COUNCIL1862

SORELLAUGUST 2017

community coast country

Sorell Community News

www.sorell.tas.gov.au

Environmental Projects Sorell Council’s NRM facilitators have been working on various environmental projects in collaboration with a number of conservation groups such as NRM South, Tasman Council Green Army, Landcare and Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Project work consists of weeding, revegetation, tyre recycling, maintaining wildlife protective fencing and erosion control. Recent projects in the municipality include:

Miena Park – An area of Sorell Council land bordering the Pittwater Orielton Lagoon Ramsar Wetland.

Stormwater outfall, constructed in late 2015, to manage stormwater out flows into the wetland and to arrest tunnel erosion was just the beginning of an ongoing project. Since then Sorell Council, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and NRM South have worked in partnership to control weeds and revegetate a large proportion of Miena Park, Sorell.

Along the way teams made up of the CVA, Green Army and community members have toiled through hail, rain and sunshine to plant over 4,000 plants and control approximately 3 hectares of weeds. These have included Boxthorn, Briar Rose and Fennell. At times, this project has included volunteers from as far away as Hong Kong.

Connellys Marsh – Tasman Council Green Army recently participated in the planting of natives along the coastal strip to provide protection for stock and eliminate soil erosion. Much of the remnant vegetation in this area was burnt in the 2013 bushfires and since then locals and Landcare Groups have worked consistently to plant many trees. The Green Army have been valuable in helping many landowners regenerate the environment in this area.

2017/2018 Budget And Capital Works ProgramAt the June Council meeting, the Annual Plan and Budget for the 2017-2018 financial year was passed.

The Annual Plan and Budget is in line with Council‘s Long Term Financial Plan and Council has determined that the existing rate structure will remain for the 2017-2018 financial year with the application of new capital values determined by the Valuer-General’s office.

$6.94 million has been approved by Council for capital works in 2017-2018 with some of the capital works projects including:

$2 million – reconstruction of sections of major roads including Sugarloaf Road, Old Forcett Road, Penna Road, Brinktop Road and Imlay Street.

$1.1 million – carryover projects including road reconstruction, sealing, footpaths and bridge replacement.

$900,500 – resheeting of unsealed roads including drainage works.

$740,698 – reseals including Carlton River Road, Old Forcett Road and Penna Road.

$281,071 – new and replacement footpaths, kerb and channel in Dodges Ferry, Midway Point and Sorell.

$197,500 – installing new stormwater infrastructure.

$160,000 – replacement of concrete culvert pipes on Kellevie Road with a bridge deck.

$25,000 – CCTV cameras in Sorell including Sorell and Dodges Ferry Recycling Centres.

Dodges Ferry Skate Park UpgradeCouncil is pleased to announce that it was successful in obtaining a grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund for the upgrade of the Dodges Ferry Skate Park. Substantial local support has been evident via petitions to Council, letters of support and more recently a Facebook page.  Weather permitting, works will commence early to mid-August with completion expected by early October. Updates will be available on the Council’s Website and Facebook page.

Green Army – Connelleys Marsh

SORELL COMMUNITY NEWS AUGUST 20172

Mayor’s MessageWe often sit and wonder about what is best for our children. We always hope that our children are going to be better off and that we can provide a better future for them.

For me, education provided the basic requirements to become a carpenter, but every year that passes I see that education is something I probably missed out on and should have taken more seriously.

The ability for us to earn a reasonable income and to make life more comfortable in the future, is going to rely more heavily on children having a sensible education.

Every child should have the choice to go as far as they want to with their education. This is becoming more and more evident to me as I see the necessity for our local schools, particularly at Sorell and Dodges Ferry, to be upgraded to a level that suits the future needs of our region.

It is also becoming extremely apparent that the growth of the University of Tasmania into many areas of our day to day lives, across research programs and degree courses as well as their moves into the centre of Hobart, will create the opportunity for many of our young people in regional areas to move in and out of Hobart more readily to attend university.

Potential links between high schools and university courses will encourage students to see that continuing to further education, whether it be trade training, TAFE or university, is a natural progression in their education.

At present a disturbingly high proportion of people in our regional areas do not see further education as a necessary part of their upbringing. Regardless of what industry you look at, the jobs of the future will demand a much better understanding of technology, finance, marketing and other skills that benefit from quality education.

We are well positioned at the moment to develop exciting and forward looking plans for a new centre of education excellence in Sorell to service the south east region.

We have available land and the capacity to develop a comprehensive local approach to education – from family services and child care through early learning and primary school to high school, years 11 and 12, trade training and TAFE facilities as well as links to university courses and research – all through the one site.

