One of Launceston’s most popular walking tracks remains closed until early 2024.
The 1-km Cataract Walk closed in late June due to a privately-owned retaining wall at a property collapsing, causing various safety threats to the community.
Both the Cataract Walk and Trevallyn Steps track have been closed to minimize any potential risk to members of the public.
In order to optimise safety, the Council installed six tilt sensors on selected areas of the wall in July, which confirm that the wall is continuing to move.
This movement shows that a complete failure could possibly occur at any given time without any warning, hence, the walk will remain closed until the Council are certain that there is no potential risk to the public.
Many travellers have expressed their admiration of the walk and its beauty, as well as how magical and rare it is to have such a great tourist attraction not far from the city.
“It’s so amazing to have cataract gorge so close to the city. Lovely easy walk on right side of the gorge. A harder walk is on the left-hand side, the zig zag walk. We loved the walk and were told its all lit up at
night too.” Said a Melbourne tourist on a review page.
“A delightful easy trail that runs along the inside of the gorge beginning at a beautiful bridge and finishing in the park. While only 15-20 min in length it is a great way to see the beautiful rock formations and view thee natural landscapes.” Another wrote.
Due to the strong tourist attraction, it is no wonder that the council are eager to get the walk back up and running (or walking as such).
Although other beloved walking tracks remain open around the Cataract Gorge area, the council has officially announced the actioning
of the collapsed wall along the Cataract, and how much they are prepared to spend demonstrates just how important this walk is to the public and to tourists.
As Launceston Mayor, Matthew Garwood said, the Cataract Walk was a vital link to one of the state’s most popular visitor drawcards, and the Council is prioritizing its re-opening. $1 million has been set aside by the Launceston Council from the Annual Budget for the repairs.
A contractor has been appointed the task of removing the bluestone retaining wall, which is expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The Council do, however, suspect that the overall costs of the repairs will be less than amount once all costs have been finalised.
As Mayor Garwood states, the safety of the public is above all first priority.
“Our priority at all times is the safety of our community,” he said.
“We know that the wall is going to fail completely at some point. If it did fail without our intervention, the costs to the Council and our community to make the walkway safe again would be too large, not only financially but also accessibility-wise.”
“The Council has, therefore,
decided to act immediately, and will seek to work with the property owners to have the work undertaken as quickly as possible.”
"Due to the logistical challenges, Council are intending to take advantage of the drier conditions to remove the retaining wall and will also look to re-purpose the bluestone from the wall, for use in other community projects around the city — a thrifty solution for a significant saving to the Council.”
"The City of Launceston has taken a lead role in resolving this infrastructure issue to safely enable the re-opening of the Cataract Walk to the public, given its popularity with recreational users and its importance to
Speed limits on some Launceston roads will begin to change this month.
The City of Launceston's application to lower speed limits on some of Launceston's roads was confirmed by the State's Transport Commissioner in September, following a unanimous Council decision in June.
The Council is introducing the changes to reflect real-world travel speeds and to improve safety for all road users.
Installation of new signage
to indicate the lowered speed limits on nominated roads will begin this week, with the roll-out expected to be completed throughout the school holidays.
Speed limits will be lowered on the following Launceston roads:
Reductions from 60km/h to 50km/h:
• Bathurst Street
• Wellington Street — between William and Howick Streets
• High Street — between
David and Arthur streets
• Invermay Road — between Forster Street and Vermont Road
• Elphin Road, Penquite Road and Hoblers Bridge Road, near the Newstead Shopping Centre.
Reductions from 50km/h to 40km/h:
• Launceston CBD area bordered by Cimitiere, York, Wellington and Tamar Streets
• Mowbray Shopping Cen-
tre, Invermay Road between Vermont Road and Haig Street
• Kings Meadows shopping centre, Hobart Road between Riseley Street and Opossum Road.
Changed speed limit signage will also be installed to make all new speed limits clear to motorists.
