WITH the theme of kelp forests, the East Coast’s ECHO Festival returns next month. Promoted as a festival of the senses, ECHO (which stands for East Coast Harvest Odyssey) is about rekindling a symbolic connection between people and place.

Staged in wine country on the fringes of Swansea, the program brings together chefs, winemakers and producers as well as artists, musicians, storytellers and scientists.

Organisers said the boutique festival guides guests on a journey of the senses, taste, smell, sight, sound and touch.

Local and popular musician Ange Boxall first held the festival in 2019 and despite Covid restrictions which have resulted in many other events being cancelled or postponed, ECHO will take place on the weekend of April 8-10.

ECHO Festival showcases a diverse program that offers a range of experiences across food, sciences, nature, and art.

The immersive experiences of this festival of the senses are intended to create a sense of reawakening and rebirth.

Interactive experiences like the Womb Room, The Great Eastern Ferment (grape stomping) and Kelp Forest activations at the Beaker St Science Bar, are all designed to help patrons reconnect and recentre.

Other program highlights include headline musicians Hayley Mary and The Embers and performance art from Emily Sanzaro and Julia Drouhin, along with a host of talented performers.

On Sunday, the After-Party Recovery Trail includes a Wine Trail itinerary followed by a relaxed afternoon concert at The Barkmill Tavern with acts including Pete Cornelius Band and Phil Smith Band.

The festival is for those over 18 years and tickets can be purchased at http://www.echofestival. com.au

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison was in Triabunna last month, promising an $804.4 million investment over the next 10 years to strengthen the strategic and scientific capabilities in the Antarctic.

The PM, flanked by Liberal Lyons candidate Susie Bower, Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Liberal Senator Claire Chandler, visited the Elphinstone Engineering plant, which supplies equipment for use in the southern continent.

The visit to the plant was to align the investment in Antarctic research with local employment.

“We’re not just building sleds, we’re building a workforce capability here, we’re building a sovereign manufacturing capability,” Mr Morrison said.

“The money we are investing in drone fleets, helicopters and other vehicles will enable us to explore areas of East Antarctica’s inland that no country has ever been able to reach before,” the Prime Minister said.
“My government will continue to back our world-class scientists and expeditioners with the necessary funding and resources, because their research on the frozen continent and in the Southern Ocean is critically important to Australia’s future.” “Our ongoing investment in Antarctica will directly support jobs at home, with Australian businesses, contractors, medical suppliers and providores reaping the benefits of local procurement.
“Our $800 million commitment supports the next decade of Australia’s operations in Antarctica and provides more opportunities for local businesses across Australia that support this work, especially in Tasmania.”

The $800 million-plus investment includes $245 million on traversing capabilities, environmental protection and aerial and inland capabilities, $44 to supply RSV nuyina with shipping support and allow extended voyages, $14 million on a “Cleaner Antarctica Strategy” to remove legacy waste and support environmental management, $7.4 million on ice-sheet research to understand climate change impacts and $14.3 million on marine science and a new state-of-the-art krill aquarium in Hobart.

TASMANIA’S motoring body has thrown its political weight behind a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Tasman Highway demanding it be undertaken over the next 10 years.

Connecting the East Coast to the north and south of the state, it is possibly Tasmania’s most popular tourism route, also known as the Great Eastern Drive.

It is also crucial to the agriculture, viticulture, manufacturing and aquaculture sectors.

Its importance was highlighted last year when the East Coast was cut off for weeks when rocks fell and blocked the highway at Paradise Gorge near Orford.

The RACT has prioritised the Tasman Highway upgrade as it ramps up lobbying in the lead up to the Federal election due by May.

“What we now want to see is a long-term plan for the Tasman Highway,” RACT chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey said.

He said the success of the upgrading of the Midland Highway highlighted what could be achieved with firm 10-year plans for Tasmania’s major transport routes.

“The RACT has campaigned vigorously for these plans, with the Bass Highway now subject to the same approach,’’ Mr Bailey said.
“There is no better time to make the case for a properly funded Federal-State plan than now with a federal election coming up fast.
“The Tasman Highway is vital to the viability of East Coast tourism, which has been so hard-hit by the pandemic.

“Tourism is the region’s biggest industry and there is also significant growth in agriculture and aquaculture.
“Every business, every resident, and every visitor needs a safe, efficient highway. “The RACT welcomes the important safety improvements to the Tasman Highway at key tourism turn-off points and the decisions to lower speed limits in some sections.

