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Call out to footy players

IT HAS come to that time of the year again where football season on King Island is going to be upon us before we know it.

All clubs and the association are having or have had their AGM’s and beginning to prepare for the season.

Training has commenced and player numbers so far are not looking great.

With all the money and time that has been spent on the ovals on the island in recent time it will be a real shame to see another season with poor player numbers and a competition limping through the season, or a compromised/ altered season due to insufficient player numbers.

Some may say it’s just a game, or it’s not important to them.

I believe it is an important part of the King Island lifestyle and keeping community connection through winter.

The time to act is now, all teams are currently training at the Currie oval together on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6.00 pm.

It doesn’t matter if you have never played before or for a long time.

All 3 teams have coaches willing to help out and coach anyone willing to give it a go.

Come down and have a go, have a run around and a laugh – everyone is welcome. To any players that have played previously could you please make contact with your respective club and make your intentions clear regarding your playing prospects this year (even if you are currently too busy to train) as all clubs need to get confirmation on their player numbers so any changes to playing rules can be made before the start of the season.

Also speak to people you know, even if they have never played before and see if you can get them to come to training to give it a go.

If you’re new to the Island and looking to get to know a few more people – get involved with a football club, they are all full of great people and all will greatly appreciate any help they can get, whether that’s through taking to the field or in a volunteering capacity on the sidelines.

Please spread the word and I look forward to seeing a few new faces at training on Tuesday or Thursday over the next week or two.

Anger at gas plan – Oil giant to drill in Bass Strait

PLANS to start drilling for gas in Bass Strait near King Island next year have been announced by a joint venture partner of US oil giant ConocoPhillips.

Despite fierce opposition to seismic testing conducted last year off the north and west coast of the island, the King Island community has not been informed of the plans.

3D Oil Ltd managing director and executive chairman Noel Newell told investors in an online webinar recently that the joint venture between 3D Oil Ltd and US energy company ConocoPhillips was planning to start drilling for gas in the permit area next year.

This is an escalated timeline to the one that was indicated to the community at the end of last year’s seismic testing.

King Island residents, Mayor Julie Arnold and environmental groups mobilised against last year’s testing, concerned it would damage local fisheries and marine life, threatening economic and environmental viability.

There were also fears for migrating whales, which at one point halted the seismic testing.

The seismic survey finished at the end of October and ConocoPhilips indicated it would spend up to two years analysing the data.

Mrs Arnold has expressed concern around the latest development.

“The stakeholders have not been consulted or engaged, so how can they make decisions?” she said.
“I expect to see a solid report before any drilling starts. I also expect to see an environmental impact report.”

Mr Newell told investors in March the seismic data was being processed in Houston.

“We will be seeing that data shortly,” he said.
“Very exciting. These are large features down there, and in my view, this could really change the East Coast gas market. It was successful. We are planning to drill in 2023.
“It’s a frontier, it’s in shallow water. It’s new infrastructure, and it’s close, and feeds the East Coast gas market.”

Melbourne-based 3D Oil Limited is a listed energy company with a focus on exploration and development of upstream oil and gas assets in the Gippsland Basin, Victoria and the Otway Basin, Tasmania.

ConocoPhillips Australia acquired 80 per cent interest in 3D Oil’s T/49P exploration permit in 2020.

ConocoPhillips completed the acquisition of Sequoia 3D MSS (the seismic survey 18 km off the west coast of King Island) on behalf of the joint venture and completed it on 31 October 2021.

The purpose of the Sequoia 3DMSS was to acquire geophysical data to provide a 3D image of the subsurface geology within the T/49P permit area to identify prospective commercially viable gas reservoirs for future development.

In response to the 3D Oil Ltd announcement, a ConocoPhillips Australia spokesperson said the company continued to develop and refine plans for the T/49P permit which included evaluation of the seismic data acquired in 2021.

“Evaluation of this data will be ongoing through 2022. As with seismic acquisition, drilling also requires an accepted environment plan which involves stakeholder consultation,” the spokesperson said.

Greens Senator for Tasmania Peter Whish-Wilson opposed the seismic testing and wants the government to “kill” the project.

