THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY NEWS
Huon Highway project takes first step
Following community consultation, the state government has engaged consultants to conduct site investigations that will inform the future design of the Huon Highway-Mountain River Road intersection upgrade.
Parliamentary secretary for infrastructure Kerry Vincent said the consultants would explore options to make the intersection safer for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.
“Improving access to bus stops and the Grove shop were among the upgrades identified by the community as a high priority when we developed the corridor strategy for the Huon Highway from Kingston to Southport,”
Mr Vincent said.
“The project aims to make it safer for pedestrians to access public transport while preserving traffic flow on the highway.
“We will consult with Huon Valley Council and adjacent landowners and do engineering, environmental and heritage surveys to inform the development of options.”
Parliamentary secretary for
infrastructure media release
How will climate
change affect Cygnet?
If you’re interested in knowing more about how climate change is likely to affect us locally, come along to a presentation and Q&A with Dr Malcolm Johnson, Huon Valley Council’s newly appointed principal for climate change. The Cygnet Association will host this event at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29 October in the Cygnet Town Hall Supper Room. Entry is free.
In Tasmania the vast southern ocean limits the extremes that will be felt in other areas.
It’s likely many people – both climate refugees and climate migrants – will move here from areas that become unbearably hot or subject to extreme weather events. However, we can’t assume that life will go on as normal. More extreme conditions are forecast here too, with stronger winds, more flooding, longer droughts and more fires.
Malcolm has spent more than 15 years studying and working on climate change and environmental protection, and his doctoral thesis focuses on the Huon Valley. His presentation will focus on the Cygnet area, talk about resilience and adaptation, and advise on what steps can be taken to minimise the impacts of climate change. Malclim will also explain what Huon Valley Council’s role is.
He will take any questions you may wish to ask.
The Cygnet Association
The Cygnet Association aims to make Cygnet an even better place to live, work, and visit.
Its projects vary in scale, ranging from planting street trees and installing plaques on historic buildings to addressing major concerns about traffic through Mary Street and hosting events.
The association lobbied for an ambulance station and the state government has promised this will be delivered in 2026.
The Cygnet Association will hold its AGM prior to the talk (starting at 7pm), offering a chance to learn what the association has been up to over the last year and meet with members and the committee.
This is a public meeting and everyone is welcome but only financial members can vote or nominate to join the new committee.
For further information, email cygnetassociation@gmail.com or call 0409 950 885.
Réjane Bélanger
Open House program goes south
Open House Hobart returns this November, featuring a long list of Kingborough and Huon Valley properties, many of them on Bruny Island.
Open House is a free annual architecture program that opens some of Tasmania’s unique and interesting properties to the public, including private homes and historic buildings. Open House invites you to be a tourist in your own home. Get out your camera and photograph the buildings and spaces you walk past every day; take a peek at how others live, work and play.
Some buildings require registration to visit and are limited by capacity. In true Tassie style, it’s first in, best dressed.
BIG.SHED.HOUSE
105 Glen Huon Road, Huonville
Architect: Perversi-Brooks Architects (2016)
BIG.SHED.HOUSE comprises alterations and additions to a big 100-year-old apple shed, designed as boutique, self-contained short-stay accommodation. The house sits on a hill near the Huon River, on a gently sloping site planted with native vegetation, and adjacent to the client’s studio.
Open Sunday 10 November, 1.30pm to 4pm. Registration required.
Bruny Island Hideaway
134 Musketts Road, Alonnah
Architect: Maguire and Devine Architects (2017)
This off-grid cabin is an escape from the stress of its owner’s busy work life. Born in Taiwan, the owner spent their childhood in traditional Japanese houses built during occupation.
Out of this grew a love for highly crafted minimalist design. The brief was to and design a building as a piece of furniture with all requirements built in. With long views to the south and tall trees to the north, the cabin opens onto an east and west deck, capturing morning and afternoon sun while affording views to the south. Open Sunday 10 November, 10am to 3pm. Registration required.