“That commitment to safety now needs to be the foundation for a whole-of-corridor vision.
“A firm 10-year Tasman Highway plan will give local businesses, councils and the civil construction sector certainty to plan and invest over the longer term and to drive growth. “The electors of Lyons, in particular, have a huge stake in having the Tasman Highway made safer and more efficient.”

Mr Bailey said the Midland Highway project was a model for what could be achieved.

“It is already much safer and the construction that will begin on two more sections in coming weeks will add to safety and efficiency.’’

Meanwhile the State Government is seeking public input of the proposed alignment for the duplication of the Midway Point and Sorell causeways.

The Midway Point causeway upgrade includes the duplication of the causeway and a new bridge north of McGee’s Bridge and the existing Sorell causeway would be widened to four traffic lanes.

Concept plans can be viewed at http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/ causeways and public feedback is open until March 18.

TASMANIAN graziers will now have access to a new online decision-making tool developed by CSIRO in conjunction with producers.

The project was instigated by the East Coast Primary Producers Association with funding achieved by NRM South through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and is being trialled and launched in partnership with NRM North and other stakeholders.

It is being used with great success across NSW.

Farming Forecaster has already demonstrated its relevance to pasture-based graziers in NSW and will give Tasmanian graziers better insight into current conditions and impact on pasture availability over the coming season.

Tim Ackroyd, from NRM South, said Farming Forecaster was a fantastic opportunity to support farmers across the state.

“This tool has already demonstrated significant benefits in NSW in similar conditions to Tasmania. I’m confident that it will do the same here and provide considerable value to Tasmanian graziers in managing challenging and variable climate conditions,” Mr Ackroyd said.

Twelve sites have been established to start the pilot work across Triabunna, Kelvedon, Cranbrook, St Marys, Fingal, Avoca, the Southern and Northern Midlands, and North Bruny.

The inclusion of a variety of terrain, soil and conditions will improve the information available to farmers in these areas.

“I encourage graziers to get online and explore the tool and attend one of our events. Farmers who are interested in being part of the pilot should contact me directly,” Tim said.

The tool can also incorporate on-farm data after a capital investment in sensors. This will increase the tool’s direct relevance properties, particularly useful on sites with highly variable terrain, soil and conditions.

NRM South and NRM North will be supporting farmers and advisors to understand the benefits and how to use this tool by running training events in March, June and August in the north and south of the state.

Those involved in managing extensive dryland grazing enterprises are strongly encouraged to attend.

If you would like to know more about the project and up and coming events contact Tim Ackroyd on: tackroyd@nrmsouth.org.au 0400 047 665.

To view the Farming Forecaster website, visit farmingforecaster.com.au/.

Tasmanian data will be available soon.

This Tasmanian pilot is part of a project funded under the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

A PARTNERSHIP has been announced between Rural Alive & Well and the Southern Football League to deliver RAW’s Beyond the Sidelines program in all SFL clubs this year.

The partnership, which was announced last week at Sorell’s Pembroke Park, was formed to further challenge and change the status quo of mental health and wellbeing across SFL clubs.

The Beyond the Sidelines program has been developed by RAW to meet an identified need in sporting clubs statewide to have ongoing practical support around mental health and wellbeing.

“Mental health and player welfare are the biggest issues facing our game and clubs need help to ensure they have the best practices available to help their players. By partnering with RAW we hope to be able to assist in this process,” DFT president Russell Young said.
“The SFL is a strong community-focused football competition and the RAW team will assist the SFL in delivering strategies to our players in trying times.”

RAW CEO Barb Walters said suicide awareness and prevention was a public issue that required a coordinated and combined effort.

“RAW is proud to be partnering with the SFL to deliver our Beyond the Sidelines program in footy clubs across the league,” Ms Walters said.
“RAW’s support goes beyond the sidelines. We have qualified staff who can provide individually tailored support to individuals, to improve their mental health and wellbeing and to navigate the pathway to specialist support services,” she said.
“RAW is there for long term and can be contacted 24/7 via 1800 RAW TAS.”

RAW provides practical and tangible interventions, to promote positive mental health, reduce stigma, address situational stressors and provide access to specialist support services for people who are traditionally hesitant to ask for help.

All RAW programs are evidence based and delivered within the Prevention First Framework model.

THE East Coast commercial rock lobster fleet has been stripped of 10 per cent of its already heavily constrained annual catch cap threatening the livelihood of local vessels and crews, according to a fishing peak body.