“Scott Morrison killed oil and gas drilling project PEP-11, located offshore of Sydney and Newcastle, due to significant community and environmental concerns. “Labor leader Anthony Albanese also supported this project being stopped,” Senator Whish-Wilson said. A Bill has been launched to ban all offshore leases around the North West of Tasmania and King Island.

This will be voted on by the Tasmanian Parliament in the coming months. It follows the rejection of the PEP-11 leases in NSW.

Federal Liberal member for Braddon Gavin Pearce, who last year expressed his concern at seismic testing off King Island said the evaluation of the data was still ongoing.

“No decision has been made by ConocoPhillips. Once a decision is made and if ConocoPhillips wish to proceed, there are still significant processes that must be completed, including having an accepted environmental plan approved, which includes community input.

“This is not over by a long shot and I am on the side of King Island. I will be ensuring the views of the island are represented, you can trust me on that.”

Labor candidate for Braddon Chris Lynch is also reported as it being vital that the King Island community be consulted and informed.

Last year ConocoPhillips said it had strictly complied with regulatory requirements imposed by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema), which approved the testing.

The required reports can be viewed on the company’s website -www.conocophillips.com. au/what-we-do/otway-basin.

To listen to Mr Newell’s investor webinar go to https://youtu.be/ NK00aSo56KE

Rex adds $10 to Melbourne fare

ANOTHER airline has announced a rise in ticket prices blaming inflation and the rising cost of fuel.

Regional Express (Rex) announced it was adding $10 to its King Island fares.

It follows a decision by Sharp Airlines to increase airfares by six per cent.

Sharp Airlines has also announced it is returning to its core winter schedule from May 2. A Rex spokesperson said while King Island fares would increase by about $10 across the fare range there would be no increase to the current Rex Community Fare (CF) levels.

“The Melbourne to King Island Community Fare will remain unchanged at $109,” the spokesperson said.

The discounted Community Fare was introduced by REX in 2019 for early-bird sales up to 30 days prior to departure subject to Community Fare availability, and for last minute purchases within 24 hours before departure time, all remaining unsold seats are released at the Community Fare level.

Community Fares are strictly subject to availability during the advance purchase period and may sell out.

REX said that these fares were highly popular, and recommended booking as early as possible to secure a Community Fare.

There are also conditions attached to these discounted fares.

Two weeks ago Sharp Airlines announced a six per cent airfare price increase across their network which includes flights inbound and outbound from King Island.

The airline said the increase was necessary due to the increases in global aircraft fuel prices.

The company said that fuel was 20% of their operating costs, however the increase is applied across the total fare.

This includes the State Government underwritten Hobart to King Island route which was designed to encourage travel from Southern Tasmania to the island and boost the island’s tourism sector impacted by the State border closures.

The underwriting agreement with Sharp was extended and a State Government travel incentivisation package for the island due to the Covid Public Health warning issued early in 2022 was formulated.

The Sharp Airlines increase does not appear to be applied to the Tasmanian State Government underwritten ‘Red Hot’ $300 deal of limited seats on three weekly flights Hobart King Island return which commenced 14 February for bookings 1 May to the end of July 2022.

On 31 March, Sharp Airlines announced a return to their core winter schedule from 02-May-2022 and King Island tourism operators do not know how this will affect general tourism boo

Visits on the way up

* Image from Kingisland.org.au *

THERE has been overwhelming demand for the Tasmanian Government’s visitor vouchers for King Island as tourism begins to bounce back.

In less than 24 hours, the $300 accommodation and experiences voucher ballot received 9400 registrations with a total of 13,638 registrations by the time the online ballot closed on Sunday.

There were just 700 available.

“People were calling our visitor information hotline already planning their trip with the hope that they would win a voucher to make the trip even better,” King Island Tourism said.

The tourism vouchers can be spent on accommodation and experiences on the island during May, June, or July.

Bookings must be made via the King Island Tourism website between April 11 and 20, 2022.

There are 19 different experience providers, providing more than 30 different experiences or products.

Sixteen accommodation providers are using the King Island Tourism website booking function.