More information can be found at: https://www. launceston.tas.gov.au/ Roads-and-Parking/Cityof-Launceston-SpeedLimit-Changes
the city's visitor economy.”
"We continue to ask for the community's patience as we get this important infrastructure project underway.”
"We will be pulling out all stops to complete the work as quickly as practicable.”
Spring is in the air, and it's time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature and our native bird life.
This year marks the 10th annual Aussie Bird Count, one of Australia’s greatest citizen science initiatives that encourages people of all ages to step outside to their favourite spot and spend just 20 minutes observing and counting the birds.
“The Aussie Bird Count brings people together and promotes our connection with the land around us,” explains BirdLife Australia Public Affairs Manager Sean Dooley.
“It’s an ideal opportunity to spend time in one of the many beautiful parks and gardens in our coun-
try while also making a contribution to Australia’s conservation efforts.”
Playing a vital role in collecting essential data on species diversity and populations, the count aims to monitor distribution trends and assess which bird species are thriving and which ones need conservation attention.
Why Participate in the Aussie Bird Count?
Conservation Impact: By participating in the Aussie Bird Count, you become an invaluable citizen scientist, contributing crucial data to help identify trends and assess the health of our local bird populations. Your observations can shape conservation strategies and
help protect our endangered bird species.
Community Engagement: The Aussie Bird Count provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and connect with nature.
Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or a curious beginner, everyone is welcome to participate and make a difference.
Family Fun: The Aussie Bird Count is a simple, fun activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It's a chance to bond with loved ones while exploring the wonders of our local environment.
Discover Local Wildlife: Through birdwatching,
you'll gain a new appreciation for the incredible diversity of birdlife that surrounds us in Tamar Valley.
Let's Put Tamar Valley on the Birdwatching Map!
To achieve this, we need your help! Here's how you can participate in the Aussie Bird Count:
Choose Your Spot: Pick your favourite outdoor space in Tamar Valley. It could be a park or even your own backyard.
Count the Birds: Spend just 20 minutes quietly observing the birds around you. Take note of their species and the numbers you spot.
Share Your Data: Record your findings using the
Aussie Bird Count app or the web form.
You can participate as many times as you like during the count period but much sure each count is 20 minutes.
Join the Aussie Bird Count!
Celebrate our feathered neighbours and contribute to bird conservation in Tamar Valley.
The Aussie Bird Count runs from October 16 to 22 so enjoy some time outdoors and make your birdwatching count!
“We aim to spark passion for birdwatching and encourage active participation in the event,” said Sean Dooley.
"The Aussie Bird Count is a fantastic opportunity for all Australians to contribute to bird conservation in our beautiful country.”
“By spending just 20 minutes observing and counting birds, participants can play a crucial role in protecting our unique avian biodiversity."
If you're unsure about bird identification, a built-in "bird finder" tool is available to help you out.
Join BirdLife Australia and Tamar Valley in celebrating our native bird and the invaluable work of citizen scientists during this year's Aussie Bird Count. For more information on how to participate, visit www. aussiebirdcount.org.au
(UTAS) has been ranked number one on the specific goal of climate change action for universities internationally, not just once, but twice. What’s more, the university has also been ranked 5th in the world for its commitment and performance against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate change has been a topic of concern for many years now and UTAS’ Chief Sustainability Officer, Corey Peterson, stresses that it is not as far away as we may think.
“The climate emergency and broader environmental crisis is happening now, and changes need to be made urgently.” Mr. Peterson said.
UTAS has been carbon neutral certified since 2016. In accordance with the Austra-
the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard, meaning that they measure emissions, reduce emissions, offset remaining emissions and then publicly reports on this achievement.
The state’s university divested from fossil fuel investments in 2021 and dramatically reduced embodied carbon in new buildings and has committed to reducing gross carbon emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030.
As Mr. Peterson points out, the university is not only leading the nation in climate change action but has excelled in many other sustainability areas, and in doing so, has earnt a ranking of 5th in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for its performance against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), assessing more than 1500 universities from 110 countries.