Community Conversation DatesA reminder about the remaining Community Conversation dates for 2017. Join us for a chat with the Mayor, Councillors and Council Management about what is happening in your local area.

Meeting details are as follows:

26 September at 6.00pm – Midway Point Yacht Club

14 November at 6.00pm – Bream Creek Showgrounds

Information discussed from all past meetings are available on Council’s website: www.sorell.tas.gov.au/community-conversations

Community and Youth Grants ProgramCouncil’s annual Community and Youth Grants Program provides financial support to eligible community groups and organisations within the Municipality.

During May 2017 Council called for applications from community groups for the 2017-2018 program. 

Council approved 47 applications from community groups within the Municipality, comprising of 38 Community Grants and 8 Youth Grants which totalled $20,721.30. A list of the successful recipients can be found on our website www.sorell.tas.gov.au

Council also provided $13,500 annual funding to Copping, Dunalley, Midway Point and Primrose Sands Hall Committees, Sea Rescue, Combined Churches Carols by Candlelight, Bream Creek Show Society and SBRA Annual Art Acquisition Prize.

Total funds for the 2017-2018 Community Grants Program was $34,221.30.

It’s a unique approach that has broad political support. How we get to that stage is the challenge we all now need to work on to make sure it happens in a sensible and realistic time frame.

The regional work force planning report prepared by KPMG and passed by Sorell Council and the South East Regional Development Authority, recommends a more cohesive approach in involving everybody in how trainees, employers and the education system need to work together to get more people participating in more relevant further education.

The report formulates an overall view on the difficulties for business in creating stronger partnerships for training staff in more relevant industry-specific skills.

Industries need to be more expressive on the skills they require; training organisations need to be more sensitive to individual requirements and capacity to take up relevant skills; educators need to be more flexible in making the Australian curriculum relate to the skills that major employers require. One of the best ways we can see this in action is school based apprenticeships that keep young people in education at the same time as developing their practical employment skills.

Most regional areas have two thirds of their workforce working outside their locality, but by getting more local people trained up for local jobs we have the ability to develop careers and show young people they can prosper locally.

The south east region has potentially 3000 new jobs being created in tourism, aquaculture and agricultural exports, jobs that will enable families to grow in our local communities, strengthen our local economy and lead to improved community facilities.

The expansion of the Hobart airport also allows for enormous growth in the agriculture market by enabling fresh products to be flown direct to Asia and other ports.

All this will be backed up by a report being prepared on the long term requirements for the airport precinct development.

Changing our attitude towards supporting employers in our region by training people for major developments will allow for expansion in retail and support industries in our district as well. All this can only be good for our whole region.

Mayor Kerry Vincent

Community

Conversation

3SORELL COMMUNITY NEWS AUGUST 2017

Review of 2016-2017 Capital WorksDuring 2016–2017 Council completed approximately $8.5million worth of new, renewal and upgrade of Council’s assets.

Some of these projects included:

Replacement of the Carton River Bridge and construction of road approaches.

Reconstruction of sections of major roads including Marion Bay Road and Pawleena Road. Fulham Road, Penna Road and Brinktop Road to be completed in 2017/2018.

Continuation of the Urban Street Sealing Program including Ridge Road, Terry Street, Thagenna Road (Carlton), Erica Road (Primrose Sands), Jetty Road, First Avenue, Layette Street (Dodges Ferry).

Renew and upgrade of pedestrian facilities at Sorell and Midway Point.

Installation of bus stops at Reynolds Road and Carlton River Road.

Upgrade of stormwater infrastructure in Craigs Hill Road, Bream Creek Road and Colleen Crescent.

First stage of the Orielton Lagoon Shared Pathway development near completion.

Installation of BBQ, shelters, artificial turf and play equipment at Flyway Island Park, Midway Point.

Installation of fencing and play equipment at Primrose Sands Park.

Carlton Bridge Replacement

Flyway Island Park

Marion Bay Road

Seniors Update Council’s Seniors Advisory Group meet several times per year to provide the opportunity for older residents to have their say in assisting Council to develop an age-friendly community.

Seniors Week Launch Council will collaborate with COTA and Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife to support a memorable Seniors Week launch event at Mt Field National Park on Monday 2 October 2017. The over-arching theme for this year’s Seniors Week is “Get Outdoors”.

Council will provide a bus to transport 57 enthusiastic seniors from Sorell to the National Park. Bus fares and Parks entry will be free and people can enjoy a picnic lunch in the beautiful surroundings of the park. Lunch can be purchased at the cafe or people can bring their own.

To avoid missing out please make your booking at Sorell Council by phoning Sonia on 6269 0059. The bus will depart from the Sorell Memorial Hall at 8.30am and return approximately 3.30pm.

