The Authority What’s on in November?
Monthly newsletter of the Cradle Coast Authority November 2010 Special edition: A trip down memory lane after a decade of the Cradle Coast Authority —see page 2 and 3 for details
9 November Cradle Coast Authority Board meeting. Contact Leanne Bonney
Healthy Communities programs out of the starting blocks A ten‐week healthy lifestyle program covering all aspects of wellbeing from good nutrition to time management and physical activity is starting in Smithton on 23 November.
18 November Cradle Coast NRM Committee meeting. Contact Richard Ingram
The program is being offered by Circular Head Council as a free service for residents not currently in the paid work‐ force. The program is one of many in the region arising from the Cradle Coast Authority’s participation in the Australian Government’s Healthy Communities Initiative, all aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing the Above: Council represen‐ incidence of chronic disease.
25 November Representatives Meeting and 2009/10 Annual General Meeting. Contact Roger Jaensch
The Authority’s Healthy Communities Coordinator, Bev Hayhurst, is working with member councils to initiate programs in every municipality by December. To find out more, contact Bev on 6431 6285.
Call us on 6431 6285 to find out more
tatives take part in a Healthy Communities workshop to share ideas for new local programs.
Welcome new Business Manager and farewell to old friends This month the Authority welcomes Mark Summers to the team. Mark commences as the Business Manager and will lead the finance and administration team responsible for generating reports for the Board and Council Representatives and fulfilling the Authority’s statutory requirements.
As a passionate Cradle Coaster, Mark has 30 years experience working in the region as a chartered accountant and was born and raised in Burnie. Mark is a member of the Burnie Rotary Club and a committee member of the Burnie Harness Racing Club and currently resides in Penguin.
Cradle Coast Authority 30 Marine Terrace (PO Box 338) Burnie 7320 Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: admin@cradlecoast.com
The Authority extends heartfelt thanks and best wishes to the former Business Manager, Tina Murphy, who for family reasons has relocated to the mainland.
The Authority also says a fond farewell to Executive Officer, Karen Hampton. Karen has been an integral member of the team for six years and we congratulate her on her new position as Governance Coordinator with the Devonport City Council. From Monday 8 November, Mark can be contacted on msummers@cradlecoast.com
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The Authority
A decade of the Cradle Coast Authority This year marks the tenth anniversary since the region’s Councils created the Cradle Coast Authority. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the organisation’s history and regional projects. Following is a snapshot of the first ten years as a reminder of the journey so far: 1999 - 2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
The nine councils of north west Tasmania establish the Cradle Coast Authority, appoint Mayor Mike Downie as their Chief Representative and Roger Jaensch commences as the Executive Chairman. Cradle Coast Tourism is integrated with the Authority. A regional model for delivery of Federal Natural Heritage Trust funding is established for natural resource management (NRM) and a regional NRM Coordinator is appointed. The Authority’s total equity is $98,195 and employs two staff. Burnie office established and co‐location of regional staff takes place. The NRM Committee is formed and work commences on a regional NRM strategy and investment plan. The first regional Coastal Management Plan is completed. A Regional Tourism Development Manager is appointed. Work commences on a Regional Transport and Infrastructure Plan and a Regional Partnership Agreement is signed with the State Government. Former Burnie Hospital Site Joint Venture is formed and the site is purchased from private owners. The Sustainable Regions program is successfully negotiated for the region with the Australian Government and work commences on six initiatives. Partnerships are created with Events Tasmania and Tourism Tasmania. Regional Touring Route Strategy is completed and the Arthur River Road to Marrawah is sealed. Regional Waste Management audit is completed and both a Regional Aquatic Facilities Study and Recreational Trails Study ar undertaken by the Cradle Coast Recreation Advisory Group in conjunction with Sport and Recreation Tasmania. The total value of regional development projects and activities continue to double year‐on‐ year. An Education and Training program is established with the hiring of a project officer. The Stronger Learning Pathways project officer continues to deliver under the Sustainable Regions program. A report is completed into the Cradle Coast Food Industry Value Adding Initiative. An Executive Officer joins the Authority team. The Authority employs 18 staff, the majority through non‐council funding sources. Partnerships and lobbying delivers $30 million commitment to upgrade the Sisters Hills section of the Bass Highway, $4.1 million for upgrading of the centralised Cradle Valley Sewerage System and $15 million commercial development of the former Burnie Hospital site, plus job opportunities associated with these projects. The Authority helps to broker additional investment of over $11 million in the region. Under the Sustainable Regions Program the Authority identifies and initiates projects worth over $4.6 million to develop youth education, training and employment opportunities beyond school.