The SDGs “were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.” As stated by the United Nations Development Programme.
They comprise of 17 elements:
1.) No poverty
2.) Zero hunger
3.) Good health and wellbeing
4.) Quality education
5.) Gender equality
6.) clean water and sanitation
7.) Affordable and clean energy.
8.) Decent work and economic growth
tion and production
13.) Climate action
14.) Life below water
15.) Life on land
16.) Peace, justice and strong institutions
17.) Partnerships for the goals
The universities’ commitment to sustainability action shows through them working their way up the global rating ladder over the past 3 years. They were ranked number 76th against these standards only two years ago in 2021, and then ranked 25th just last year.
Mr. Peterson stresses that the university sustaining their sustainability excellence into the future is far more important than ranking number one globally next year. Although, he does say that it would be a great achievement.
get to number one with SDGs and then have people take their focus off it. I’d rather say that holistically we are doing great across all 17 SDGs permanently into the future.”
Mr. Peterson says that he believes universities across Australia aren’t far behind in following in UTAS’ footsteps for sustainability.
“Most universities will follow as students are demanding it,” Mr. Peterson says.
“In order to inform the university and drive the sustainability agenda, in 2020 we looked at external surveys about what students expect to see in a sustainable university. Students responded how important it is that a university does something in the way of sustainability, and two-thirds responded
their current university as ‘somewhat’ environmentally friendly.”
Mr. Peterson strongly expresses that sustainability is not only about the environment.
“There is a lot of demand from students across the nation for sustainability. Gen Zs are particularly concerned for climate change. However, the point that I want to make to senior leaders is that it’s not just climate change, it’s holistic. There’s mental health, gender equality, there’s poverty, etc. and Gen Z really comprehends this holistic approach, it’s not just about climate change per se.”
It is evident that the University of Tasmania will continue its excellence in not just climate change, but in sustainability as a whole.
Recycled steel gas pipelines used for piles Composter and rain water irrigation in Food Garden Car park surface uses recycled glass and plastic Prominent use of Tasmanian sustainable timber, low carbon concrete and recycled materialsLilydale will be a recreation hotspot this summer, with the City of Launceston this month completing a number of sport and recreation infrastructure upgrades.
Following upgrades to the Lilydale Swimming Pool and Lilydale Memorial Hall earlier this year, as well as the installation of the township's first 22kw public electric vehicle charger, the
Council has this month finalised construction on a new community playground on Main Rd outside the Lilydale Swimming Pool.
New dirt jumps for BMX and mountain bike riders have also been constructed at the Lilydale Recreation Ground, located at the rear of the Lilydale Football Ground on Doaks Rd.
Additionally, the Council has overseen the installation of a new synthetic playing surface at the Lilydale Bowls Club, and is currently undertaking upgrade works to the clubrooms at the Lilydale Football Club.
Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the Council was pleased to support continued upgrades of sport and recreation infrastructure at Lilydale.
"There hasn't been this kind of significant sport and recreation investment in Lilydale for decades, and I'm really pleased that they have been made possible through funding by the City of Launceston and various State Government programs," Mayor Garwood said.
"The playground is a great addition, in combination
with the Lilydale Swimming Pool, which will open for the summer season in December, and we hope that the area will become an even more popular hub for families and visitors.
"Our next X Games rep could very well come from Lillydale as the nearby bike jumps have been constructed with three tiers, including beginner, intermediate
and advanced jumps, and we think they'll offer plenty of thrills for riders.
"The City of Launceston is stoked to have had the opportunity to work on these projects and we hope these community assets will provide a range of social and economic benefits into the future."
The City of Launceston's Heritage Snap! youth photography competition has officially launched for 2023, with three $500 prizes up
for grabs.
Now in its tenth year, the Heritage Snap! competition encourages Northern Tasmania's children to
capture images of places and buildings of historical importance in Launceston, and say why they value that place.
