Bowden creamed five 4s and one 6 in his unbeaten innings and shared a 67-run partnership with Jason Rigby who remained 29no from just 32 balls, hitting four 4s. Opener Arron Drew made 28 from just 17, hitting four 4s and one 6.

SECOND GRADE: Thanks to superb century from Rohan Heron, New Norfolk II defeated MacKillop by the big margin of 150 runs and all but locked in top spot of the Second Grade ladder with two roster matches remaining. Winning the toss and batting, the Red Caps hit up the good score of 7/251 from its 50 overs. Heron set the tone for the day with a top score of 102 from just 138 deliveries. The in-form batsman hit 13 well-struck 4s and two 6s in a score that in the end was more than all the opposition batsmen put together. From seven matches this season, Mr Reliable has made 378 runs with average of 63. Heron put on 96 with fellow opener and captain Jake King who made 34 (59) with three 4s and two 6s. He then did likewise with another 96-run stand with first drop Sam Hoggett who made 64 (71), belting five 4s and one 6. Richard Graham made 22 (17) two 4s. In reply, the visitors were bundled out for 101 off 30.2 overs. With the ball for the winners, opener Stewart Rice - who at one stage was on a hat-trick - took 3-18 (8) with three maidens. Jamie Hill took the last couple of wickets taking 2-10 (3.2), Bradley Chaplin 2-22 (6), Josh Walsh was tight 1-17 (5) and Nathan Rice 1-21 (4).

At Richmond, Gretna I missed its chance of taking second spot on the ladder, going down to Richmond/Cambridge by six wickets. The home side won the toss and sent Gretna in to bat, bowling them out for 107 from 40 overs. In reply, the Lions chased down the score finishing 4/108 off 36 overs. With the bat for Gretna, first drop Rhys Browning top-scored with 25 (one 4). Jackson Ackerly made 18 and Aaron Maddox 15, with both hitting two 4s each. Best of the bowlers were spinners Craig Cunningham with a very tight spell of 1-6 off five overs with two maidens and Ben Rainbird 1-14 (7).

In the match at Boyer Oval, Molesworth lost easily to Derwent by nine wickets. Winning the toss, Derwent sent in the home side and dismissed them for the low score of 61 off 27.1 overs. Captain Brad Coppleman was the only batsman to reach double figures, with a lone hand of 35 from 59 deliveries, hitting fours 4s and one 6. Their were five ducks. The wicket-taker for Molesworth was Josh Ransley with 1-3 (0.3).

FOURTH GRADE: Bothwell I continued on its merry way, racking up its seventh straight win defeating third-placed Hobart by four wickets at Wentworth Park. The Bucks won the toss and sent Hobart in to bat. Hobart made 10/143 from 33.5 overs. Captain Cody Eyles - who has taken 23 wickets to date - sent down 9.5 overs to capture 5-27. Eyles had three maidens during his excellent spell and removed five of the top six Hobart batsmen. Brock Nichols took 2-20 (5.5). Josh Eyles 2-26 (8) and Mark Pearce 1-51 (6). In reply, the Bucks finished 6/145 from 35 overs. Mathew Eyles top-scored and just missed a half century with 49 hitting six 4s and one 6. Opener Joey Eyles, who has been in great touch of late, made 40 hitting eight well-struck 4s. Josh Eyles made 26 from 21 deliveries with three 4s and two 6s. Cody Eyles remained 16no with one 4 and one 6.

FIFTH GRADE: New Norfolk II broke its losing run when it easily defeated Sorell by seven wickets at Campania. After winning the toss, the Red Caps sent the Eagles into bat, who made just 82 from 36.3 overs. Continuing on from his double hat-trick, captain Nathan Heron showed his brother it was no fluke in a great spell yet again taking 4-12 from six overs that included three maidens. Dave Mitchelmore was also tight taking 2.4 (3.3) two maidens, as did Jordan Gittus who sent down six overs taking 2-13 in a great spell. Ryan Banks-Smith gave great support with 1-21 (7). In reply, New Norfolk took just 17.4 overs to chase down the target finishing 3/84. Second drop Ryan Banks-Smith put on a very well-made 38no with four well-struck 4s. Jordan Gittus made 17no, the pair putting on 67 to see their team home in a great win.

