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Covid safety bubble bursts

TASMANIA’S Covid safety bubble has been burst since borders reopened just a month ago, with more than 8000 active cases in the State.

The Omicron variant of the virus has spread rapidly and authorities have changed the rules to support an overworked health system.

Describing it as a “challenging time’’ the Government repeatedly says the outbreak of Covid was expected.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he understood it was a stressful time for many.

“But Tasmanians have a record of working together and pitching in when it counts and the best way to get through this is by following the best health advice, get vaccinated and use common sense,’’ Mr Rockliff said.

As of Monday this week, children from five to 11 years are eligible for a Covid vaccine with about 40 per cent of those in this age group having already booked an appointment.

This week Education Minister Sarah Courtney hinted primary school children may be required to wear masks at school when it returns on February 9.

At the time of going to press, there were 15 people in hospital with Covid but only four people were being treated specifically for Covid symptoms.

“The low number of hospital admissions in relation to positive cases continues to reflect the current medical evidence that the Omicron strain, while highly transmissible, is much milder,’’ Mr Rockliff said.
“We especially appreciate the essential workers who, based on Public Health advice and with the support of the AMA, can now return to work earlier to help keep our health system working efficiently.
“The Omicron variant has rapidly changed the rules for everyone and we are being flexible in our responses.’’

On average between 3000 and 5000 PCR tests are conducted each day and nearly 15,000 free Rapid Antigen Tests have been issued to symptomatic cases and close contacts.

“Tasmanians are reminded that you only need to register a positive RAT result on the Public Health website if you have not undertaken a PCR test.

Positive PCR tests are automatically registered. RATs can be obtained from MyState Bank Arena Glenorchy, Rokeby Police Academy and locations in the north.

“If you are in a rural or regional area and you are symptomatic or a close contact of a case, please contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange the collection of a free RAT or to book a PCR test at a clinic.

There will be further options identified for access to a free RAT in regional areas in the coming days.

“These are challenging times and it understandable that many people are feeling anxious, but this is what we’ve been preparing for and is the reason we are highly vaccinated, with a well prepared health system.

Sealed deal closer

THE State Government is exploring the cost and design of sealing Wielangta Road.

In June last year, at the height of the drama of the Tasman Highway having to be closed for weeks for safety work, the Government conceded it was time to seal the strategic link between Orford and Kellevie.

The news was greeted with joy from locals and has the potential to extend the popular Great Eastern Drive from St Helens all the way to the Tasman Peninsula.

Infrastructure and Roads Minister Michael Ferguson confirmed recently that his department was doing the necessary initial work required for sealing Wielangta Road.
“This includes discussing a wide range of issues with the different owners of the road, including responsibility for ongoing maintenance, and investigating the best model for the project,’’ Mr Ferguson said.
“Once the investigation work and discussions with the road owners are complete, we will have a clearer picture of the project timeline.”

Meanwhile, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for East and South-East commuters, with confirmation major road works at Sorell, Midway Point and the airport are due to be completed this year.

Having endured significant delays in travel times, motorists can look forward to dual carriageways and a smoother run into Hobart.

Mr Ferguson said works on the Midway Point Intersection Solution and the Sorell Southern Bypass were on track.

“The $350 million South East Traffic Solution between the Australian and Tasmanian Liberal Governments will improve traffic flow and safety on the key transport corridor between Sorell and Hobart,’’ Mr Ferguson said.
“The first stage of the Midway Point project, which includes the realignment of Penna Road to align with Southern Drive and construction of two retaining walls next to the highway, is on track for completion in early 2022.

“The second and final stage, which includes duplication of the highway through Midway Point and installation of traffic signals at a new Tasman Highway/Penna Road intersection, will be completed by mid-2022.

“The 2.1km Sorell Southern Bypass is progressing as planned, with work on schedule to be finished in late 2022.
“The bypass will create a more direct route for through traffic, relieving pressure on Sorell’s town centre and reducing travel times for people travelling between Hobart and the Southern Beaches and Tasman Peninsula.
“As well as building the new road, a bridge over the Sorell Rivulet is in place and work has started on the roundabout that will connect the bypass to the Arthur Highway. Work on the western roundabout, which will connect the bypass to the Tasman Highway, is expected to start in the first half of 2022.’’