The demand for vouchers and an ongoing $100,000 State Government funded marketing campaign, paves the way for a busy winter tourist season for the island.

Operators had been counting the cost following a downturn in visitation and a raft of cancellations following advice to avoid travel to King Island during a Covid outbreak earlier this year.

Many operators have reported that bookings have rebounded during February and March, and they are heavily booked.

Restaurants have also seen a steady increase in patrons during February and March, and takeaway orders seem to be reducing.

King Island Tourism president Adam Hely said the signs were positive.

“Tourism has bounced back strongly in the past couple of months with accommodation and experiences being well patronized by both Tasmanian and interstate visitors,” Mr Hely said.
“The biggest hurdle for most operators is having adequate staff to cater for the increased demand.”

Mr Hely, who runs a car hire business, said the strong demand had seen a shortage of places to stay.

“We have had cancellations as people who have booked flights and cars cannot find accommodation,” he said.

The operators whose business model concentrates on tours and groups have a longer sales cycle than the businesses focussed on a weekend or short stay escape.

A group booking may have been in the planning and organising for up to six months or even longer for some groups. One owner explained the challenge of finding enough workers.

“Staff employed for the peak season were let go and now with increased small number demand it is impossible to find casual staff to help during the days we do have customers,” they said.

These operators are hopeful that they will see benefits from the Tasmanian Tourism marketing campaign if not in the winter season, in the last quarter and into next year.

At the time the vouchers were announced, then Premier Peter Gutwein said the program included a marketing campaign to target both Tasmanian and interstate visitors encouraging them to travel to the island in the shoulder and the traditionally quieter winter season.

“We acknowledge that King Island has faced some challenges due to COVID-19 earlier this year, and this voucher program is part of a suite of travel initiatives for King Island implemented as part of our COVID-19 recovery support,” Mr Gutwein said.

Study for wetlands future

MORE than 8000 resident black swans know just how important Moulting Lagoon and the Apsley Marshes are to birds and other wildlife.

NRM South is working with local farmers, vineyards and conservation land managers such as the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, to restore and care for these internationally significant wetlands on Tasmania’s east coast.

NRM South, the natural resource management organisation for southern Tasmania, has also partnered with environmental organisation Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) and local land managers to assess how modified drainage on properties adjacent to the wetlands has impacted important wetland vegetation, and to put actions in place to restore these sites.

As part of this Federal Government funded project, local knowledge, historical data and modern technology have been woven together to create a picture of how the ecology and water flows at the wetlands have changed over the last two centuries.

Armed with this information, NGT have been able to develop a plan for restoring the natural flows on two adjacent properties, which in turn will help to restore the health of these wetlands and give them the best chance of adapting to an anticipated future rise in sea levels.

Laurel McGinnity, Senior Project Officer for NRM South, has been working closely with NGT and local land managers to coordinate the restoration works.

“Our primary aim is to ‘knit’ the system back together,” Ms McGinnity said.
“Once natural flows are restored, we’ll see the landscape gradually returning to a more natural state, and the physical impacts of old structures like drains and levee banks will lessen.’’

Restoration work will bring immediate benefits to five hectares of saltmarsh and open up broader opportunities for saltmarsh regeneration.

“Local knowledge has been critical to building a complete understanding of the drainage history of the wetlands and NRM South and their project partners would like to thank the landholders, University of Tasmania staff and the wider community who have all contributed their knowledge to the project.”

Free buses prove popular

LOCALS who travel by bus from the Sorell, the Tasman Peninsula and the East Coast to Hobart and surrounding areas can now travel for free as part of a five-week trial ending at the end of April.

Typically, full fare travellers from Sorell to Hobart can save $15.20 on a return trip, Nubeena to Hobart $48.40, Bicheno to Hobart $75.60 and Campania to Hobart $18.

The free service applies to all bus service providers, Metro Tasmania and private buses.

The service is being underwritten by the Tasmanian Government as part of a plan to alleviate the impact of the current high fuel prices.

The first week of the trial showed a 13 per cent increase, or almost 4300 passengers a day, statewide.