After three wins on the trot, Gretna II went down to ladder-leaders Lindisfarne by 27 runs. Playing at home, Lindisfarne won the toss and elected to bat making 7/156 from its 50 overs. In reply, Gretna lost regular wickets, but was still a chance right till the end finishing 10/129 off 41.4 overs. Adam Browning top-scored with 23 (three 4s). Jordan Hastie made 22 (one 4) and Andrew McKenzie 13, while Jacob Blackwell hung around at the end remaining 4no. With the ball, Adam Browning continued his good form taking 3-20 off 10 in a good spell. Josh Whitford 1-18 (8), Ross Langford 1-40 (10) and young Jacob Blackwell got his first wicket 1-41 (8) with his spinners which was caught by the keeperm his dad, Glenn Blackwell. Congratulations to players Zac Crosswell who played his 100th club match for Gretna and to Andrew McKenzie who played his 50th club match for Gretna - this was also his 50th for Gretna II.

SEVENTH GRADE: Molesworth II had a five-wicket win on Sunday when it defeated home side Claremont at Abbotsfield Park. The Magpies won the toss, electing to bat and making 8/172 from their allotted 40 overs. In reply, Molesworth chased down the runs off 34.3 overs, finishing 5/174. Brothers Nathan  and Nick Wakefield put on a great opening stand of 75 to get their team on a roll. Nick top-scored with 36 (51) hitting four 4s while Nathan made 29 (44) with three 4s. Ben Triffett made a quickfire 30no from 33 hitting three 4s, while Shayne Upton was out in unfortunate fashion hitting his wicket for 27 (three 4s). Earlier with the ball, Ben Triffett had a good day taking 3-26 off 8 overs. Daniel Williams picked up 2-28 (5).

Playing at home, Bothwell II recorded a big eight-wicket win over St Virgil’s. Winning the toss, the Bucks sent the visitors into bat and dismissed them 9/87 off 30.3 overs. One batsman did not bat. In reply, Bothwell finished 2/89 off 15 overs. Beau Kline made 19no. Ashley Browning 15 (15 balls) three 4s. Nathan White 10 and Dylan Branch 8no off 12. The best of the Bucks bowlers were captain Peter Hansch with 2 for just 10 from five overs. Blake Eyles was just as tight with 2-10 (4.1) while Adam Pearce took 2-20 (5).

WADE GLEESON

NEXT GAMES
Round 13, to be played on February 15-16. All matches start at 10:30am.

FIRST GRADE
Saturday: New Norfolk I v Claremont at Tynwald Park.

SECOND GRADE
Saturday: Gretna I v St Anne's at Gretna; Molesworth I v New Norfolk II at Boyer Oval.

FOURTH GRADE
Saturday: Bothwell I v Richmond/Cambridge at Richmond.

FIFTH GRADE
Sunday: Gretna II v Montagu Bay at Gretna; New Norfolk III v Rokeby at Tynwald Park.

SEVENTH GRADE
Sunday: Bothwell II v Montagu Bay at Geilston Bay; Molesworth II v Campania at Richmond.

It's Show Day at Bushy Park this Saturday

Chainsaw artist Eddie Freeman will appear at the Bushy Park Show.

THE 146th Bushy Park Show will be held this Saturday between 9am and 4pm at the showground on Gordon River Rd, Bushy Park. Program co-ordinator Alison Hennessy said all the old favourites would be on offer and the organisers are hoping for a good crowd.

"The demonstration program is set to provide lots of interest and variety with demos scheduled through the day to include leatherworking, cooking easy family-friendly meals, growing unusual vegetables, basket-making with willows, and old woodworking/automotive/metalwork tools," Mrs Hennessy said.

An exhibition of Tasmanian oast house photographs by Pen Taylor will be a highlight, as well as displays by Derwent Valley Arts including woodchip art for children, portrait-drawing, displays of ceramics, paintings and sculpture and music at intervals by a string quartet.

Jed Gillian will demonstrate basket-making.

"Elsewhere on the grounds there will be plenty to entertain the public with performances by Set3 Circus group and later a circus skills ‘have a go’ workshop for anyone who wants to try," Mrs Hennessy said. "Members of Ali White’s Derwent Valley dance groups will perform and Pandara Kelpies will be doing demonstrations of rounding up sheep and even two demos of duck herding!"

