THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY NEWS

TasAlert app launched
Tasmania’s official emergency information and warnings platform, TasALERT, is now available on mobile devices. To download the app, visit your app store, or go to TasALERT.com/download.
The app is an extension of the redeveloped TasALERT website. Both are purpose-built platforms that provide a central source for timely emergency information and warnings.
“The TasALERT app truly is a one-stop shop for preparing for, responding to and recovering from an emergency in Tasmania and is another step towards building a more resilient Tasmania,” said Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
“People can create an account on the TasALERT app, set their preferences and sign up for warning notifications in their area.”
Minister for police, fire and emergency management, Felix Ellis, said: “The app also makes it easier to know what’s happening with your loved ones during an emergency.
“You can set up a watch zone to keep an eye on mum and dad’s place, or the kids’ school, or to know what’s going on at home or work.
“When an incident or warning happens in your watch zone, you will get a notification straight to your phone, providing timely information and advice so you know what to do.
The TasALERT app was funded through a $497,496 investment from the Tasmanian government, a $210,925 investment by the Australian government through round 1 of its flagship Disaster Ready Fund, and a $141,000 grant from the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Grant program.
Premier of Tasmania media release

U3A Cygnet releases latest program
U3A Cygnet returns for term 3 on 18 September. It’s easy to join, register for classes and check what’s happening each week at www.u3acygnet.au. The Wednesday morning talks program ranges from scams to the Industrial Revolution, while the Garden and Gourmet program will again visit a selection of beautiful local properties.
Smaller groups meet on other days, covering: arts, crafts, books, creative writing, drawing, family history, and play reading. There is also a men’s forum.
Those interested in joining are welcome to come along on a Wednesday morning to Enjoy Church, 8 Mary Street, Cygnet to find out more and perhaps stay to listen to a talk starting at 10am and finishing around 12.15pm.
Suzanne Brown

Kingborough prepared to host Devils
Kingborough mayor Paula Wriedt has discussed the preparations Kingborough Council is making in case Kingston is asked to step in as the replacement location for the Tasmania Devils Football Club high performance centre. The centre is expected to be built in Rosny, but elector polls in Clarence have shown significant objections to the centre being built on the old Rosny golf course, especially if the development were to include Charles Hand Park.
Speaking at the 19 August Kingborough Council meeting, Mayor Wriedt said the council was consulting stakeholders.
“We have been going through a process of speaking with the existing tenants of the Twin Ovals: the Kingborough Knights Cricket Club and the Kingborough Tigers Football Club. We were asked by the Department of State Growth to start that process (with) the two major stakeholders that currently use the facilities.
“That is so they could run a parallel process whilst things are still going ahead at the Rosny site and with all the different things that the Clarence City Council will have to work through. “It’s my understanding that we are the fallback position, should [the centre] not be able to proceed at Rosny for any reason, whether that be geotechnical, whether it be not getting through the council on a number of votes, for rezoning and for development applications and the like.
“We held a very productive meeting last Monday with three or four representatives from the cricket club, the football club and also from the Tasmanian Devils.
“We were able to provide them with plans of what it would look like up at the Twin Ovals with two additional ovals and who would occupy which ovals, how it would work in terms of time frames and so on.
“One of the things we’ve said very clearly all along is we don’t want our existing local clubs to be in any way disadvantaged by the AFL High Performance Centre coming to Kingborough, so we’re working through those things, guarantees about dates as to when cricket would play, dates of when football would play and they’re the sorts of things the Tasmanian Devils Football Club needs to be able to answer because they are aware of what their training requirements would be.”
The Classifieds

Focus on sustainable homes
Circular Economy Huon (CEH) will continue its series of sessions on sustainable housing, with its next event taking place on Tuesday 10 September from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Huon Valley Hub.
At this free session, CEH will bring together industry experts to discuss planning options and routes to planning consent, and will collate potential planning scheme improvements to take to Huon Valley Council and to government. The session follows Huon Valley Council’s recent adoption of the statewide Tasmanian Planning Scheme (replacing the Interim Planning Scheme which has been in place since 2015).
CEH is creating fact sheets on climate-adaptive and eco-friendly design considerations and possible planning options, which will be available on the evening.
“Our recent sustainable house tour and follow-up workshop were both well attended with lively discussions and useful outcomes,” said CEH public officer Gerry White. “Residents’ priorities were clearly articulated and can be grouped into the two themes of energy efficient design and planning options.”
Please register for the session at: www.trybooking.com/CUUTU.
The sustainable housing session follows CEH’s AGM, which will run from 6pm to 6.30pm. All are welcome and CEH welcomes new people nominating for committee positions.
Gerry White