Access to this property is via a rough road requiring high clearance and/or 4WD – or enjoy the gentle
2km walk.
Captain Kelly’s Cottage
Waterview, 585 Main Road Bruny Island, Bruny Island
Architect: Wardle Studio (2016)
Captain Kelly built this cottage in the 1830s. Extensive research has been carried out into its history. It is thought Kelly’s various shiphands constructed the house during the whaling off-season.
The project has involved painstaking removal of paint layers to reveal original colours that also provided inspiration in other areas. A new living area has been placed between the two existing structures.
The layered soffit and exposed ceiling rafters of the original veranda have been continued in the new spaces to connect new with old. This project received multiple awards.
Open Sunday 10 November, 10am to 2pm. Registration required.
This is a shoe-free household. Park at the top of the hill. It is a 15 minute walk down the gravel driveway.
Killora Bay
412 Nebraska Road, North Bruny
Architects: Lara Maeseele in conjunction with Tanner Architects (2020)
Above Killora Bay sits a holiday home for a young family that is influenced by the delicate Bruny Island environmental setting. The durable cladding is bushfire-resistant and built from locally sourced silver-top ash. The flush glazing reflects the white gum forest. The exterior cladding continues as a lining into this entry area, concealing joinery elements within the walls and easing the transition between interior and exterior.
Open Sunday 10 November, 11am to 2pm. Registration required.
Coopworth
243 Lighthouse Road, South Bruny
Nestled in the rural surrounds of Bruny Island, Tasmania, Coopworth is a contemporary interpretation of a country farmhouse. The house converses with the ever-changing landscape that includes Coopworth sheep, the wide-ranging views to the water and mountain ranges beyond, as well as the weathering red lead shacks dotted over the island.
Open Sunday 10 November, 10am to 2pm. Rregistration required.
Coopworth will also host an informal discussion over a meal prepared by the architect from 2pm to 3pm. Bookings are required.
Shearers Quarters
Waterview, 585 Main Road Bruny Island, Bruny Island
Architect: Wardle Studio (2011)
The Shearers Quarters is a multiple award-winning house. A companion building to a historic cottage on
a working sheep farm, it is on the site of an old shearing shed destroyed by fire. The residence houses shearers and visiting family and friends.
The plan form transforms along its length to shift the profile of a slender skillion at the western end to a broad gable at the east. The internal lining is macrocarpa, sourced as individual trees from old rural windbreaks. The bedrooms are lined in apple box crates, sourced from the old orchards of the Huon Valley where they had been stacked since the 1960s.
Open Sunday 10 November, 10am to 2pm. Registration required.
This is a shoe-free household. Park at the top of the hill and be prepared for a 15-minute walk down the gravel driveway.
Sinclair House
19 Meath Avenue, Taroona
Architect: Esmond Dorney (1952)
The Sinclair house originates in the immediate post-war period, where architect Esmond Dorney explores a largely new approach to environment, space and materiality as
a response to a new landscape and a changing economy. Of particular note is the undulating roof. Recently landscaped and externally renovated, this building shows how to respectfully renovate our heritage, mid-century modern residences.
Open Saturday 9 November, 10am to 1pm. Bookings not required.
St Pius X Church
98 Channel Highway, Taroona
Architect: Esmond Dorney (1957)
Nestled amongst bushland with views to timtumili minanya/the River Derwent, the award-winning St Pius X Catholic Church is Australia’s first Modernist church, listed on the Register of the National Estate as
a place of heritage significance.
The unique curved roof and building design utilises the natural light and setting to marry internal and external space. The community established a native garden around the church with the help of the Country Women’s Association, NRM South and Indigenous horticulturalist
Kris Schaffer.
Open Saturday 9 November, 10am to 2pm. Bookings not required.
Torquil Canning House
856 Huon Road, Fern Tree
Architect: JAWS Architects (1995, addition 2003)
This house comprises a sequence of three pavilions, forming a series of courtyards nestled into an escarpment and connected by a spine running along the contours of the hillside. The soul of the house is expressed in the massive bluestone entrance wall running perpendicular to the main axis.