Woodchopping events will start at 10am and further up the grounds Eddie Freeman will be carving a sculpture with his chainsaw. A silent auction will be conducted for one of his pieces. There will be vintage cars on site and at lunchtime show-goers can enjoy the annual the Pollie Peel-Off - the potato-peeling competition involving state and federal politicians and local councillors.

Animal competitions will, as usual, be an important feature of the day with cattle and sheep judging and handling, as well as an equestrian competition including mini horses, while an animal nursery and the informative Snakes Alive will attend with their pit of Tasmanian Snakes.  A pet parade will again be held with categories for all pets with their owners.

Live music will be provided in the afternoon by guitarist and vocalist Sharn Hitchens, while a variety of food and beverage sites will entice the public with their aromas, and the New Norfolk District Football Club will run the bar. Trade sites and sideshow entertainment for children will be in attendance.

See leatherworker Tania Burbury at the show.

The competition program includes home industries, with sections for children as well as adults, and there is a separate schedule for jams, preserves, brewing and honey.  Thanks to sponsors, there will also be prizes for overall section winners.

"If you have something you have made, please bring it along and enter - we would love to see lots of participation from Derwent Valley and Central Highland residents," Mrs Hennessy said.

Tickets are available at the gate on the day. Adults $7, Child $3, Family ticket $18 (two adults and three children aged 5-16). Accompanied children under 5 are admitted free. Disability parking will be available and anyone holding a Companion Card will have free admission. 

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS – Bushy Park Show, February 15,  9am-4pm
(Official Opening by Show Patron, Christine Downie, Village Green: 12.45pm)
(Raffle Drawn, Village Green: 3.15pm; Auction Winner of Trout Sculpture: 3.30pm)

Traditional Events
Equestrian: 9am 
Cattle Judging: 9am
Junior Handling: noon
Sheep Judging: 9.30am
Woodchopping: 10am-3pm 
Mini Horses: 10.30am
Pet Parade: 11.15am 
Chainsaw Racing: 3pm
Home Industries Open: 11.45am

Traditional Skill Exhibitions – Around Grounds – All Day
Blacksmithing
Heritage Woodworking Tools - mortise and tenon join: 10.15am, 11.40, 1.40pm; saw sharpening:  10.40am, 12.40pm, 2.40
New Norfolk Spinners
Eddie Freeman chainsaw sculpturing: all day
Pandara Kelpies - sheep herding and duck herding: 10.30am and 1.45pm
Sharn Hitchins: musician: noon-4pm Beside the Styx Shed.

Jeltje Gillian will demonstrate

Demonstrations – Shoobridge Shed
Growing Unusual Vegetables: Derek Jones 10.30-11am
Leatherwork: Tania Burbury 11.10-11.40am
Cooking Easy Family Meals: Jeltje Gillian easy chicken curry 11.50am-12.20pm
Pollie Peel-Off - Potato Peeling Competition: 1-1.30pm
Cooking Easy Family Meals: Jeltje Gillian tomato and red lentil soup 2.15-2.45pm
Basketmaking with Willow: Jed Gillian - all day

Village Green
Whipcracking (Ricky Cooper, 9yrs): 9.45am, 10.15, 10.45
Dancing: Industrie Perfoming Arts Dancers 11.15am-noon
Set3 Circus Performance: 12.15-12.45pm
Circus skills "have a go" 1.15-2.15pm
Whip cracking (Ricky Cooper) 2.30 & 3pm

Other Activities- various locations on grounds
Kids Corner (0-6yrs): 10am-3.30pm
Derwent Valley Youth Future Action Team (6+ years): all day kids games near oval
Derwent Valley Arts: Exhibition plus children’s activities. Styx Shed.
Pen Tayler Photography Display: Oast Houses of Tasmania. Styx Shed.
Snakes Alive: all day
Animal Nursery: all day

More information including competition schedules and entry forms is available on the new website at www.bushyparkshow.com.au, on Facebook, or by calling 6286  5156 prior to Show Day.

Country council meetings canned

The public gallery at the community forum and council meeting
 held at Bushy Park last October. Two councillors were absent.

A NEW schedule of Derwent Valley Council meetings has been published following the decision to cease the longstanding practice of meeting in country areas three times each year.  The council will now meet only at New Norfolk, with a roster of community consultations to replace the formal visits to Granton, Molesworth, Lachlan, Bushy Park, Westerway and Maydena.