The 2023 Heritage Snap! awards are based around the theme: "Heritage places we value in our community".
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said that the awards were a great opportunity for young people to express what makes our heritage places important to them - whether it's a street or a park, a tree or a garden, a building or other architectural feature.
competition, the Council hopes to unlock curiosity and inspire our young people to take a real interest in our beautiful city's built and cultural heritage by focussing on specific details and characteristics that are often overlooked.
Competing on the national stage is a thrilling opportunity for individuals, and the Rockliff Liberal Government is dedicated to its role in assisting young Tasmanian champions in achieving just that.
Simon Wood MP, Member for Bass, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "A new round of grants for our highly successful Junior Travel Assistance Program opened on 15 September, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic when it comes to the support we're providing for grassroots sports."
This initiative, initially launched as a $50,000 trial in May 2023, has already proven its worth.
It has offered 200 grants of $250 each to empower young athletes in Tasmania, aged 12 to 18, as they represent our state in national championships.
Furthermore, the Rockliff Liberal Government has responded to this program's success by doubling the funding available for round two, now totaling $100,000.
This generous increase means that an additional
400 young Tasmanians will receive the support they need to compete and proudly represent our splendid state on the national stage.
That means a total of 600 young Tasmanian athletes will have received invaluable assistance to pursue their dreams and compete interstate with the accompanying support system by their side every step of the way.
For more information on how to access this quick and easy-to-access support program, please visit www. active.tas.gov.au.
Images can be captured on any camera, including smartphones.
"This year's competition is about asking our young people what parts of Launceston and its incredible heritage inspire them, and to explore the hidden aspects of our city," Mayor Garwood said.
"Through the Heritage Snap!
"I really look forward to seeing the photos of places in and around Launceston that grab your attention and to hear why they inspire or spark your interest."
The awards are open to all children in Northern Tasmania aged between six and 17 years old.
Entries are open until 5 pm Sunday 15th of October 2023.
dents in 2025.
“We’re in the process right now of recruiting a new principal, through next year we will be communicating with parents of the Grindelwald and Legana areas about the process for enrolment with their children in this new primary school which will open its doors in 2025.”
“Developing a school identity is an important step in the creation of a new school – building recognition, connection and excitement within the local community,” Minister Jaensch said.
Amidst Legana’s vibrant community, the eagerly awaited school project which was announced over 12 months ago has steadily begun to take shape, forging ahead toward its grand opening which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
With construction well underway, the once empty block of land now features largely completed steel and timber framing for the general learning area buildings, with preparations of the slab for the administration building now in progress.
Community reactions appear to be nothing short of enthusiastic, with Member for Bass, Simon Wood MP, affirming that the feedback he received has been positive.
“The feedback I’ve been getting, from particularly people in Legana, Riverside, and Grindelwald, they’re
thrilled and they’re thrilled with how quickly it has sprung up out of the ground and there’s a lot of community excitement around this project that’s for sure.”
Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch, visited the site last month and said it was fantastic to see the progress made so far on the $33.7 million facility.
“We had you out here in March this year when it was the site for the new Legana Primary School, now it is the building site for the new Legana Primary School.”
“We’ve got the project up out of the ground, it’s taking shape around us and those who have been looking at the master plan for the last couple of years will see, now that there are buildings, living out the promise of what we’ve been talking with the community.”
“Legana is one of the fastest growing areas in Tasmania,
and this new state-of-the-art primary school delivers on the Liberal Government’s commitment to support this growing community,” Minister Jaensch said.
Minister Jaensch confirmed the construction team had unearthed new learning spaces designed for various groups, with another area earmarked for the construction of a new multi-purpose hall.
Beyond that, the government is actively investing with the West Tamar Council in new sporting infrastructure, which will be utilized by both the school and the community as well.
“We are investing in our young people in this growing region to give them the educational facilities they deserve.”
The school was designed by Tasmanian architects Cumulus Studio in collaboration with the project team and the West Tamar Coun-
cil and will be constructed by Vos Construction and Joinery.
