The Authority What’s on in April? Call us on 6431 6285 to find out more 13 April Cradle Coast Authority Board meeting. Contact Karen Hampton 14 April Building the Recovery jobs forum. Gateway Motel Devonport from 4.30pm. Contact James McCormack on 0428 299 262 18 April Launch of the ‘Where will the stories take you?’ regional tourism campaign. Contact Don Monk All month Cradle Coast NRM will lead an assessment of agricultural extension services in the region. Contact Anna Renkin.
Monthly newsletter of the Cradle Coast Authority March 2010
Finding efficiencies with shared services Working groups in the Regional Shared Services Project continue to identify ways to use the combined resources of local government to meet the service needs of all Councils, and their communities, through innovative shared service arrangements. As an example, the Technical Services working group has prepared a matrix of services/ human resources across all Councils to identify gaps and synergies and they are now researching regional technical service hubs in other parts of Australia which could be applied in the Cradle Coast. The Cradle Coast Authority has applied for additional resources for the project under the LG Reform Fund and is expecting a decision on the application within four weeks. The Regional Shared Services Project will identify shared service arrangements that can deliver: · Optimal use of existing resources (human, physical and financial) · Improved services (range, quality, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and consistency) · Better career paths for local government staff (attraction, retention, development, promotion) at Council, sub‐regional and regional scales. The project will deliver detailed proposals for regional shared service initiatives including costs and benefits of implementation. The proposals will be for consideration by the participating Councils and can be provided to other relevant bodies and funding sources. For more information on this project, contact Karen Hampton on 6431 6285.
CRADLE COAST AUTHORITY
30 Marine Terrace (PO Box 338) Burnie 7320 Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: admin@cradlecoast.com
Cradle Coast volunteers look out for shorebirds Sixty‐eight residents volunteered their time in March to help with a count of shorebirds between Narawntapu National Park and Stanley. This is the first time the region has worked together to comprehensively identify and count resident shorebirds. A second count is planned for October and the results will form a baseline for monitoring shorebird population health, and identifying and responding to problems. Anyone interested in taking part in future surveys can contact Dionna Newton on 6431 6285.
Shorebird count organiser, Dionna Newton (left), and ornithologist, Hazel Britton, survey at Moorland Point. Photo: David McCormack
Page 2
The Authority
Futureproofing the exchange of health information Australian Government funding has enabled the Rural Clinical School, General Practice North West and the Cradle Coast Authority to collaborate on an Electronic Health Information Exchange Project (eHIEP). The project partners have long campaigned for a more ‘joined‐up’ approach to hospital and health services in our region. With the Area Health Service model now up and run‐ ning, better information sharing between service providers is the next big challenge. Colleen Cheek, project manager of the Electronic Health Information Exchange Project (eHIEP)
The two year eHIEP project will lay the groundwork for secure, electronic sharing of patient health information between GPs, hospitals and healthcare service providers in north west Tasmania. Colleen Cheek has been appointed as Project Manager and although based at the Rural Clinical School she maintains a close working relationship with General Practice North West and the Authority and is consulting widely with clinicians throughout the region. Colleen recently took time from her busy schedule to give an insight to her work and background. What is the role of the eHIEP project manager? I’m responsible for end‐to‐end planning and delivery of the eHIEP project. At the moment the focus is on data gathering so we have a solid understanding of the status of information sharing between health providers and any existing or future issues that we’ll need to address.
The two year eHIEP project will lay the groundwork for secure, electronic sharing of patient health information
What will be the main project outcome for the region? At the highest level, this project is about better management of patients’ chronic health problems by helping healthcare providers share information in a more responsive and proactive way. There are good systems in place today, but with the emergence of fast, secure new technologies there’s an opportunity to do even more. What is your background and what do you like most about the project and region? I have twenty years of nursing experience and have worked around Australia and over‐ seas in New Zealand and England. I also have a degree in Information Systems so what makes this project particularly enjoyable is the perfect combination of my skills and experience. Since moving here last year, my children have been embraced by the Boat Harbour SLSC, are enjoying school and we’ve all been welcomed into the community. We’re in such a beautiful area with a great lifestyle – there’s nowhere else we’d rather be. To find out more about the eHIEP project, contact Colleen.Cheek@tas.edu.au
March 2010
Page 3
Working with nature to protect against sea level rise More than 170 residents, students, planners and government officials attended the free Regional Coastal Forum on 23 March to hear how sea‐level rise is effecting coastal eco‐ systems in our region, and what impacts are likely in the future. Organised by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, the Forum featured guest speakers from UTAS and the Phillip Island Nature Park, and afternoon workshops for environmental and marine science students.
