THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY NEWS

Council invites residents to steer budget
Kingborough Council has invited residents to have their say on funding priorities for its 2025/2026 budget.
Each year, the council develops a budget to allocate funding for essential services, infrastructure, and community programs.
This engagement is intended to ensure that funding decisions reflect the needs and priorities of the community.
Mayor Paula Wriedt encouraged all residents to take part in the engagement, emphasising the importance of community input in shaping the future of Kingborough.
“The council is committed to listening to our community and ensuring that our budget reflects what matters most to our residents.
“This is your opportunity to have
a say on how we prioritise spending; whether it’s roads, parks, community programs, essential services, or other key initiatives.
“This is your chance to make
a difference and help guide our community’s future.
“I encourage everyone to take a few moments to share
their thoughts.”
To participate in the consultation, scan the QR code (see advert, left) or visit the council’s website for more details. The engagement will remain open until Monday 7 April.
Kingborough Council media release

Cygnet bush dance returns
Come along and join in lighting up Cygnet Town Hall on 5 April with the sounds of music, dancing and laughter.
If you came along to last year’s winter and spring bush dances, you will know what a fun night this will be.
Ross Smithard and Up Jumped Trouble will provide the music with foot-stomping, old-time tunes on the fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass and banjo-uke.
Ross will lead the tunes on his blazing fiddle, calling fun and easy to learn dances.
No dance experience is needed and, as bush dances are notoriously friendly places, you will always find someone to dance with.
Doors open at 6pm. The music and dancing will kick off at 6.30pm. Enterprising students from Peregrine School will sell fabulous homemade treats and drinks. Tables will be set up so you are also most welcome to bring your own refreshments or support the local food outlets.
Tickets are available from events.humanitix.com/autumn-bush-dance and are $15 plus booking fee for adults or $10 plus booking fee for teens. Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the door at a cost of $20 for adults or $15 for teens. Entry is free for children under 12.
This is a family-friendly event. Teens and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Margaret Driscoll

Appeal for Grove safety to be prioritised
Following a road traffic accident at the Grove intersesction of the Huon Highway, former Huon Valley councillor Jenny Cambers-Smith has spoken of a family’s wish that road safety improvements be brought forward.
Jake Kirkpatrick of Mountain River was hit at the bus stop at the intersection, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. The 17-year-old came out of an induced coma in early March.
“There are improvements in Jake’s condition, but there is a road of recovery ahead,” Ms Cambers-Smith told the Mercury.
“I think the family is more concerned right now about ensuring this doesn’t happen again.”
“Residents have been complaining for 15 years about this spot; the dangers with the area are not new. “We don’t need an upgrade in another year; we need an immediate speed reduction and immediate changes.
“The dangers of two bus stops with young children, a busy petrol station and bottle shop, a highway
with a speed of 100km/h, two residential roads... Something needs to be done immediately to save lives and stop accidents from happening.”
Following Ms Cambers-Smith’s comments, the commissioner for transport announced the Huon Highway speed limit between Allens Road and Mountain River Road would be lowered to 80km/h. The new limit will take effect when new signs are installed in coming weeks.
The 2023 Huon Highway Corridor Strategy highlighted the need for safety improvements for pedestrians and traffic at the section of highway.
According to the strategy, “substandard bus stops adjacent to the highway create the potential for pedestrian/vehicle conflicts.”
A Tasmanian government spokesman told the Mercury the Department of State Growth would meet with Huon Valley Council to discuss long-term safety improvements at the intersection immediately.
“The $3m funding was committed last year, and if the final agreed designs require additional funding it will be explored through the federal government’s $40m commitment to the Huon Highway corridor.
“Immediate options to improve safety in the short term are being developed and assessed by the department’s technical experts, with solutions expected in the coming weeks.”
Infrastructure minister Kerry Vincent said the upgrade plans would be finalised later this year and would incorporate community feedback. He said construction would begin next year.
Jake’s family have set up a Go Fund Me Page to fund basic expenses such as fuel for the family to drive to the hospital, refreshments and meals, and for time out for Jake’s two identical triplet brothers “to be teenagers”.
The Classifieds

