GSDC Bulletin 46 – October 2017 Wave power connection for south coast

The Great Southern is set to harvest the relentless motion of the Southern Ocean following the announcement of $19.5 million in State Government grants to support wave energy on the south coast. The University of Western Australia (UWA) will receive $3.75 million in support of a new Wave Energy Research Centre in Albany, and Carnegie Clean Energy was awarded a $15.75 million grant towards the further development of wave energy technology. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced the grants on Friday 6 October and said the initiative had real potential to develop world-class renewable energy technologies and skills in the Great Southern and could help to drive new opportunities across the renewable energy sector in WA. "The wave energy technology project could make the Great Southern a hub for marine renewable energy expertise, bring long-term economic benefits and create regional jobs in this growing sector,” the Minister said. The Wave Energy Research Centre will build on expertise already developed at the UWA Oceans Institute. UWA will work with researchers from Curtin University, allowing some of Australia’s brightest scientists to work together on the renewable energy initiative. Carnegie will install a one-megawatt wave energy converter on the seabed off the Sandpatch coast. The seabed installation will be connected to the existing power grid at the Albany Wind Farm. As part of the funding support, the connecting infrastructure will be available to other wave energy companies, enabling them to test alternative wave energy technologies. Photo: Albany MLA Peter Watson, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, Carnegie Clean Energy Managing Director Mike Ottaviano and UWA Oceans Institute Director Professor Erika Techera visited Sandpatch for the wave energy announcement.

Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence launched

Outdoor recreation in the Great Southern is set for a big boost following the launch of the Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence (GSCORE). Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan visited Albany on Friday 6 October to launch the GSCORE project, which is a joint initiative of the GSDC, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI), and the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry. GSCORE executive officer Lenore Lyons said the centre’s aim was to make the Great Southern the adventure capital of Australia and to increase the economic and social benefits of outdoor recreation for the region. “It’s fitting that we officially launch GSCORE at Camp Quaranup in Albany,” Dr Lyons said. “Quaranup has been the site of student camps for over one hundred years. Our goal is to capitalise on the camp’s rich history and stunning location to position the Great Southern region as a destination for outdoor education and active leadership.” GSCORE will help to grow the outdoor recreation industry by providing training, business support and strategic planning services. It will promote the Great Southern as a destination for outdoor recreation activities and events, and support the development of new events, programs, products and services. GSCORE is a $617,000 project supported by $300,000 of State Government funding through the GSDC’s Regional Grants Scheme, and $150,000 through the DLGSCI. GSDC Chair Ross Thornton said the project aligned with the strategic directions of the Commission. “We know the huge importance and further potential of tourism for the region,” Mr Thornton said. “GSCORE will open innovative avenues to grow that sector of the economy and provide jobs while protecting the natural environment that we all value,” Mr Thornton said. Photo: Minister MacTiernan took to the archery range following the formal launch of the Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence.

Breath draws good reviews

The feature film Breath, shot on location in the Great Southern in early 2016, had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday 10 September. Australian actor Simon Baker, star of The Mentalist, directed and starred in the movie of Tim Winton’s award-winning novel. Solid reviews followed the launch, providing publicity in Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Inside Film and Screen Daily, among others. Reviews focused on Simon Baker’s successful debut as a feature film director, commenting on the considered pace of the film, thoughtful treatment of the story, and noteworthy performances from new actors Samson Coulter and Ben Spence. Reviewers also commented positively on the settings shot in the film. Some reviews predicted significant attention for Breath in Australia and internationally. An Australian release is scheduled for Thursday 3 May 2018. The GSDC secured $1.5 million of State Government funding that helped to clinch the decision to shoot Breath on the south coast. Breath is the story of two teenage surfers, Pikelet and Loonie, growing up in a small town called Sawyer, which is considered to be based on the town of Denmark. The teenagers are befriended by an older surfer, Sando, who leads them to take risks and meet challenges that change their lives. Alongside Simon Baker in the role of Sando, Breath features Elizabeth Debicki as Sando’s wife Eva, Samson Coulter as Pikelet and Ben Spence as Loonie, with Richard Roxburgh and Rachael Blake as Pikelet’s parents. Breath was adapted for the screen by Gerard Lee (Top of the Lake), Tim Winton and Baker, who also co-produced with Oscar and Emmy Award–winning producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad) for Gran Via Productions and Jamie Hilton (The Little Death) for See Pictures. Photo: Simon Baker is pictured with Ben Spence and Samson Coulter on location for the filming of Breath. Photo by Nic Duncan.

Techspo surveys future of farming Futurists, innovators and technology experts converged in Katanning for the Southern Dirt Techspo from 12 to 14 September. The GSDC supported Techspo with a $50,000 grant through the Community Chest Fund. The conference was opened by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture and Food. Presentations and speeches covered global food trends and technological advances such as robotics, drones, big data and remote monitoring. Speakers included Mr Tao Yang, Chairman of the Amaranth Ecological Technology Co, Mr Andrew Bate from SwarmFarm Robotics and futurist Mr Paul Higgins. More than 250 delegates attended the conference.