The easterly aspect, with its breathtaking views across the Derwent estuary to Bruny Island, belies the adversity of the site.
Open: Saturday 9 November, 10am to 2pm. Registrations required.
Park on Menuggana Road, walk down steep gravel driveway. Sensible shoes suggested.
Open House Hobart
Pool opens with a splash
The Huonville Swimming Pool opens for the summer season with a free open day on Saturday 2 November from 10am.
There is a heated 50m outdoor pool as well as a shallow pool for toddlers. There is an onsite kiosk and undercover BBQ.
“Swimming isn’t just a fun summer activity - it’s a vital life skill,” said Huon Valley mayor Sally Doyle. “Accredited swimming instructors are available at the pool to teach techniques and water safety that can save lives and help people enjoy a variety of water activities for years
to come.”
The pool at 14 Heron Street welcomes visitors seven days a week from 2 November to 30 March 2025, closing only on Christmas Day and 1 February 2025 for the Huon Valley Aquatic Medal Meet.
Throughout the summer season, accredited AUSTSWIM instructors provide six-week, eight-week and 10-day intensive Learn to Swim programs for people of all ages and abilities, covering areas from water familiarisation to
stroke correction.
Early morning lap swimming is available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 6.30am to 8:30am until 10 March, then from 7am to 8.30am thereafter. Please note that early morning sessions pause between 20 December and 6 January.
For swimming lesson enrolments and more information, contact the pool office at 6264 1279 or email ssmith@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.
Visit the Huonville Swimming Pool page on Huon Valley Council’s website for fees and additional information.
Huon Valley Council
Margate hosts men’s lunch
The Kingborough and Huon Business Enterprise Centre (KHBEC) will hold its first International Men’s Day lunch on Friday 15 November at Kingborough Community Bowls Club in Margate.
The networking event is an opportunity for the business community to come together and raise awareness around some of the issues men and boys face.
This year’s theme is ‘Men’s Health Champions’ and the guest speaker is Jonathon Bedloe from Men’s Resources Tasmania.
Dave Stewart, CEO of Kingborough Council, will also take the hot seat to give his views on questions asked on this subject.
The event is open to all business owners and members of the Huon and Kingborough business communities.
The lunch will be from 1pm until 3pm. Tickets are $25 for lunch (drinks available for purchase at the bar) with 25% of all ticket sales to be donated to Men’s Resources Tasmania. There will also be lucky door prizes. Ticket sales close on 11 November.
KHBEC thanks Huon Aquaculture and Vermey Meats for supplying produce to enjoy on the day.
Kingborough and Huon Business Enterprise Centre
Seen the zine? Young writers wanted
Kingborough Council has put out an open call for contributions for its first zine. A zine, short for magazine, invites submissions such as poems, drawings, recipes, photos, illustrations, essays and more, providing a platform to share ideas and content. The zine will be suited to young people aged between 12 and 24 years who live in Kingborough.
Do you have an idea but don’t know how to get started? Contact the council for support. Email the council at kc@kingborough.tas.gov.au or call 6211 8200 to speak with a community development officer.
Register now to submit your content to be included in the first Kingborough Zine. Submissions will close on Friday 15 November. Applications can be made at events.humanitix.com/zine.
Kingborough Council
Pick from four events at Dover Fun Run
The Dover Fun Run returns on 3 November. With 2km, 5km, 10km and half-marathon events, there’s something for everyone.
The first Dover Fun Run was held in 2019, and attracted 250 runners, raising $7,072 for Hobart’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Despite Covid challenges, organisers managed to turn the Fun Run into an annual event attended by runners and families from all over Tasmania.
The event raised over $10,000 for the PICU in 2023 and organisers hope to raise more in 2024.
A sausage sizzle and other refreshments will be available and the Port Esperance Sailing Club bar will be open on
Sunday afternoon.
The more fun you have at the event the better, so feel free to dress up in your favourite running gear, all-weather make-up or even a tiara and tutu. Consider the weather, and dress sensibly. Please note, canine running companions are not allowed.