Coastal Geomorphologist, Chris Sharples, shares research findings at the Regional Coastal Forum. Photo: Walter van Praag
Research underway at Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay in Circular Head is showing how vulnerable sheltered bays are to sea level rise and has found evidence of erosion in these estuaries. If allowed, the saltmarsh and seagrass in this area provide a natural defence to the impacts of climate change. Saltmarsh can slow erosion and reduce its severity and the researchers are now looking at practical ways that people can work with nature to protect both natural and commercial assets. Once completed, research results from the Robbins Passage project will be shared via Cradle Coast NRM. In the interim, for more information on the Forum presentations, please contact Facilitator Team Leader, Anna Wind on awind@cradlecoast.com
In the News Cradle Coast Authority staff have been actively promoting regional projects and successes over the last month. Here are some examples: “...In addition to specific projects and local announcements, the Authority wants to make sure that the parties are thinking about big ideas that can change the way our region works...” – Roger Jaensch, Executive Chairman. The Advocate, March 3, as part of the ‘Five ideas to shape our future’ election lobbying and online blog discussion. These ideas were addressed on March 4 in The Advocate with responses from the three parties under the heading ‘Joint pledge to take ideas on board’. :“...It is incredibly important that we start to recognise what it is worth as an environment for visitors...” – Ian Waller, Regional Tourism Development Manager, at the launch of the Whyte Hill Lookout and other Tarkine Experiences. The Advocate, March 24, Southern Cross & WIN TV News
“...We had a broad spectrum of participants. From people with no bird‐ watching experience...to those who are very experienced...” – Dionna Newton, NRM Facilitator, Shorebird Survey project. Devonport Times, March
“...RV visitors are significant, not only to the region but to the state as well...” ‐ Ian Waller, ensuring the region is ready to make the most of the Caravan and Motorhome rally in Carrick. The Advocate, March 12 Plus there were radio interviews with Matt Rose and Alison Dugand on pampas grass weed control, with Ian Waller on the Food Connections Network, and Anna Renkin on the CORS Feasibility Study among others. For more details, please contact Amanda Wilson on 6431 6285.
Visit the Cradle Coast Authority web site for copies of our media releases www.cradlecoast.com
Page 4
The Authority
Recognising our region’s tourism assets It’s on again ‐ the Cradle Coast “Qantaslink” Regional Tourism Forum will be held in Ulverstone on 28 and 29 July 2010. Now in its fifth year, the Forum’s reputation is growing as the premier regional tourism conference held in Tasmania. Reinforcing this reputation is the addition of the inaugural Cradle Coast “Advocate” Regional Tourism Awards; the winners of which will be announced at the Forum. Within the Cradle Coast region there are many wonderful tourism products that warrant recognition, but traditionally the region’s presence in the annual Tasmanian Tourism Awards has been understated due to the low number of local entries. It is hoped that by conducting regional awards, and providing support to regional winners to enter the state awards, local tourism operators can attract the level of recognition in the state and national arenas that they deserve. Registrations will open soon for the Regional Tourism Forum. To learn more about the Regional Tourism Awards or the Forum, please contact Regional Tourism Development Manager, Ian Waller, on iwaller@cradlecoast.com or 6431 6285.
Local Employment Coordinator support continues This month saw the transition of the Local Employment Coordinator position from Geoff Speers at the Cradle Coast Authority to James McCormack who has been contracted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Employment support for north west and northern Tasmania will continue unchanged with ongoing involvement in a range of activities such as the McCains Community Taskforce, finalising the Regional Employ‐ ment Plan, and preparing for the “Building the Recovery” Forum scheduled for April (see the below). Thanks go to Geoff for the important contribution he has made to employers, employment service providers and job seekers in the Cradle Coast region. His efforts were particularly felt during the peak of the economic downturn and he has helped bring many individuals and organizations through this tough time. James McCormack has over 30 years experience working with the federal government and private enterprise in a range of areas covering economic development, employment, human services program delivery, health, Indigenous affairs and immigration. James, based in Ulverstone, commenced with DEEWR as the new Local Employment Coordinator on 23 March and can be contacted by email: James.McCormack@deewr.gov.au or 0428 299 262.
Briefly DEEWR is holding a
Building the Recovery Forum at the Gateway Motel, Devonport Wednesday 14 April 2010 starting at 4.30pm The forum will be hosted by the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Jason Clare, and is part of a nationwide series to inform the small and medium sized building and construction companies of opportunities currently available. Registration details will be available in early April. Contact James McCormack at James.McCormack@deewr.gov.au for further details.