Minister Jaensch said the development of the master plan for the school was shaped through extensive community and stakeholder consultation.
“Legana Primary School includes learning spaces for
up to 350 students, outdoor learning areas, a multi-purpose hall, and an onsite oral health clinic,” Minister Jaensch said.
Minister Jaensch further stated that whilst building works at the new school are powering on, important planning and development is also underway to ensure a smooth opening for stu-
During the consultation phase for the master plans of the school, a multitude of innovative ideas were put forth. These ideas have since been instrumental in shaping the foundation of potential concepts for school logos, effectively channelling community input into tangible visual representations.
Residents of the Legana communities were generously invited to actively participate in this endeavour by providing feedback on the logo concepts.
In an innovative move to benefit the health of aged care residents, Health Minister Guy Barnett has announced that Tasmanian pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe medicines for aged care patients in collaboration with their general practitioner under a new nation-leading pilot program.
Implemented in the coming months, this nation-leading pilot program is a key recommendation from the independent Pharmacist Scope of Practice Review commissioned by the Rockliff Liberal Government, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the role of pharmacists in Tasmania.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said the initiative would improve the medication safety of residents and lead to a better quality of life, helping prevent hospital presentations.
“This is an announcement
about innovation, doing things a bit differently. I'm pleased to release the independent pharmacy scope of practice review and their 12 recommendations as a government, we're backing in all 12 recommendations. In particular I'm announcing reforms which are nation leading, specifically with respect to pharmacists dispensing prescriptions in aged care facilities around Tasmania.”
“I am confident that pharmacists working collaboratively with GPs and prescribing within the safeguards of a treatment plan approved by the GP will significantly improve patient care.”
The pilot initiative is expected to be rolled out in the coming months, in consultation with GP’s, pharmacists, consumers and the department over the coming months prior to the 1st January.
As part of the announcement, women will also
have access to treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), subject to stringent protocols.
“This is being done in other parts of Australia, other jurisdictions this should be made available here in Tasmania, putting Tasmanian women upfront and providing those healthcare services that they need.”
Helen O’Byrne, of Pharmacy Guild of Australia - Tasmanian Branch, welcomed the announcement to open the gateway to protocols around prescribing medications, sharing that it is an exciting step forward for community pharmacy.
“It means that women can access treatments for urinary tract infections in a pharmacy setting,”
Helen O’Byrne stated that statistics show over 60% of women experience a urinary tract infection in their lifetime which can be very frustrating and painful if not treated in a timely
manner and by allowing treatment in pharmacy, this will reduce the impact on emergency departments and GP’s.
She continued, “We're also welcoming the ability to vaccinate for HPV in community pharmacy, and that will be rolled out in January along with the urinary tract infection trial. So we really welcome this announcement today and look forward to community pharmacy contributing to the Primary Health of Tasmanian women.”
CEO Bruce Levitt of Health Consumers Tasmania believes this represents a great example of the government involving the community voice.
“Community voice was taken seriously and we believe we've positively influenced the outcomes of the report so we're very pleased for that,” he said.
“We believe that the recommendations will go a long
way in improving access for people in Tasmania to receive healthcare, we think it's particularly important for those in rural remote areas that once the 12 recommendations are fully implemented, that it will improve access, particularly for those who struggle to get access to healthcare.”
While there may be disagreements among professional bodies, including doctors and pharmacists, regarding the pilot program, Bruce Levitt clarified that Tasmanian consumers have consistently expressed their desire for greater collaboration among primary care professionals.
Furthermore, he noted that Tasmanians seem very happy to present at a pharmacy and get the medications and/or vaccinations that they need.
“They want governments to mobilise all professions, GP's, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, community nurses, peer workers so that
they all work together at the frontline in a cooperative way.”
Out of the 12 recommendations, Bruce said they are advocating for about four of them and were pleased to learn they had been picked up.