Kingston a mecca for new homes
Research has shown that Kingston has the most plentiful supply of new homes among greater Hobart’s suburbs, with 110 dwellings headed for the market.
Kingston comfortably outstrips all other suburbs, according to the research by PRD Real Estate: Hobart comes in second with 60 and Risdon Vale third with 48. Bellerive, South Hobart and Rokeby are awaiting the completion of 27, 25 and 23 new homes respectively, while very few new dwellings are being built in other suburbs.
The median price of Kingston’s ready-to-sell stock is $735,000. Bellerive was the only suburb outside Hobart itself with a higher median ($843,000). Risdon Vale was the most affordable at $440,000.
Kingston’s housing developments include a six-storey project on Goshawk Way, which will contain 50 apartments, and a build on
Maranoa Road, which will comprise 36 town houses. The developer of the Goshawk Way complex has said it is expected to attract downsizers, professionals and investors, and that the apartments are expected to appeal mainly to local buyers.
“In the past 12 months, Kingston recorded double-digit sales growth,” chief economist at PRD Diaswati Mardiasmo told the Mercury.
“Clearly, more and more people are attracted to this area.
“It is close to Hobart if you need to commute into the CBD, but it is more affordable than other city fringe areas like Bellerive or South Hobart.
“We looked at about 100 suburbs, but a large portion had no incoming ready-to-sell stock.
“There are more opportunities in Kingston than other suburbs, but it may mean paying a premium price.
“The research showed there are more affordable options in areas like Rokeby, Berriedale, or Clarendon Vale but these suburbs have 23, 15 and 11 stock options incoming. Buyers in these suburbs may have to fight to secure one of these new homes.”
The Classifieds

Park light: a sense of enormous wellbeing
As Kingston Park took shape, Kingborough Council had to navigate the delicate balance of illuminating its 1.6km of shared pathways without compromising safety or disturbing nocturnal wildlife.
“The challenge was to provide lighting that did not contribute to light pollution, a particularly difficult task given the area’s previous lack of streetlights,” said mayor Paula Wriedt.
Lighting designers worked with council staff to ensure light pollution was dramatically reduced to respect the habitats, breeding and migration of animals and birdlife, using a pioneering lighting approach in Tasmania.
“Specifically designed for sensitive environmental areas, the selected lighting, with a 2200K temperature, emits only about 6% blue wavelengths, making it suitable for such settings,” Cr Wriedt said.
“This marks a significant step towards ensuring our skies remain dark at night and coexistence with wildlife.
“Park visitors can now travel through the park safely while respecting the natural rhythms of the nocturnal creatures.”
Cr Wriedt said the park had emerged from a community-driven placemaking strategy.
“Guided by the community’s vision to create more green spaces, interconnected pathways, and an inviting public realm, the park was designed to seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings.
“The result is a space that both stimulates the imagination and enhances the natural environment.”
Kingborough Council
media release

Half-price public transport continues
Tasmanians are being encouraged to change the way they travel, with public transport fares being halved for 13 months.
Half-price public transport fares will continue until 30 June 2025.
The initiative, intended to provide cost-of-living relief for Tasmanian households, has been rolled out across all public transport providers across the state including Metro, Tassielink, Kinetic, Manions’ Calows and Area Connect.
In June this year, Metro provided 654,088 passenger trips; a 7.1% decrease on the previous year. Metro carried 656,870 passengers in July, which is 4.8% more than in July 2023 (statewide figures).
“This is just one way we’re improving the public transport experience for Tasmanians while encouraging those who don’t regularly use it to give it a go,” said minister for transport Eric Abetz.
“I’m very pleased to report that Derwent Ferries carried 12,756 passengers in the month of June, which was a 13.5% increase on the same month in 2023. In July 14,388 passenger trips were made which is 27.8% more than in July 2023.”
Minister for transport
media release

Have your say on Kingston Library hours
The Tasmanian government is proposing to extend hours at
a number of libraries in Tasmania.
The proposed changes include opening Kingston library from 9.30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. Saturday’s hours would remain unchanged, with the library opening from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
“We’re now inviting people living across Kingborough to have their say about what works best for them,” said  Liberal member for Franklin, Jacquie Petrusma.
Community consultation on the proposed changes has begun. Kingborough residents can visit Kingston Library to provide feedback or fill in an online form at library.tas.gov.au/proposed-changes-to-library-opening-hours.
Feedback is open until Friday 20 September.
“The proposed changes are aimed at better suiting our community needs and to help more Tasmanians to access the wide variety of services our Libraries now offer,” said Ms Petrusma.
“We know libraries are an important hub for our regional communities and these proposed changes are about ensuring opening hours best suit our community.”
Jacquie Petrusma media release

Learning centre celebrates first birthday
Wheelhouse, a self-directed learning centre for teens, recently celebrated its first-year anniversary and is looking forward to its second year. As the first self-directed learning centre in Tasmania, and only the second in the Australia, the establishment in Lower Longley is offering an exciting alternative to conventional education.
Co-founder Melissa Storey says: “It was a great day to reflect on the wonderful community Wheelhouse has become, including our members, their families, helpful locals, and our volunteer mentors – both past and present. Each volunteer brings their own unique knowledge, interests, and skills, which we really value.”
Over their opening year, Wheelhouse teens have enjoyed focusing on the fundamentals, such as numeracy, literacy, and science, and have also had the chance to delve into more diverse areas such as dog training, cartooning, electronics, and entrepreneurship.
If you are interested in joining the centre or volunteering, please contact Mel and Marion at info@wheelhouse.life.
Marion Thomas and Mel Storey



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