Commercial catch of rock lobster in the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone has been dropped by 10 tonnes to a maximum of 94 tonnes for the 2022- 23 quota year starting March 1.

The statewide Total Allowable Catch for the commercial rock lobster fishery remains unchanged at 1050.70 tonnes.

This comprises a total allowable commercial catch of 1050.70 tonnes and a total allowable recreational catch of 170 tonnes.

Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman’s Association president Karl Krause said 10.4 tonnes is to be effectively transferred to the recreational sector.

“That’s an extra 10,400 fish of 1kg each for the recreational sector, year on year,” Mr Krause said.
“This reduction of our commercial quota follows scientific analysis of the available data which revealed that the recreational sector has literally smashed the central East Coast zone, in the Freycinet area.

It has fallen to the commercial sector to suffer the cut.

“This latest slashing of our sustainable commercial catch on the East Coast threatens the livelihood of a number of local vessels and their skippers and crew.”

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania continues to monitor stock levels on the East Coast through the 10-year stock rebuilding strategy.

The East Coast Rock Lobster Stock Rebuilding Plan started in 2014 with the target of rebuilding severely depleted stocks to greater than 20 per cent of an unfished biomass by 2023 in the zone from Eddystone Point to Bruny Island.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said the Government received advice from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) that the stock levels on the East Coast remain poor, with unfished biomass estimates in stock assessment area 2 (mid-East Coast) sitting at only 10 per cent.

“We will continue to seek the right balance between providing appropriate levels access for fishers while ensuring healthy fish stocks for future generations,” Mr Barnett said.
“There will be consultation on all options for sharing the resource between fishers and what additional management controls and tools are needed to rebuild stocks. “Rebuilding the rock lobster population on the East Coast is a complex issue and the Government is committed to listening to all stakeholders.”

The total allowable catch is set each year following scientific assessment of the stocks by IMAS to assess the performance of the fishery, together with consultation with peak fishing industry bodies and relevant fisheries advisory committees.

Mr Krause said the commercial sector is ready to discuss, with the recreational sector, the new one-year plan for responsible resource sharing of the East Coast rock lobster biomass, which the commercial sector has built up strongly over recent years.

“That engagement will be an historical breakthrough, but it comes with an entry-level proviso from our side. That is that recreational sector must account for every rock lobster they take out of the fishery.
“In terms of responsible fisheries management, the current recreational rock lobster take from East Coast waters treats the fishery as a bottomless pit.” Mr Krause said the commercial sector measures, weighs and reports every single rock lobster caught in Tasmanian waters.
“The recreational sector has no formal process of counting or reporting the numbers of rock lobster caught.’’

For recreational rock lobster fishers, there will be no change to the daily bag limit of two lobsters, which will continue to be enforced this season.

And recreational rock lobster fishers are encouraged to log their catches and fishing trips.

IT’S been a year of transition for the Sorell Fruit Farm, and despite a lower yield of fruit from this season’s crop, fantastic support from loyal locals has kept the orchards ticking over, with big expectations for next season when tourists are back among the fruits.

The warm, wet weather that spanned the second half of 2021 in Tasmania brought about a mix of fortunes with producers across the state, and at the Sorell Fruit Farm, that weather has put the squeeze on the freshly pruned trees.

“We had one of the warmest winters and coldest, wettest spring in this area for some time, so when it was pollination time it was raining and cold,” said Ally Lynn, who has worked at the orchard for 15 years.

The pollination rate through the orchard was estimated to only be at around 30 to 40 per cent.

“We had pruned our trees earlier in the year and we know that would effect what amount of fruit that would come out, but the timing of the weather certainly didn’t help us.
“That being said, our strawberries have loved the weather so far. We usually lose a lot of our strawberries through January, they usually get hit pretty hard by the heat over January, but this year they’ve thrived.
“Thank goodness, they’ve been our lifesaver, people always flock to pick strawberries.”

Ms Lynn said the smaller yield was certainly a problem, but the lower-than-usual number of tourist visitors has meant locals have come to the fore in support.

“The locals have been fantastic to us, supporting us since Covid had kicked off, but we’re really looking forward to the tourists coming back, for us and the whole region.”

The Sorell Fruit Farm offers a pick-your-own experience for visitors, with apples, nashi pears, cherries, apricots, strawberries, blackberries, peaches and nectarines off the vine ready to pick from about 5ha of land just outside Sorell.