“We believe pharmacists have a really strong role to play in preventative care, doing screening. We think that’s really good, but that’s one of the recommendations.”
Another recommendation backed by Health Consumers Tasmania is that pharmacies should expand their involvement in administering vaccinations, along with emphasising the importance of pharmacists having the ability to independently prescribe medication when it is safe to do so.
According to unofficial sources, a new simplified income-tax form contains only four lines:
1. What was your income for the year?
2. What were your expenses?
3. How much have you left?
4. Send it in
A man walks into a Library and asks the Librarian for books about paranoia. She whispers, “They’re right behind you.”
How does a time traveler celebrate daylight savings?
By setting their watch back, forward, and then back again, just to confuse themselves!
People think “icy” is the easiest word to spell. Come to think of it, I see why.
What did one hat say to the other? Stay here, I’m going on ahead.
What is seen in the middle of March and April that can’t be seen at the beginning or end of either month?
Answer (Turn page upside down)
The letter “R.”
On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, Tasmania witnessed an exhilarating showcase of young talent and innovation as teams from across the state competed in the highly anticipated F1 in Schools™ Technology Challenge.
Managed by the Re-Engineering Australia Foundation (REA) and generously supported by Bell Bay Aluminium, this event saw over 100 ambitious students participate in a high-speed, high-tech competition like no other.
In this captivating challenge, teams consisting of three to five students from
various age groups, spanning from Years 5 to 12, immersed themselves in the world of cutting-edge Three-Dimensional CAD/ CAM technologies.
Their mission: to design, test, manufacture, and race miniature CO2-powered balsa wood F1 cars.
What sets this competition apart is the utilization of real-world technology mirroring that used by Formula 1 teams and vehicle manufacturers.
The gas-powered mini-racers displayed astonishing speeds, surging past 80 kilometers per hour and
covering the track in a jaw-dropping less than 1.5 seconds.
Beyond the thrill of the race, the F1 in Schools™ Technology Challenge is a holistic educational experience.
The program focuses on developing long-term employability skills, ensuring that students not only excel in technology but also hone crucial abilities such as leadership, team building, project management, public speaking, marketing, and collaboration.
Teams dedicated countless hours, both in and out of school, meticulously design-
ing, constructing, and rigorously testing their miniature F1 masterpieces.
Bell Bay Aluminium's General Manager, Richard Curtis, commented on the significance of this initiative, saying, "This exciting program continues to provide Tasmanian students with a unique opportunity to build valuable skills in a supportive environment.”
“The skills and knowledge learned through the program help build interest in careers in STEM.”
“Students develop their employability skills and enhance their career self-ef-
ficacy. We're proud to have the opportunity to support those students involved."
The teams faced a formidable panel of judges, composed of independent and experienced experts from Bell Bay Aluminium, the University of Tasmania, TasNetworks, and Liberty Bell Bay. These judges meticulously assessed the teams against a set of rigorous criteria, ultimately determining the winners who will have the honor of competing in the National Final in 2024.
Tasmanian schools have a remarkable track record of success in the F1 in
Schools™ program at both national and international levels, showcasing the talent and dedication of the state's young innovators.
This year's event not only celebrated their achievements but also laid the foundation for even greater feats in the world of STEM and innovation.
As the sun set on the F1 in Schools™ Technology Challenge 2023, Tasmania looked forward to a brighter future, where the boundless potential of its youth continues to drive the state towards excellence and innovation.
terways and wetlands is not restricted to Launceston.
Sewage pumping stations throughout Australia are often close to streams or wetlands. The waterways are meant to be emergency receiving points when pumps fail or systems become overloaded.
As a freshwater ecologist I have worked on wetlands in both Perth (North Lake) and Melbourne (Huntingdale Lake) degraded by sewage spills. This form of organic pollution results in massive de-oxygenation, fish kills, bird deaths and swarms of nuisance insects (mosquitoes and midges).
The issue of how we deal with our waste products is one of the most pressing problems facing our planet.