The Hobart Airport Interchange is on track for completion in 2022.

“The interchange design features the lifting of the Tasman Highway over Kennedy Drive and Holyman Avenue, with on and off ramps serving the connecting roads,’’ he said.
“An upcoming traffic switch will take place in early 2022, another step towards the completion of this key project.’’

Mr Ferguson said he would soon announce details of the duplications of the causeways.

New tourism app to inspire visitors

EAST Coast Tasmania Tourism has launched a new Regional Tourism App.

With Tasmanian borders now open the app is seen as an essential and free visitor guide for holidaying on Tasmania’s East Coast.

“With all the information in the palm of your hand, get set to discover one of Australia’s greatest road trips – a journey that will lead you to places and moments that you’ll never forget,’’ ECTT chair Jen Fry said.
“Taking the first step towards a digital resource for East Coast Tasmania, the app will provide engagement, excitement, education and entertainment, with the vision in the future for personalisation using technologies like augmented reality to provide an enriching experience for visitors.
“The first release is just our beginning to capitalising on all that emerging technologies could offer.

“The app approach provides better user experience when travelling than an ordinary website, with the ability to use it offline, allow for greater flexibility to use your device features and also by receiving customised push notifications.
“We know that people love the unexpected experiences they have while travelling. This app will allow our East Coast Tasmania visitors to look up where they are on our interactive map and be inspired to try something out of the ordinary while travelling.”

The East Coast Tasmania app will allow users to:

• Plan their trip or search while on the road for things to do, where to stay, where to eat and more. You can even save your favourites businesses or places;

• Use the app and access information offline as no connection to the internet is required for most functions (once downloaded);

• Explore an interactive zoomable map with integrated directions; and

• Stay up to date with vital information like weather, emergency information and road closures.

Bicheno rents soar

EAST Coast jewel Bicheno has won the distinction of having the highest 12-month change in house rents in the past year – great for landlords but a burden for tenants.

Rents increased by a whopping 40.9 per cent – the highest hike in Australia according to the latest CoreLogic annual Best of the Best report.

With very few rentals listed for Bicheno, a three-bed, two-bath home can cost tenants $450 a week, with one two-bed townhouse asking for $550.

CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said strong housing market performance over the year was driven by multiple factors, including low interest rates, fiscal and institutional support for households, high household savings and relatively low levels of advertised stock.

Higher-end lifestyle markets such as Bicheno proved popular in terms of sales as well.

“This may in part be attributable to how Covid-19 continued to shape demand trends, with coastal or leafy settings being more desirable as some workers were empowered to work remotely,” she said.

With a permanent population of about 1000, which swells by three times during summer and holidays, Bicheno is one of the most popular spots on the Great Eastern Drive.

Properties currently on the market are limited and according to the real estate industry are in demand.

At the time of going to press there were very few properties being advertised for sale, with most asking high $800,000 or more, with one large parcel of residential land calling for offers over $2.4 million.

Tassie farms on a $2b high

TASMANIA’S record-breaking agricultural sector has passed the $2 billion gross farm gate value barrier for the first time.

The 2019-2020 Agri-Food Scorecard released this week shows the agricultural industry has grown by 13 per cent to $2.15 billion.

The state’s overall agri-food value grew to $3.22 billion, and the value of food produced after packing and processing grew to $5.27 billion.

Tasmania produces a staggering 5.5 times more food than is consumed by resident Tasmanians, with the surplus sold interstate and overseas.

Tasmania’s 2019-2020 Agri-Food Scorecard notes seasonal conditions, access to irrigation and export growth as key drivers of the continuing expansion of the agricultural industry.

The ScoreCard measures and reports on the value and final market destinations of the state’s agriculture, food and beverage production, providing data including: the value of food and non-food agriculture and seafood production; the value added to packed and processed food along the supply chain; and the market destinations into which the products are sold.

The North is the epicentre of agriculture holding 45 per cent of the farmland, carrying 1013 farm businesses, North West 16 per cent of farmland and 857 businesses, South 39 per cent of the farmland and 650 businesses.

The sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector is Tasmania’s second-largest, employing about 14,500 people, nearly three quarters of them full-time, and accounting for 9.1 per cent of Gross State Product in 2019-20.

Tasmania leads the nation with its strong agricultural performance.

The Agri-Growth Scorecard demonstrates why Tasmanian agriculture continues to lead the nation, and we remain securely on track to achieve our target to sustainably grow the value of Tasmania’s agricultural production to $10 billion by 2050.

In 2019-20, the value of Tasmania’s international food exports reached a record $954 million and the value of total agri-food exports increased by 23pc to $1.08 billion, accounting for around 29 per cent of Tasmania’s total merchandise exports. Rabobank’s latest quarterly Rural Confidence Survey shows that Tasmanian farmers remain among the most confident and optimistic in the country.

For the second consecutive quarter, 100 per cent of Tasmanian farmers surveyed expected current business conditions to continue or improve further over the next 12 months.

Big gun backs Tassie brand

TASMANIA is set to have its own branded mark on supermarket produce signifying its origin after Coles and Brand Tasmania launched a new partnership last week.

The partnership marks the first time a major retailer has adopted the Tasmanian mark for the promotion of Tasmanian-made and grown products.

The brand has already been taken up by Tasmanian brands Cripps and Ashgrove Cheese, as well as Coles’ Tasmanian-sourced lamb line GRAZE.

Premier Peter Gutwein said it was a clear sign of confidence in Tasmania’s brand, and that the Tasmanian mark will serve as a demonstration of quality we create.

“When you buy Tasmanian produce, you know you’re buying the best of the best, all underpinned by your environmental sustainability, quality control and strict biosecurity.”

Nick Haddow, chairperson of Brand Tasmania, said: “Tasmanians understand why Tasmanian-grown and produced food is different, and it’s about so much more than our clean air and fresh water.”

“It’s our culture of hard work and our shared passion for quality.”

Tasmanian growers, producers, makers and creators are also being encouraged to adopt the Tasmanian mark on their own packaging to help raise the profile of their products.

Schools’ vax puzzle

CONFUSION about whether local primary schools will return as planned on February 9 continues despite attempts by the Government to hose down the issue.

Last week, Premier Peter Gutwein left the door open when asked by the Opposition whether the 2022 school year would be delayed so that five to 11-year-olds could get a Covid-19 vaccination.

“If it means we need to delay a start to the school year by having children turn up to get vaccinated as opposed to going to their classrooms then we will do that if that is the Public Health advice,’’ Mr Gutwein said.

“I want to make it clear to parents that we would do everything we possibly can if we had a vaccine to ensure that their children are vaccinated, to ensure that we give them every opportunity.”
“The advice we have received and continue to receive, and the empirical evidence of what is occurring, is that Covid-19 is much milder in its impact on younger children.”

But, he added: “I will take every step that we can to ensure that if that vaccination is approved that we provide the opportunity for those children to be vaccinated before they go back to school.’’

The news of a possible delay to the start of school caused confusion among parents and the school community. The following day Opposition Leader Rebecca White quizzed Education Minister Sarah Courtney.

“When will school children, parents and school staff have certainty about when school will return next year?’’ Ms White asked.

Ms Courtney’s response was “as the Minister for Education, my expectation is that we will (be) seeing young people returning to schools on February 9”.

She said a number of measures were being put in place to reduce the potential transmission of Covid-19 in schools and other sites.

“Work underway includes natural ventilation improvements, with window assessments and repairs underway; mechanical ventilation, repairs and maintenance; air conditioning maintenance, which includes filter replacement; purchasing air purifiers, we now have 1500 on order; and promoting and encouraging all outdoor learning through enhanced facilities.

“This includes installation of shade structures, nature-based play areas, outdoor seating, court surface upgrades and refurbishment of common areas, continued physical distancing, additional cleaning, density requirements and personal hygiene and face masks.

Sales are going nuts

THE growth Richmond’s Coaldale Walnuts has experienced as a result of the Seedlab program has seen it take on nuts from another grower this season to fill demand.

Coaldale has more than doubled its product this year with walnuts from Flexmore Park at Penna.

“We’ve always sold out of our own walnuts halfway through the year,” said Coaldale Walnuts director Phil Dening.
“We hope to double production of pickled walnuts, harvested from our own orchard, in the New Year.”