Tambellup celebrates sports pavilion upgrade

Tambellup is celebrating the completion of a new sporting pavilion and synthetic bowling green at the Tambellup Sports Ground. The GSDC supported the $3.2 million project through its Regional Grants Scheme, with a grant of $200,000 to the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup. Richard Goyder AO, a former Tambellup resident and now director of Wesfarmers and Chairman of the AFL Commission, officially opened the pavilion on Friday 1 September. Tambellup turned out for the occasion, with sports displays and activities showing off the new facilities. The new pavilion hosts the existing tennis, hockey, cricket and football sporting clubs, and allows the bowling club to move to the site with the installation of synthetic bowling greens. Features include an integrated kitchen and bar, storage areas, and new change rooms and toilets. The venue’s main hall is linked to a meeting room, enabling flexibility for small-scale and larger-scale functions. The project was intended to provide community benefits including the potential for increased participation in organised sport and recreation activities, and better social facilities for the community.

Tambellup Pavilion Opening - Shire President Garry Sheridan and Richard Goyder unveiling the plaque

Researchers present Great Science

Scientists and researchers from the Great Southern and beyond gained a broad overview of the region’s current research activities and findings at the Great Southern, Great Science Symposium in August. Topics covered included regional water resources, breeding healthier apples, the evolution of trapdoor spiders and Noongar biodiversity conservation. Regional hydrogeologist Andrew Maughan, from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation South Coast, revealed the science behind the provision of scheme water for Albany and surrounds. Mr Maughan described the use of airborne electromagnetic surveys and information from boreholes to develop a three-dimensional digital model of the available fresh groundwater. He said the department could then assess the impact of climate change on the recharge of aquifers and, combined with demand projection, plan the sustainable management of water use with supply exceeding demand out to 2030. Marine science students from Albany Senior High School continued the school’s long-term contribution to regional science by presenting the results of their marine environment survey and research on invertebrate settlement and juvenile salmon ecology in Albany’s harbours. Among the 17 presentations by researchers, symposium attendees also heard about the geology of the Bremer Canyon, the evolution of trapdoor spiders, Noongar practices for biodiversity conservation, breeding apples for cardiovascular benefits, and the behaviour patterns of snails and slugs.

Andrew Maughan outlines research on water resources in the Albany area.

Bloom Festival and EcoWeek open together

Floral treasures of the region were on show in the Hidden Treasures of the Great Southern Bloom Festival, which ran from 16 September to 15 October. The Bloom Festival was launched in Katanning in conjunction with the Katanning Landcare EcoWeek, with a joint grand opening day that drew an estimated 1,700 people for family activities, entertainment, markets, local food, sustainability talks and demonstrations, and a poultry auction. EcoWeek was supported with $45,700 over two years through the GSDC’s Community Chest Fund, towards marketing and promotions, a waste reduction program and presenter costs. The EcoWeek program, a Katanning Landcare event that ran to 27 October, featured information sessions and workshops, including topics such as plastic free food, storable snacks, preserving food, shopping smart and compost systems. Bloom has been supported by the GSDC since it started in 2011; the Commission is acknowledged as the event’s founding supporter and principal partner. The 2017 Festival attracted over 11,000 visitors with a program that included 76 events and activities across the Hidden Treasures communities. Activities such as wildflower exhibitions, walk and drive tours, open gardens, workshops, photography and art exhibitions, environmental awareness programs, market days and more. Hidden Treasures of the Great Southern is a community-based tourism marketing group that works with the nine shires of the central and eastern sub-region. The contributing local authorities are Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kent, Kojonup, Plantagenet and Woodanilling. The GSDC helped to establish the group in 2004 and has supported it throughout.

Cranbrook Regional Community Hub opens

Cranbrook has a new focus in its town centre following the opening of the Cranbrook Regional Community Hub on Friday 11 August. The hub is a clever conversion of a vacant supermarket premises and provides a wide range of facilities for the community. Features include a medical suite for visiting doctors and an emergency operations room. Child care is available on the premises and there is a commercial kitchen, community gym, activity rooms, professional offices, training facilities and an art gallery. GSDC Chair Ross Thornton congratulated the Shire of Cranbrook on delivering the $910,000 project, which included $150,000 of Regional Grants Scheme funding through the GSDC. Mr Thornton said the Shire had undertaken extensive public consultation to ensure that the development met the needs of the regional community and its enterprises. Photo: Mr Thornton (right) is pictured with Cranbrook Shire President Twynam Cunningham in the emergency operations centre at the community hub.

Innovation training

Digital strategist Jim Wyatt delivered a series of training workshops at the GSDC in August to raise awareness of digital disruption and build the capacity for innovative business responses. In Albany, Mr Wyatt ran a masterclass on how to run a design sprint workshop, aimed at enhancing the skills of people who lead groups in innovative thinking about challenging issues. He also helped an Albany group work through a ‘challenge statement’ on developing new events for the region. A later session focused on training for government agencies, contractors and suppliers to ensure that they are linked up with government-funded projects in the region to maximise the buy local outcome. In Katanning, Mr Wyatt delivered training on interpreting and efficiently communicating information about trials, data and research. Photo: Jim Wyatt works with a group developing new events for the Great Southern.