We have to ensure that urban wastewater infrastructure is designed to cope with extreme conditions.
We need to understand how bad water quality can get if you combine organic pollution and a warming climate.
If we don’t, the important biodiversity, recreational and aesthetic values of urban wetlands will disappear and the risk of water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases will increase.
These are scenarios we must not ignore.
Anyone flushing a toilet in urban Australia today does so confident that they’ll never again see the thing they’ve flushed.
They probably also think they are causing minimal environmental harm, thanks to our well-designed wastewater treatment plants.
But is our lack of concern for sewage pollution well founded? Recent events in northern Tasmania suggest not.
Launceston sits on the Tamar River estuary, in northern Tasmania.
Residents have long been concerned about poor water quality and excessive sedimentation in the estuary.
A recent study suggests the problem could be solvedor at least ameliorated - by releasing environmental flows from a hydroelectric
to help the tide flush away sediment. But meanwhile, the local government has decided to rake the Tamar’s silt as a stop-gap measure.
This involves dragging a large rake from the stern of a fishing boat, stirring up the fine sediments that are then washed downstream on an ebb tide.
But the raking has brought unexpected consequences: it has exposed the size of Launceston’s sewage problem.
Photos taken after a recent raking session on July 7, 2013, reveal a rake clogged with tampon strings.
It’s been happening so often the rake operator has had to come up with a novel means of disentangling the strings from his equipment. He takes the rake home and burns the strings off in a fire in his backyard.
Why is there layer of tampon strings on the bed of
Managers:
The answer lies in ageing urban infrastructure.
Launceston was established in 1806 - it is Australia’s third oldest city - and it now supports a regional population of 90,000.
The sewage and stormwater runoff from older parts of the city are combined.
During high rainfall the secondary treatment plants cannot cope with the sudden increase in stormwater.
So all wastewater (stormwater and raw sewage) is released directly into the estuary.
The old mantra “the solution to pollution is dilution” cannot be applied here: heavy rain does not make things better.
Without intervention, wastes will continue to slosh backwards and forwards on the estuary’s tides, continuing to create the problems now so evident on Launces-
The problem is made worse by the lack of tertiary treatment. Launceston has long needed a tertiary treatment plant but the cost, which will be borne by Tasmanian ratepayers, is large.
The tampon strings are not the major issue here – rather they are indisputable, physical evidence of the extent of sewage pollution. Normally such large amounts of decomposing organic material in the upper estuary would trigger toxic cyanobacterial blooms during warmer summer months.
But the low level of light in the estuary, caused by the naturally turbid waters, may be preventing this - the algae needs light to grow.
However, cyanobacterial blooms are now becoming common in the clear waters of Trevallyn Lake further upstream on the South Esk River.
The problem of sewage overflows into natural wa-
Under the global climate scenarios of increasing temperatures and more extreme events such as floods and droughts, the pollution caused by floods may cause more harm than previously recognised. The Launceston issue is a timely warning.
Jenny Davis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
(The first selection from an article written by the late Jack Windsor in 2000)
trips to town and shipped down river on one of the family boats.
They had their own system of measurements; for instance a thumb was an inch, a hand’s breadth was four inches, a foot was a foot, a pace was a yard, an arm’s span was a fathom, from finger tip to elbow was a cubit and so on. These measures were notched into a long piece of split wood with a knife and became their universal measure.
the keel and was fitted outwards towards the bilges and thence to the gunwales. The first plank was called the garboard and sometimes had to be hot water bent. It was fitted as a rule full width.
Cod or Couta
at George
I am going to try and project you all back in time to an era when the Tamar River fishermen were in their heyday; they seemed to have appeared from nowhere at a certain time in our recent history and formed a tight little community along our river system.
Perhaps they were the remnants of the old goldminers and early settlers that had found themselves thrown upon hard times, who knows? They were just there when I came into the district.