November 2010
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2005/06 The Sustainable Regions Program ends in which the Authority successfully secured funding for 46 projects with a total value of $44.5 million spanning education, tourism, food and engineering sectors, with significant activities in all municipalities. Mayor Darryl Gerrity is appointed Chief Representative. Regional Arts@Work project officer is extended to a full time position within the Authority and a Cultural Audit and Directory is completed for the region. Lobby support is given to the Fair Dinkum Food Campaign, a Source to Sensation food and beverage strategy is produced and the Tarkine Discussion Group is formed. 2006/07 Cradle Coast NRM delivers its second regional investment plan, directing this region’s share of Natural Heritage Trust funds to projects including the highly successful regional weeds strategy and assistance to landowners, community groups and Councils a to undertake on‐ground rehabilitation works. The Authority enters a three year agreement with the State to prepare a youth education, training and employment plan. The Authority employs 23 staff, the majority through non‐council funding sources. 2007/08 The Tarkine is established as an emerging tourism destination. Member councils agree to coordinate waste management at a regional level and the Regional Waste Management Group is formed. A Memorandum of Understanding is signed with State Government to undertake major reform of regional land use planning and work commences on the region’s first land use strategy. 2008/09 Regional Waste Management Strategy is adopted and a regional recycling contract is established across seven councils. Climate change risk assessments and action plans are completed for all councils. Tourism Zone Marketing Groups launch, the Food Connections Network is established (as a Regional Produce Group) and the Tarkine Tourism Development Strategy is released. 2009/10 The Authority successfully tenders for a contract to provide on‐ground coordination of the Australian Government’s Keep Australia Working package as the Global Financial Crisis is felt worldwide. The Board freezes the Authority’s operational budget in recognition of the economic challenges facing member councils. A strategic review is completed with councils and reassessment of the Authority’s Rules commences. Work begins on the development of the North West Coastal Pathway masterplan and on the Regional Shared Services project. The Authority is awarded funding to implement the Healthy Communities Initiative. The 2009/10 Annual Report The regional tourism and NRM units continue to deliver significant knowledge and will be practical assistance to the region’s residents, businesses, councils and visitors. The presented at the Authority’s total equity is $3,234,183 and employs 31 staff.
Authority’s AGM on 25 November
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The Authority
The fourth West Coast All Schools Tree Day was held in Queenstown recently with students from all six West Coast schools helping to plant 700 trees at three sites around the town.
The annual event is run by the West Coast Weed and Fire Manage‐ ment Group, including Marty Bower representing Cradle Coast NRM. The group works collaboratively to control and eradicate environmental weeds and emphasise community education in all of its projects. Since the West Coast All Schools Tree Day’s inception four years ago, it has involved more than 500 students in the plant‐ ing of at least 3200 indigenous West Coast plants around Rosebery, Zeehan, Strahan and Queenstown. Planting sites are focused on environmental weed control areas and the revegetation work forms part of the rehabilitation of lands reclaimed from weed incursion such as gorse. Above: Rosebery District High School students take part in the 2010 West Coast All Schools Tree Day
Photograph courtesy of Marty Bower
West Coast All Schools Tree Day
Support for the Cradle Coast tourism industry The Cradle Coast Authority tourism team continues to work with the industry and all levels of Government to minimise the impacts of the recent downturn in the tourism sector and ensure that the region is ready for when external conditions improve.
Activities that the Authority are implementing or participating in on behalf of the region’s tourism industry include: management of the Mining Heritage Project; working with Arts Tasmania on a Cultural Tourism Strategy; implementing the Tarkine Tourism Development Strategy; developing a regional approach to management of Motorhomes and many more. Contact Regional Tourism Development Manager, Ian Waller, on 6431 6285 for additional details.
In the news... Cradle Coast Authority staff have been actively promoting regional projects and successes over the last month. Here are some examples: “...We will ensure that the local coordinator finds and creates walking groups and that they get off the ground...” – Roger Jaensch promoting the Cradle Coast’s Healthy Communities Initiative . The Advocate, 30 October.
“...We are grateful to Burnie City Council for access to the site...and we hope that this will be the start of something bigger...” ...” – Belinda Colson, NRM Coastal Coordinator, promoting volunteer revegetation work at Cooee Creek. The Advocate, 6 October.
“..Our region is a leader in land use planning, tourism development and natural resource management at a regional scale...” Roger Jaensch on the Forestry Statement of Principles. The Advocate, 21 October. And... there were stories on the Shorebird monitoring project, West Coast All Schools Tree Day and Tarkine tourism development. For details, please contact Amanda Wilson on 6431 6285 or visit the web site for copies of our media releases: www.cradlecoast.com