Races
Dover Half
The Dover Half will cover 21.1km with an approximate total elevation gain of 440 metres. This is a challenging course on bitumen along the spectacular Esperance Coast Road. The event kicks off at 8am. Walkers are welcome in this event, however, the time limit for the Dover Half is three and
a half hours. Please start behind the runners.
Tassal Ten
The Tassal Ten sets out at 9am. The 10km course is mostly flat with a couple of hills and follows dirt tracks, shared bitumen roads and concrete footpaths. Walkers and prams are welcome in this event, however, the time limit for the Tassal Ten is two hours. Please start behind the other runners.
The Bendigo Five
The Bendigo Five begins at 9.05am. The 5km course is mostly flat with a couple of hills. It will follow dirt tracks, shared bitumen roads and concrete footpaths. Walkers and prams are welcome in this event.
Annabelle’s Run
The 2km course is flat and will follow dirt tracks, shared bitumen and concrete footpaths. Prams are welcome in this event – please start behind the runners.
Full details of all events can be found at doverfunrun.org.
All runners in the Dover Half, Tassal Ten, the Bendigo Five and children entering Annabelle’s Run will receive a finisher medal. There will be prizes for place getters in the Dover Half, Tassal Ten and Bendigo Five. Spot prizes will be awarded in the Annabelle’s Run as this is a novelty run. Everyone entering the virtual Tassal Ten, the Five and Annabelle’s Run will receive an electronic certificate.
How the fun run came to be
The Dover Fun Run was born from a longstanding desire to give back to the community, in thanks for the wonderful support for the Skinner family in their time of need.
Annabelle Skinner was just 17 months old when she was involved in a freak accident, suffering
a horrific head injury. Her family spent anxious weeks by her side in Hobart’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. With expert care, Annabelle made a full recovery and is now
a happy, healthy nine-year-old.
At the time of her injury, Annabelle’s parents Gemma and John witnessed the pressures the Hobart PICU faced. They hatched the idea of a community fun run to support the unit. After four years, they finally made it happen with the support of local community group, Far South Future, and many generous volunteers.
Road closures
There will be road closures to ensure the safety of participants, volunteers and spectators.
Roads will be closed during the following times, unless opened earlier by police.
Esperance Coast Road from Huon Highway to Eva Gully Road to be closed from 7.30am to 8.30am.
Esperance Coast Road from Eva Gully Road to Police Point Road to be closed from 7.30am to 9am.
Esperance Coast Road from Police Point Road to Huon Aquaculture to be closed from 7.30am to 9.30am.
Esperance Coast Road from Huon Aquaculture to Big Roaring Beach Road to be closed from 7.30am to 10am.
Kent Beach Road from Station Road to Esperance Coast Road to be closed from 7.45am to 11.30am.
Roads will be re-opened on
a rolling basis when safe to do so. Any traffic wanting to travel on, or cross, this route will be affected.
Dover Fun Run
Bus interchange turns into blame game
Kingborough mayor Paula Wriedt has told ABC breakfast the Department of State Growth is to blame for the delays in opening the new Kingston bus interchange.
“We are working to try and get this up and running as soon as possible, but I will say the wheels on the bus of the Department of State Growth, they are running very slowly,” she said.
“The timelines on this really are blowing out in a way that, you know is very, very frustrating for everybody.
“It certainly hasn’t been a cheap project by any stretch of the imagination.
“And that’s why it’s frustrating that we’ve spent that money to try and upgrade the amenity for bus users and this is the result, that we’re in this holding pattern.”
The interchange cost $300,000 to build, while $800,000 was spent on the land acquisition and on demolition. Funding was secured through the Hobart City Deal. The botched interchange features a corner that is too tight for buses. The corner means the interchange cannot accommodate three buses, as required by the design.
No figure has been put on the cost of remodelling the interchange, although recent Kingborough Council research suggested only minor modifications to the turning circle would be necessary.
The council and State Growth have disagreed over who is at fault for the error, which has caused the interchange to sit idle for 10 months.