Coaldale Walnuts in-shell nuts, kernel and pickled walnuts are available online from coaldalewalnuts.com.au and from gourmet fresh food retailers statewide.

From Seedlab’s perspective, founder Hazel MacTavish-West said:

“We have been thrilled to watch not just the nuts grow, but also to observe family succession planning in action, with the move from South Australia to Tasmania of Sophie and Brad Milic and their young family to take over running the farm, letting Jane and Phil Dening take a few steps back.’’

Take a peek in the Shed

HAVE you ever wondered what goes on at the Sorell Men’s Shed, located just down the Bus Mall from the old Sorell Railway Station?

If you are even slightly interested why not come along any weekday before 3pm and have a look around, chat to a few members, we will even give you a guided tour.

I joined the shed not quite two years ago, knowing just one other member.

I discovered a treasure trove of men with a wide range of expertise, any of whom are happy to share what they know and help me out at any time.

I’ve learnt to weld, learnt how to service my mower and whipper snipper and Jeff will show me how to sharpen chisels, drill bits, saws and even the blades on my thicknesser.

I now find myself helping to raise money for the shed by taking on simple construction projects that come to us from a wide variety of organisations.

Nothing, well almost nothing is beyond us, so if you have a project you can’t do come and talk to us.

A member who is a self-taught master of the art of marquetry has designed and built a magnificent lectern for the Sorell Council.

We have also built a sales cupboard for a Copping Community Support Organisation, picnic tables for an equestrian group, we make and sell cheese boards, beautiful timber pots for plants, cutting boards and other bits and pieces.

Check us out, you are always welcome.

Boating safety drive

POLICE are calling on all boat owners to ensure their vessel and safety equipment are in proper working order as summer approaches.

“Following three separate sea rescues in recent weeks and tragically four deaths, all boat owners are urged to ensure their vessel is sea-worthy and safety equipment is in good condition,” Sergeant Kriss Lawler from Tasmania Police Marine and Rescue Services said.

“Police want to see people enjoy their time on the water and to make it home safely.”

Vessels and safety equipment should be well maintained and appropriate for the voyage.

“It’s vitally important that anyone heading onto the water in a boat is aware of their limitations, and that they carry all of the equipment required to keep them safe” Sergeant Lawler said. “Life jackets must be worn by everyone on-board a boat (less than six metres in length), and flares and emergency beacons should be on the boat stored in a place that’s easily accessible to everyone if needed in an emergency.’’

Police urge anyone heading out onto the water to:
• plan your trip – remain vigilant with the weather conditions, make sure someone knows where you intend going and when you anticipate you’ll be back – and don’t change those plans without telling someone; and
• avoid taking unnecessary risks when boating – know your own limitations, the limitations of your boat and the areas you are operating in;
• make sure everyone on-board a vessel under six metres in length is wearing a compliant life jacket. For inflatable style jackets, make sure the person wearing it knows how to activate it should it be needed and that it is serviced regularly;
• ensure you have all the essential safety equipment. Items such as mobile phones in waterproof covers and marine radios are an important layer of safety gear.

Night of nights for tourism

AFTER a difficult couple of years, East Coast tourism businesses have come together to celebrate their successes.

The East Coast Tourism awards were held in late October at the Spring Bay Mill, with various winners across a number of categories, including the Bicheno Lions Club’s ‘Rockpool’ taking out event-of-the-year and Oyster Bay Tours winning gold in the visitor experience category.

Labor Leader and Lyons MP Rebecca White attended the awards and said it was a magnificent night.

“It has been a tough couple of years for the tourism industry and it was so nice for everyone to come together for some fun and to talk about the success stories of the past year,” Ms White said.
“Chair of the East Coast RTO, Jen Fry and her board, along with CEO Rhonda Taylor and the team put on a great event.”

Ms White congratulated everyone involved after a difficult two years.

“With border restrictions changing a number of times over the past year it has been an incredibly difficult time for East Coast tourism businesses,’’ Ms White said.
“The set December 15 border reopening will provide welcome certainty for these businesses, who can now prepare for what is sure to be a busy summer season.”