Seniors Week 16 – 22 October 2017 Council will be hosting a Seniors Week High Tea in collaboration with the Sorell High School in the Sorell Memorial Hall on Wednesday 18 October from 11am. There will be entertainment and a lucky door prize. Bookings will open in September so keep your eye on our website and Sorell Times adverts for further details.

General Manager’s Update Sorell Council has prided itself in recent years on being able to balance its budget and keep rate rises in line with inflation.

During 2016/17 Council continued its program of independent asset condition assessment and revaluations as required by the Tasmanian Audit Office to provide current and quantifiable depreciation and replacement cost data that fully complies with Accounting Standards and contemporary Asset Management practices.

In order to meet its proposed capital expenditure commitments and ongoing operating and maintenance budgets, the Council adopted the 2017/18 annual plan, budget and rates at the June Ordinary meeting comprising -

Operating deficit $946k • Revenue $16.274m • Expenditure $17.220m

Capital expenditure on asset $4.666m renewal/replacement (against depreciation of $5.2m)

Capital expenditure on $572k new/upgraded assets

Capital expenditure on carry $1.702m forward projects from 2016/17 (renewal and new/upgrade)

Waste management and other user charges to increase by 2.5%

In determining the rates structure Council modelled different scenarios and determined that a continuation of the fixed charge and variable rate with the application of the new Valuer General capital values provided the least impact - notwithstanding the required increase in general rate revenue to fund the depreciation (asset renewal & replacement).

Council has been mature, reasoned and sensible in considering the effects of this situation on ratepayers and also the organisation. There has been no appetite to do anything other than dealing with it openly and transparently with a long-term view on annual impacts. And additionally, to actively and appropriately pursue State and Federal agencies for the timely provision of necessary infrastructure for the growing south-east.

The General Manager’s full report can be found on Council’s Website – www.sorell.tas.gov.au

SORELL COMMUNITY NEWS AUGUST 20174

Contact UsAddress 47 Cole Street, Sorell Telephone 6269 0000 Fax 6269 0014 Email sorell.council@sorell.tas.gov.au Website www.sorell.tas.gov.au

Any feedback about the newsletter is welcomed and can be forwarded to sorell.council@sorell.tas.gov.au

Your CouncillorsContact details for all Councillors can be found on our website www.sorell.tas.gov.au/contact-us

Clr Graeme Evans

Clr Lindsay White Clr Carmel Torenius

Clr Kerry Degrassi

Deputy Mayor Brett McDonald

Clr Vlad Gala

Clr Deborah De Williams

Clr Natham Reynolds

Mayor Kerry Vincent

Sorell Regional Art Prize & ExhibitionThe Sorell Regional Art Prize and Exhibition will be open daily 10am until 4pm from Saturday 25 November to Friday 1 December at the Sorell Memorial Hall.

Major prizes are sponsored by Southern Beaches Regional Arts, Sorell Council, Holts Hardware Mitre 10, Lufra Hotel, Rural Solutions, Sorell on Stage and the Sorell History Society.

Council’s Acquisition Prize is once again valued at $1500, Southern Beaches Regional Arts Major Award is $800 and there are various category prizes and Highly Commended Awards also on offer.

Artists interested in entering can obtain an entry form from Three Peaks Gallery in Gordon Street, the Council Offices or by phoning 6106 0071.

Orielton Lagoon Shared Pathway LoopThe initial stage of the Orielton Lagoon Shared Pathway is near completion incorporating two walking tracks.

The gravel trail beside Shark Point Road is approximately a 4km return walk from the dog exercise area and the second trail from Caitlin Court to end of the walkway in Shark Point Road is a 3.8km return walk. Eventually the pathway will provide connectivity to existing trails/tracks in Sorell and Midway Point and in time will provide a formalised loop around Orielton Lagoon. The pathway encourages active lifestyles for all ages and skill levels providing opportunities to walk, jog or cycle along the pathway. This is a staged project and progress will depend on future funding received and/or allocated.

Orielton Lagoon Shared Pathway Loop

Dog Management Plan ReviewCouncil has recently reviewed the 2012 Dog Management Plan.

The Dog Control Act requires Councils to develop and implement a policy relating to dog management within its municipality area and must be reviewed at least once every 5 years.

The policy includes the following:

a code relating to responsible ownership of dogs

the provision of dog exercise, prohibited and restricted areas

a fee structure

complaint, impoundment and application procedures

requirements for dangerous dogs.

The 2017 draft copy of the Dog Management Plan and amended changes to restricted areas are available for viewing on Council’s Website. You can provide your feedback by emailing sorell.council@sorell.tas.gov.au or writing to Sorell Council, Attention Animal Management Officers, 47 Cole Street, Sorell, TAS, 7172.