Geeveston Art Show celebrates 10th birthday
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Geeveston Art Show, and, in celebration, all of Geeveston is participating in a festival to showcase the very best of artisans from the Huon Valley.
Between Saturday 29 March and Saturday 5 April, the organising committee welcomes the public to come to Geeveston and experience beautiful artworks in a range of mediums – from acrylics to alpaca, sculpture to sewing, and weaving to woodwork. The event takes place across multiple venues in Geeveston’s town centre, with its headquarters at Masaaki’s Sushi.
Last year’s event attracted more than 3,000 people. It featured 138 pieces of art by 73 local artists, displayed over a two-week period.
This year’s event is already shaping up to be exceptional. The opening day is Saturday 29 March.
There will be live demonstrations and workshops from local artisans, including the opportunity for members of the public to engage in the free Artist Development Program, which allows them to explore various mediums under the guidance of Huon Valley artist instructors.
The launch day will integrate the award ceremony for each competition category from 10am. Everyone is welcome. The launch will include live music, workshops, food, and activities for the whole family.
Geeveston Progress Association president Andrew Burgess is ebullient about the impact of the show on the community.
“The Geeveston Art Show has evolved into something very different from its humble beginnings. This year’s exhibition engages the whole community and that’s exactly what the remit of the progress association is.
“I’m delighted to be part of the 10th-anniversary celebrations and look forward to seeing what creations the artists of the Huon Valley have to offer.
“We’re so excited to be bringing this event to the Huon Valley again – one we consider to be one of the jewels in the crown of the Huon’s arts calendar.”
Doors open to the public at 10am on Saturday 29 March at Masaaki’s Sushi, Geeveston. Entry is free of charge with no age restrictions. The Lightwood Bottom Blues Club will play a free session outside Masaaki’s Sushi from 2pm to 5pm.
The Geeveston Art Show
sub-committee

Trace antibiotics detected in fish deposits
Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) says it has detected low levels of an antiobiotic in the fatty fish deposits that recently washed up on beaches in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and
the Huon.
The chief veterinary officer and the director of public have said the antibiotic was present at too low a level to affect human or animal health.
Huon Aquaculture administered
a single round of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) to its salmon in February in an attempt to control the Piscirickettsia salmonis disease that has contributed to a mass die-off of its stock. Warmer waters are also thought to be a factor in the die-off.
“The results raise further questions about the presence of OTC in the broader environment,” said an
EPA statement.
“While levels of residual OTC in the environment after a dosing event will progressively decline, there are sound reasons for wanting as little contamination of our environments with antibiotics as possible, particularly to reduce the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“The EPA will endeavour to obtain
a better understanding of the situation through additional environmental monitoring. It has required Huon Aquaculture Company to undertake expanded antibiotic residue testing, which is in progress and includes beach sediments at four locations.
“The EPA is also determining a program of independent environmental monitoring to commence as soon as possible, details of which will be publicly available when finalised.”
Huon Aquaculture has confirmed it is treating a small number of pens at its Zuidpool lease near Bruny Island with antiobiotics.
Stakeholder and government relations manager, Hannah Gray, said: “Importantly, only two samples of fish oil were found to contain minute traces of antibiotic, including a sample from Verona Sands that was self-reported by Huon,” Ms Gray said.
“In line with the EPA’s statement and according to independent veterinarian advice, you would need to eat 50kg of this oily material in order to consume the equivalent of one antibiotic tablet.”
The Classifieds

Grants for Kingborough Men’s Sheds
The Channel Men’s Shed and Kingston Men’s Shed are among 27 Men’s Sheds across the state to receive grants totalling over $165,000. The funds have been distributed through the Tasmanian government’s 2024-25 Tasmanian Men’s Shed Association (TMSA) Grants Program.
The Channel Men’s Shed received $3,715 for a fridge, freezer and microwave, as well as $2,500 for a replacement bandsaw. Kingston Men’s Shed received $4,455 for a sander and dust collector.
Acting minister for community services, Jo Palmer, said the government would continue to support the Men’s Shed community.
“Men’s Sheds provide a vital space for men to connect, share skills and support one another. We know they have positive impacts on social connections and preventive health,” Minster Palmer said.
“These grants will have a broad range of impacts, with improvements to allow people to spend more time in the facility, through to becoming more inclusive, and better equipped.”
Grants were capped at up to $10,000 per shed for projects that support sheds to purchase tools and equipment, enhance men’s health initiatives, improve shed sustainability and benefit the broader community.
Minister Palmer said the state government would also provide sheds with $1 million in capital investment grants in 2024-25 and a further $175,000 through the TMSA Grants Program in 2025-26.
Acting minister for community
services media release