The decision goes against the policy of some other councils with large land areas to cover. Central Highlands Council alternates its meetings between Hamilton and Bothwell, while Southern Midlands Council varies its venues between Colebrook, Tunbridge, Tunnack, Bagdad, Kempton and Oatlands.

The council's new meeting roster.

The move was initiated by Councillor Luke Browning at the November council meeting, when he called for a report investigating the potential for all future council meetings to be held in the New Norfolk Courthouse. He said he felt no-one was gaining much from the current practice and he wanted to see the country meetings replaced with "listening posts and other communications strategies addressing specific topics for that regional area."

Deputy mayor Jessica Cosgrove agreed, saying: "When I have gone out to the regions with our council group I have noticed that we would be lucky to get at least one question at times from members of that region and it just seems to me like a bit of a waste of time that we could be using in a more productive way."

The report requested by Cr Browning was received at the December council meeting. The author, acting corporate and community services manager Amanda McCall, recommended replacing the country council meetings with regional community forums.

Councillor Luke Browning.

Councillors unanimously supported the recommendation, on the proviso that the regional forums be added to the Derwent Valley Council Strategic Communications Plan and be adopted at the January meeting.

"I want to make sure that there is something in play that's better than what there is already, before we take it away, I don't want to take something and give them a work in progress," Cr Browning said at the December meeting. "I want to make sure, and that we also outline what exactly a community forum is, what we're going to do with it, what its agenda is, what we hope to achieve out of it and I believe that detail needs to be added down. And then also, who should attend, like I believe it should be treated like a meeting with importance and that all councillors should turn up and any relevant council officers should be as well."

Cr Browning said the regional community forums, to be held three times per year, could also be training opportunities. Guest speakers could be invited and he hoped the initiative would result in better communication between the council and the community. "So I really want it to work. I believe in it. It might be slow to get going initially, but I believe attendance will grow," he said.

The public gallery at the community forum and council meeting
held at Lachlan in 2019. Two councillors were absent. 

No community consultation was undertaken by the council in relation to the change, and Ms McCall said the meeting schedule would be advertised to advise residents once it had been adopted.

Last month's council meeting received and adopted the updated communications plan, ending more than 20 years of council meetings being held outside of New Norfolk several times each year.

Instead, regional community forums will be held at Westerway this month, Granton in May and Molesworth in September. Cr Browning said the proposal from communications officer Daniel Cheetham was a good start and had his full support.

Cr Paul Belcher was not so impressed. "It's not a start, it's an absolute balls-up [compared] to what we actually did have in place," Cr Belcher said, referring back to public attendance at weekly workshops before that opportunity was withdrawn by councillors, and participation at monthly forums prior to council meetings until those were abolished. He said the new structure of listening posts and regional forums would disadvantage New Norfolk residents because if they could not attend the scheduled "listening posts" on Australia Day and at the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival, they were not permitted to speak at the regional forums held outside the town.

Members of the public at a council meeting held at Granton
in 2018.

Cr Julie Triffett said New Norfolk people were not missing out, as they had the opportunity to attend the council itself, and the workshops referred to by Cr Belcher had been poorly attended. She said the new strategy was a good use of councillors' time.

Cr Cosgrove also agreed that it was a good start. "As I've expressed in previous meetings, I was getting quite frustrated by the lack of interest in our forums before our meetings, and I believe this is a good opportunity to move forward and I believe that a greater amount of members of our public will actually take this opportunity," she said, adding that the new structure could be reviewed if necessary.

The motion was carried with the support of mayor Shaw, deputy mayor Cosgrove and Crs Triffett and Browning. Cr Belcher opposed the motion and Crs Martyn Evans and Frank Pearce were absent.

Hobart Rd repairs start today

CONSTRUCTION work is scheduled to start in New Norfolk today to improve the section of Hobart Rd between the Lachlan Creek Bridge and the entrance to Tynwald Park. The Department of State Growth says this work will continue until about March 27.

"The Tasmanian Government is funding essential road maintenance work on the Lyell Hwy/Hobart Rd to the east of the Lachlan Bridge in New Norfolk," the department announced in a statement last week. "This work will strengthen and improve the condition of the road for all users."