They lived in a state of perfect harmony with their surroundings, the phases of the moon and the state of the weather and tides governed their lives. They were mostly illiterate but not stupid, they were clever and resourceful, and plied their trade along the river quietly and without seeming to be there at all.
It was these remnants of a fast disappearing group of people that I became
aware of when I first came to George Town to live in 1950, the river fishermen who earned their living on the lower reaches of the Tamar estuary.
These men each had a boat, which became known in the late nineties as Cod Boats because Cod was one of the best known species of fish in this river system.
These vessels were about eighteen feet in length, around six feet on the beam and generally with about eighteen inches of freeboard. They had a wetwell fitted amidships, were decked in over at the front for about five feet, about two feet at the stern, and had side decking of about ten inches.
They were clinker built mainly of hardwood with pine wood ribs. The level floor was supported on cross beams in lift out sections to allow for cleaning and stowage.
From the rear of the fore-
deck there was a canvas tent-like shelter called a tilt, which could be lowered when rowing against the wind.
The foredeck carried the anchor and rope, and there was also a bowsprit fitted. This was used as a means of climbing into the boat from the shallow water at the shoreline. The rear deck carried the layed up net or nets, always ready to be let out when required.
The space between the rear deck and the well was the working area and usually had a fire-pot made from an old petrol drum, partly filled with sand and sitting on bricks. The boat’s woodwork was protected from the heat by a sheet metal screen between the fire pot and the side deck.
Under the side decks was where the small fishing tackle was stowed consisting of trolling and cod lines. The tucker box was in front of the well out of the way, and provided a seat under
the tilt’s shelter when waiting at a net set.
Some of these boats had a small two stroke engine fitted to enable trolling to be done when out after the 'couta and blackback. The pots and pans for cooking were under the side decks in front of the well.
The old method of propulsion was by sweeps, which were operated from a standing position just behind the well. The fishermen relied on the tidal currents to take them to their fishing grounds.
The shape and size of these little boats had evolved over many generations of trial and error and working experience. The boats were usually built by the older men at some quiet spot at the river’s edge close to home during the off season.
The planking and ribs, copper nails and roves would be selected very carefully by the older fishermen whilst on one of their infrequent
They knew the stars and the moon’s phases and the tidal behaviour at all times of the year. They had their own peculiar language which they used amongst themselves; they were extremely hardy and resourceful folk who spent long hours out of doors in all kinds of weather.
The keel which was a carefully selected piece of peppermint gum wood would be laid on level bearers and fastened down firmly. The keel was rebated by hand on each side before it was laid. The moulds made from wood and recycled from boat to boat were then fitted at pre-determined spaces along the keel.
At each end of the keel a vertical post was erected and braced. From this a strong overhead beam was fastened to each post and from this the moulds were braced. At this stage the stem and stern posts were fitted and also braced.
The planking started from
At the front there was a very sharp twist from the keel to the stem. At the stern end there was also a severe twist where it joined the stern post. If the boat was to have a motor fitted then the rear end would be built down to allow room for a propeller shaft and gland. In the case of a built down shape the keel would slope downwards from the front to allow sufficient depth for a propeller.
The stem and stern posts were generally made from a local she-oak natural bend, which had been gathered before hand. The fishermen were always on the lookout for these natural stems and knees. There was a ready market for them at the boat yards in Launceston and it would provide them with a bit of extra cash now and again.
Consequently these bends and knees were hard to find, and all the old wood cutters would be doing the same. These bends were kept wired under water in some nearby creek for the sap to be washed out and then hung in a bag in a shady spot until they were properly seasoned.
to be continued...
Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month, starting at 7.30 pm with most meetings held at The Grove in Elizabeth St and are open to the public
The next meeting will be held on MONDAY, 16th October at the The Grove.
Speaker: Patricia Grey from Smithton
Topic: Family Connections in Bass Strait and the far North West
FOR UPDATES SEE: George Town & District Historical Society Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/George-Town-and-District-Historical-Society-1375090549395357/
Email info@gtdhs.com or Phone 6382 4412.