Captivating events to get kids reading
As part of Tasmania Reads week (23 to 29 March), Kingston will host two unusual opportunities to entice children to pick up a book. The first involves reading to a furry friend, the second is based around a short stroll in the
Kingston Wetlands.
Story dogs
Children can read to a story dog at Kingston Library on Monday 24 March from 3pm to 5pm. Story Dogs is a reading support program where trained volunteers and accredited dogs listen to primary school children reading. The accepting, loving nature of dogs gives this program its magic and helps children relax, open up, try harder and have fun while reading to a friendly, calm dog. In a non-judgemental setting, children’s focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their
confidence soars.
A learning support teacher at one public school said story dogs had been a “game-changer”. “We have a high number of students with ADHD, ASD and trauma and we have found that [our story dog] has not only broken barriers in terms of reading instruction for many of our kids, but has also been instrumental in helping them learn to regulate their emotional responses and provide joy in their lives.”
Kingston Wetlands
Storywalk Trail
A new Storywalk Trail will be launched by Libraries Tasmania and Kingborough Council on Friday 28 March from 10am to 11am. It is at the Kingston Wetlands in the Kingston park area, near the bike and skate park and also near the park and ride bus service.
The StoryWalk will feature the beautiful Tazzie the Turbo Chook, written and illustrated by Sonia Strong. Kingborough’s other two StoryWalks are at Dru Point in Margate and at Snug Beach. Why not turn the launch into a day excursion by visiting the other two StoryWalk
locations afterwards?
Dru Point currently features the We Love Country book by Nicole Smith, Leanne Pelikan and Kylie Dickson, with artwork by Luke Emmerton and Jamin. The Snug Beach walk features the Travelling Tasmanian Tigers, written and illustrated by Margie Kirk. All are Tasmanian stories.
All locations are flat and accessible for all, including those with
mobility issues.
StoryWalks encourage reading outdoors, reading together, and promote the idea that reading can be done anywhere.
After the launch, attendees will be free to wander the picturesque wetlands location and enjoy the story and stunning artwork at their leisure.
There are no catering facilities onsite. Organisers ask that you pack a picnic basket with a thermos, snacks and a rug if you like.
The new Kingston StoryWalk was support by the Tasmanian Community Fund, Friends of the Library Kingston, Libraries Tasmania and Kingborough Council, along with the Channel Men’s Shed, who made the stands.
Libraries Tasmania/The Classifieds

Kingston car show returns
The second Kingston Neighbourhood House Car Show will take place on Sunday 23 March between 10am and 2pm.
Do you have a unique car? Bring it along and get a lucky door ticket for some great prizes. Bookings are not required.
Last year’s show featured around 120 cars.
All types and eras are welcome - from vintage to modern, muscle cars to rods, as well as bikes. So get your pride and joy out of the shed and bring it down to the Kingborough Community Hub car park, or just come for
a browse and chat.
Presented by the Tasmanian Automotive Chamber
of Commerce, the show is free to enter.
Coffee, sausages and burgers will be available.
For more information, please contact Samara at the Neighbourhood House on 6229 4066 or office@kingstonnh.org.au.
Kingston Neighbourhood House

Taroona planning meeting scheduled
Following its Blackmans Bay meeting on 20 March, Planning Matters Tasmania (PMAT) has now scheduled a public meeting in Taroona about the recently released draft Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) Bill. The meeting will take place at Taroona Bowls Club on Wednesday 2 April from 6.30pm to 8pm.
The event speakers will be: Jill Hickie of the Taroona Community Association who will MC, Sophie Underwood (state director, PMAT), Peter McGlone (CEO, Tasmanian Conservation Trust) and Nicole Sommers – legal practice director (principal lawyer) of the Environmental Defenders Office.
PMAT believes the bill would strip the Tasmanian public of the right to object to inappropriate development.
Minister for housing, planning, and consumer affairs, Felix Ellis, has said the bill is necessary to grow the economy.
The Classifieds

Cats kill 630,000 native animals each year
Kingborough Council has reminded the community that, due to the municipality’s unique wildlife, cats are not allowed in many of its reserves and coastal areas. These include Boronia Beach, Algona, Coffee Creek, Peter Murrell, Tinderbox Hills, Conningham and Snug Tiers reserves. It also includes all Kingborough beaches and coastal reserves.
These areas are protected under the Cat Management Act 2009. 
In Kingborough, it is estimated that each year at least 630,000 native animals are killed by domestic cats alone. Roaming pet cats, when they live near bushland and reserves, can have a major impact on local or fragmented populations of rare or threatened species, such as bandicoots, quolls and potoroos. For example, at night, southern brown bandicoots
frequent the coastal bush of Blackmans Bay. Just one regular roaming pet cat can wipe out a local population.
For more information on cat-prohibited areas, responsible cat ownership, creating happy homes for indoor cats, cat containment products, and services and trapping, please visit Kingborough Council’s website, and navigate to Services>Animal Management>Cats.
The council’s Cat Management Officer is available to discuss any concerns about cats and the range of options for keeping pet cats secure: email kc@kingborough.tas.gov.au or phone 6211 8200.
Kingborough Council

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