Work on the 200m section of road will include sections of road resurfacing and localised repairs, and will be carried out between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Lane closures and temporary speed limit reductions will be in place but the department says one lane of traffic will be open at all times. "Road users should allow up to 15 minutes extra if travelling through the work site. Please keep to speed limits and follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs," a spokesman said.

The department has also been carrying out preparatory work for improvements to a longer section of Hobart Rd from Glebe Rd to Molesworth Rd.

The Lyell Hwy has been a hive of activity all summer, for works including:

• Weed control between Granton and New Norfolk, from November 19 until Febuary 27
• Reconstruction between Hamilton and Ouse, from December 9 until May 1
• Line marking between New Norfolk and Rosegarland, and at Hamilton, from December 9 until February 14
• Shoulder grading between Ouse and Derwent Bridge, from January 27 until February 28
• Reconstruction between Tarraleah and the Nive River Bridge, from February 3 until March 31
• Line marking between Victoria Valley Rd and Lake Repulse Rd, Ouse, from February 3-9
• Investigation work near the Bridgewater Bridge and surrounds, from January 20 to February 7

Derwent Valley cricket reunion

Click image to enlarge.

A REUNION for all cricketers, officials and supporters who were associated with the former Derwent Valley Cricket Association will be held in New Norfolk on Sunday, February 23. This will be held at the Valley Sports Bar, 21 Back River Rd (the former New Norfolk Football Clubrooms), starting at 1pm.

Anyone who served the association or was associated with any of the clubs that played in the DVCA is warmly invited to come along to catch up with team mates and opposition players and relive the many matches played.

The Derwent Valley Cricket Association started at the end of World War II, taking to the field in the summer of 1945/46. Its final season was 2007/08, and the competition disbanded when the teams entered the Southern Cricket Association for season 2008/09.

Current players with the local clubs now fielding teams in the Southern Cricket Association are also welcome to attend the reunion. Anyone with memorabilia is asked to bring it along. For more information contact Tony Adams on 0408 610 728.

Cautious response to Norske Skog forests sale

Norske Skog workers talking to Brian Mitchell MHR on an
official visit to Norske Skog's Boyer Mill in 2017.

NEWS of the proposed sale of papermaker Norske Skog's Tasmanian forests to an investment company has been greeted cautiously by Federal Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell.

"The recent announcement of a sale of assets at Norske Skog’s Boyer is one of interest given the sale is to New Forest," Mr Mitchell said on Friday. “Jobs in the Derwent Valley are a priority for me, but I am comfortable with the news workers will be receiving any entitlements as per the Enterprise Agreement and potentially offered work with the new owners,” he said.

The Mercury reported that eight forest management positions at Boyer would be made redundant if the sale of 18,000 hectares of radiata pine plantations received regulatory approval, with the affected workers likely to be hired by New Forests if they chose to apply.

“Bipartisan negotiations between the companies and the unions need to be at the forefront of the sale and I will be encouraging all parties to tick that box,” Mr Mitchell said. He assured all Norske Skog workers that his office was in close contact with all relevant parties. "The Boyer site is the hub of the Derwent Valley and its secure future is on the top of my agenda for the future.”

Guy Barnett MHA at Boyer last year.

Primary Industries and Water minister Guy Barnett told the Mercury that the State Government had been informed of the sale of Norske Skog’s forest assets operations and had been assured that wood supply for the Boyer Mill will not be affected.

In a Facebook post, Derwent Valley mayor Ben Shaw said he had been confidentially alerted to Norske Skog's proposal on Thursday morning. "Mill management and company management have assured me this will have very minimal impact on our mill and region, they are basically divesting themselves out of owning trees and forests," Cr Shaw said.

"There may be a few jobs that will no longer be employed directly by Norske in the forestry division, but on the back of the sale the company has signed a supply agreement for logs with New Forest so I’m assuming those people will have opportunity with the new owners," he said. "The mill is in really good shape after the decision recently to shut down Albury and this is just another measure that makes the mill more viable for the future."

Cr Shaw said the purpose of his social media post was to address "sensationalist headlines" and "locked stories". "I wouldn’t normally comment on these things however the life of the mill is extremely important to our region and when I seen this, another 'locked' story with sensationalist headlines, I thought best to clarify with the best of my knowledge what I could."