However, bus services have been experiencing problems from cancellations caused by a shortage of drivers due to Covid.

Cancellations have prompted Metro Tasmania to apologise and appealed to passengers be kind to drivers.

“Our bus operators and customer service staff are working just as hard to assist you, so please be kind to them,’’ a Metro spokesperson said.
“While our services are free for five weeks, it never costs anything to be polite.’’

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the trial had the dual purpose of supporting family budgets and encouraging commuters to switch from private car travel to public transport.

“While higher fuel prices are due to global fuel market uncertainty, we understand the impact it is causing on cost of living pressures,’’ Mr Ferguson said.
“The Tasmanian Government heavily subsidises Metro and other private providers of public transport around the state.
“At this point, we see a temporary, highly attractive measure such as free bus travel as one option the Tasmanian Government can activate to ease cost of living pressures.”

Tempus to appeal rezoning decision

THE proponents behind an East Coast rural retirement development are challenging a legal decision which ruled against its establishment.

Tempus Village has applied for a judicial review in the Supreme Court requesting that the decision be set aside and a new hearing convened.

It follows the recent decision by the Tasmanian Planning Commission to reject the rezoning of 18ha of agricultural land on the Kelvedon Estate south of Swansea.

It was the last hurdle in a lengthy planning approvals process.

Tempus Village managing director Les Walden said the challenge was being made for reasons of errors of law and the failure by the TPC to give due consideration to the positive evidence from the expert witnesses, the landowner Jack Cotton and the planning authority Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.

Tempus Village was approved by the council and the development permits granted, following three years of research and negotiation, subject to the rezoning approval.

Both the council and the commission have indicated they will accept the court’s direction and decision when made.

The hearing is due to start on June 15.

“We have requested the judicial review due to the bewildering nature of the decision and the report from the TPC which we believe bears no real relation to the hearings that took place late last year,” Mr Walden said.

He said he was concerned the full extent of the Tempus concept plan was not taken into consideration.

“Tempus solves a number of retirement living, economic, aged care and health services issues in the Swansea area and community consultation saw majority support,’’ he said.
“The rezoning application appears to have become a political football for the action groups who we believe were frightened that a Tempus approval could set precedent for the upcoming hearings into Cambria Green,” Mr Walden said.

Mr Walden said the Cambria site was 3100ha of some environmentally sensitive land and Tempus 18ha of land which is unused for farming.

“Great care has been taken, and money spent, on ensuring that all sensitive issues have been addressed by independent expert Tasmanian consultants,’’ he said.
“Tempus, through its expert witnesses and consultants, demonstrated that the piece of land wasn’t ‘significant’ agricultural land and that the village could co-exist with the neighbouring vineyard. “This wasn’t accepted by the TPC.”

“The Tasmanian system appears to be broken when it comes to the final hurdle for a well-designed and much-needed project with enormous benefit to the community.
“It seems too easy to stop something rather than find a way for it to happen.
“We get daily communication from members of the community expressing their disappointment regarding the TPC and the rezoning.’’

The local Swansea Chamber of Commerce has recently written to the Planning Minister to voice its dismay at the TPC decision.

Pembroke Park on track for BMX move

BMX riders in Southern Tasmania are set to get a new national standard BMX track following a decision by Sorell Council to give in-principle support for the relocation of the Southern City BMX Track from its current location in Berriedale to Pembroke Park.

The facility, currently used by the Southern City BMX Club, had previously been flagged for relocation from its current home to Tolosa Park in Glenorchy.

However, a detailed investigation of the Tolosa Park site identified that significant works would be required to address underlying geotechnical issues at the site, making it unsuitable for a BMX facility.

Preliminary estimates indicated the site stabilisation works required to resolve the geotechnical issues would increase the cost to approximately $2.1 million, far exceeding the project’s proposed budget.

Glenorchy City Council led investigations and negotiations to secure a new home for the facility, with Pembroke Park identified due to its size, location and existing cycling infrastructure.

Glenorchy and Sorell Councils have been in negotiations over months to work through the details of the move, including the transfer of grant funding set aside for the facility, with both councils also working closely with the Southern City BMX Club.