While the council claimed the department had approved the designs, State Growth claimed it had repeatedly raised safety and accessibility concerns over them. It says it will hand down recommendations for the interchange this month after consulting
bus operators.
“Once a design is finalised and the council has undertaken the necessary infrastructure changes, use of the interchange can commence,” said a Department of State Growth spokesperson.
The temporary bus stops on Goshawk Way that have now been in use for two years are not as close to Kingston CBD.
“It is a lot further away from the central CBD, and unfortunately, there are people who have limited mobility or who are reliant on mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, who can’t make that trek,” said Cr Wriedt.
Kingston resident Phil told ABC Breakfast: “I have a medical condition affecting my mobility, and making my way to the temporary bus stop is sometimes impossible, and I’m one of a growing number of disgruntled residents.”
The Classifieds
Work starts on Lightwood Park stand
Work is starting this week on the construction of new seating at Lightwood Park.
Home to the Kingborough Lions Football Club, Lightwood Park has undergone upgrades including the building of eight changerooms, three referees’ rooms, a medical room, kit room and universal access toilet (including baby change table). Kingborough Council contributed to the construction of the changerooms. Along with the completely renovated playing surface and new lighting, the 800-plus seat stand will improve participation in soccer, which is Kingborough’s most popular sport for young people.
Kingborough Council
Fashion Frenzy returns to the Hub
Grab yourself some new and pre-loved fashion brands for a steal at Dress for Success’s Fashion Frenzy event at Kingborough Community Hub on the weekend of 2 and 3 November. The event will feature jewellery, accessories, and clothing in all sizes.
Admission is $5 per person, and all items cost $5 between 10am and 1pm on the Saturday and 10am and 11.30am on the Sunday. Between 11.45am and 1pm on the Sunday, items will be reduced to $1, or you can fill
a provided bag for $15.
Event organisers Dress for Success Tasmania are part of a global movement of change, empowering women to obtain economic independence by providing them with work-appropriate attire, job support mentoring, access to career development workshops and
a supportive network to enable them to achieve self-sufficiency through gainful employment.
Clothing sales will help Dress for Success build financial sustainability to ensure they are able to continue to deliver programs across Tasmania. All proceeds raised over the weekend will go directly into its programs, supporting women to access vital services that allow them to re-enter the workforce feeling confident and well equipped.
This will be a cashless event, with tap-and-go payment. Bags will be on sale for $2, but feel free to bring your own.
While the event is designed to raise funds so Dress for Success can continue to deliver life-changing initiatives for women in Tasmania, organisers also want to ensure everyone can have access. If the $5 ticket price is beyond your capacity, please email events@dressforsuccesstas.org and a discount code will be provided. Organisers can be contacted at the same address ifyou require special access to the venue.
You may have donated garments, shoes and accessories to Dress for Success in the past and organisers gratefully request continued donations. Items in Fashion Frenzy are surplus to its boutique needs right now and sales will raise much-needed funds.
Follow Dress for Success at dressforsuccess.org or via Facebook or Instagram to find out more about future events and what the organisation is doing in the community.
Email admin@dressforsuccesstas.org to be added to the mailing list. To find out more about volunteering, email volunteers@dressforsuccesstas.org.
Dress for Success Tasmania
Counting Kingston’s birds
Join the Great Aussie Bird Count and connect with others while bird watching and learning more about how to survey.
Karen from Birdlife Tasmania will lead a bird survey in Whitewater Creek Reserve. Everyone is welcome and no bookings are required. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars if you have some.
The survey will take place on Friday 18 October at 9.30am.
Meet at the Channel Highway entrance near bus stop 38.
Parking is available behind the Kingston Hotel.
The Great Aussie Bird Count is an initiative of Birdlife Australia. The week-long event takes place between 14 and 20 October. Get involved and help record the bird species in your local area. You don’t need to be a bird expert, and each survey takes only 20 minutes.
To find out more about the Great Aussie Bird Count, visit aussiebirdcount.org.au.
Kingborough Council
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