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas thanked the Sorell Council for working with Glenorchy to facilitate the move.

“This is a great example of two local governments working together to get the best outcome for their respective communities and a regional sporting organisation,” Ms Thomas said.

The new track will be partially funded by the Tasmanian Government through a $250,000 grant from the Department of Community, Sport and Recreation.

Glenorchy City Council may also contribute to the relocation costs, with negotiations around funding arrangements continuing.

Sorell Council will now conduct further investigations to confirm the cost of building the new facility before making a final decision on the move.

Sorell ditches plastic

*pictured* The Park Beach Cafe team are on board with Plastic Free Places Tasmania

SORELL municipality businesses are taking up the challenge to ditch single-use plastic with the help of the Plastic Free Places Tasmania project.

The project is supporting local businesses to adapt and reduce plastic pollution at its source.

Program coordinator Troy Furner said globally, including in Australia, single-use plastics were being banned because of the pollution they create.

“They’re quickly being replaced with reusable or compostable items, which customers also prefer,” Mr Furner said.
“It’s a massive win for the environment, and we look forward to assisting small businesses in their transition’’.

Plastic Free Places Tasmania is funded to provide free assistance to food retailers, helping make the transition away from single use plastics as simple as possible.

Thanks to a grant from the Commonwealth Government, the program can now offer the support to our local businesses.

“I’m sure that there are many business owners who want to start making changes, but simply don’t have the time. That’s why we’re thrilled to be supporting this program’’ Mayor Kerry Vincent said.
“Our program is designed to make it easy for local food retailers to adapt,” Mr Furner said.

“We work directly with businesses, looking at what they’re using and showing them what alternatives are available to them. We can also help them recognise their role in steaming the tide of plastic waste in our environment while also reducing ongoing packaging costs and offering free promotion.”

“This is a tried-and-true program that we have rolled out in nine communities across Australia.”

Mayor backs uni move

SORELL Mayor Kerry Vincent has thrown his support behind University of Tasmania’s plans to relocate to Hobart’s CBD.

Mr Vincent said for those who lived in Sorell and further out, battling distance, traffic and the daily commute was a very real and frustrating thing.

“That is why moving the University of Tasmania campus to the city centre can only help reduce the impact of this frustration on people trying to better themselves with higher education,’’ Mr Vincent said.
“Our region is one of the fastest growing in the state, which is putting significant pressure on infrastructure of all types, not just transport infrastructure but also access to amenities such as medical services and education.’’

He said the significant investment in transport infrastructure through the South-East Traffic Solution was helping.

“Including removing the Airport Roundabout, the Sorell bypass and, soon, commencement of duplication of the causeways,’’ he said.
“The State Government has also sought to address travel times and access by not only investing in new regular hourly bus services, but also a new Sorell school.
“This physical distance is also one of the reasons that Sorell High School has been extended to years 11 and 12.
“These measures will assist the region, which has low rates of retention in both mature and young students by encouraging more young people to complete their Tasmanian Certificate of Education in the first place.

“People who don’t have the pleasure of living with the daily commute and traffic jams that those of us who live in the South-East do, simply don’t understand the difference that travel times make to people’s lives and decision-making.”
“It currently takes up to 65 minutes each way on public transport from Sorell to Sandy Bay.
“This compares to around 30-40 minutes to the city. ?
“So we are talking about a potential saving of around one hour each day in commuting time, which is more than enough to make a massive difference.

“Education is an inherent right and a higher level of education leads to a better quality of life with an increase in employability, financial capacity, skills, and training.
“Recent studies have shown that up to half of new jobs created require a university degree.
“The figures show that some 43 per cent of people who live in central suburbs such as South Hobart, Sandy Bay, Battery Point and West Hobart have a university degree.

“But for areas such as Sorell, it is just 12 per cent, while travelling further out to parts of the Tasman Peninsula and the East Coast, these figures fall even lower.
“It might not seem like much, but the reduction of travel time to access education for people living in Sorell, the Southern Beaches, Tasman Peninsula or the East Coast as a result of moving the uni to the CBD will have a significant positive impact on educational outcomes.’’