Brighton Community News August/September 2023

VOL 14 NO 4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023

www.brightoncommunitynews.com.au

BYAG Big Bangin Youth Night a big success

Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) hosted the Big Bangin Youth Night on Friday 19 May 2023 and was a great success. Brighton youth community members had turned out for a night packed with activities, talks and entertainment. Highlights included Tasmanian battle rappers Greeley and Dunn D, DJ Cheek_E, a host of local acts, and “The Talk” community forum. The night

was the first major event designed by BYAG as a celebration of young people living in the Brighton area.

BYAG is a group supported by Brighton Council and aims to build relationships with young people aged 12-25 years by giving them a voice within the community. They are motivated, creative and kind, and make up a

large part of the Brighton municipality.

A huge shout-out goes to BYAG for leading the way for Brighton young people, along with a huge thank you to the community members and small businesses who donated their time and resources to make the night a success.

Photography by Grace Chia.

Published by the Brighton Council. It is distributed to households and businesses throughout the municipality.

Circulation: In excess of 9,000.

Managing Editor: Angela Turvey

Editorial and Advertising: Steph Williams

Email: communitynews@brighton.tas.gov.au

Published by: Brighton Council 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach TAS 7017

2023 edition deadlines: October/November edition

Stories and contributions: Friday 1

September

Advertising material: Friday 8 September

BRIGHTON COUNCIL

Brighton Council Meetings

Meetings held at Council Offices, 1 Tivoli Rd, Old Beach

Ordinary Council

15 August 2023 and 19 September 2023

Planning Authority

1 August 2023 and 5 September 2023

Finance Committee

1 August 2023 and 5 September 2023

Agendas can be viewed online four days prior to the meetings at: www.brighton.tas.gov.au

admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au

General Enquiries

Email Website

admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au

General Manager James Dryburgh

Community Development Officer

Environmental & Development Services

General Enquiries

Welcome Kylie Murphy

Brighton Council welcomes new Community Development Officer Kylie Murphy to the team. Calling Tassie home since 2003, Kylie brings vast knowledge and experience from her past roles in early childhood education, community inclusion and development, and community campaign projects such as 26TEN.

“The Brighton Council area is growing rapidly, which is very exciting. The communities are vibrant, friendly and caring” Kylie said. “I was drawn to the role of Community Development Officer at Brighton because of the Council’s values and vision for the community now and into the future.”

Kylie’s enthusiasm for her new role has been inspired by her past work on projects such as Tasmania’s campaign for adult literacy, 26TEN, along with her recent work with the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG). “Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to work with BYAG. These amazing young people inspire me greatly with their insight

into their community and their thoughts on how, as community members, they can support and create new opportunities.”

Having lived in the Derwent Valley for 15 years after her family moved to Tasmania, Kylie is passionate about the country lifestyle and the beautiful friendliness of communities like Brighton. “Working with community is what inspires me, working together, sharing conversations and bringing ideas to life. I want to continue supporting BYAG to achieve their goals and listening, talking and getting to know the Brighton community.”

“I’m very passionate and excited about the future ahead for the Brighton community, with the fabulous community-led initiatives like the Brighton Food Hub and many others. It displays that Brighton is looking at ways for Brighton to care for Brighton; just amazing,” Kylie said.

If you spot Kylie out and about, she would love you to say hello to her and have a chat.

Local bus stops to get upgrade

LEIGH GRAY (Mayor)

Brighton 7030

Tel: 6268 0704 / 0488 390 115 cr.gray@brighton.tas.gov.au

BARBARA CURRAN (Deputy Mayor) Brighton 7030

Tel: 0417 612 868 cr.curran@brighton.tas.gov.au

AARON DE LA TORRE Brighton 7030

Tel: 0427 813 821 cr.delatorre@brighton.tas.gov.au

PETER GEARD

Brighton 7030

Tel: 6268 1143 / 0418 515 649 cr.geard@brighton.tas.gov.au

GREG IRONS

Brighton 7030 Tel: 0424 333 360 cr.irons@brighton.tas.gov.au

JOHN MCMASTER Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0408 543 772 cr.mcmaster@brighton.tas.gov.au

TENNILLE MURTAGH

Bridgewater 7030 Tel: 0434 618 316 cr.murtagh@brighton.tas.gov.au

PHILIP OWEN Old Beach 7017

Tel: 6249 8575 / 0419 333 252 cr.owen@brighton.tas.gov.au

MICHAEL WHELAN

Brighton 7030 Tel: 0409 416 353 cr.whelan@brighton.tas.gov.au

Immunisation Clinics 2023

All correspondence should be addressed to the General Manager, Brighton Council, 1 Tivoli Road, Old Beach 7017.

All-weather, sheltered bus stops are on the way in Tasmania, with the Brighton municipality included in the rollout. Bus routes in Bridgewater and Gagebrook will benefit from 13 of the 138 stops that are set to be upgraded around the state. The project is the first round of funding under the All Access All Weather Bus Stop Upgrade Grant Program by the state government. Bus stops will be upgraded in priority locations

to make sure they’re accessible for people with disabilities, and will provide a more comfortable experience for public transport passengers.

The round one upgrades are expected to be completed by January 2024. For a list of councils and bus stops receiving funding under round one of the Bus Stop Upgrade Program, head to www. transport.tas.gov.au.

Brighton Council provides FREE monthly immunisation clinics at the Brighton Civic Centre, 25 Green Point Road, Bridgewater from 2–3pm on these dates:

Tuesday 1 August

Tuesday 5 September

Tuesday 3 October

Tuesday 7 November

Tuesday 5 December

For inquiries please call Brighton Council’s Environmental Health Officer (03) 6268 7029

admin@brighton.tas.gov.au www.brighton.tas.gov.au

Warm welcome to Inspector Marco Ghedini

Police Inspector Marco Ghedini recently took up the leadership role at the Bridgewater Division of Tasmania Police after 21 years in the force. He has previously worked in a wide range of roles, including being based in North West Tasmania (Burnie and Devonport), as well as Hobart and Glenorchy. His latest area of responsibility takes in the municipalities of Brighton, Derwent Valley, Central Highlands and the Southern Midlands and includes 75 police officers.

Inspector Ghedini grew up in West Hobart. Born to Italian migrant parents, he is fluent in Italian and takes an active interest in multicultural communities,

working as a multicultural liaison officer meeting regularly with different community leaders.

He comes to Bridgewater with a genuine desire to make a difference in the communities he works for. He takes a very collaborative approach to supporting the community and his team.

Inspector Ghedini does not shy away from the reality of the challenges in our communities, but is quick to identify that these challenges have always been there and are not unique to our area. He describes himself as being proactive rather than reactive and says, “At times we can feel

E-waste can now be recycled at Cove Hill

Ever wondered if used electronic waste (e-waste) could be reused? A new electronic waste collection service is available in Brighton, creating more recycling options for residents and businesses. Brighton Council and the Resource Work Cooperative have organised an electronic or ‘e-waste’ collection point at the Cove Hill Waste Transfer Station. The electronic waste

will be collected from Brighton, sorted through manual recycling in South Hobart, and then sent to various recycling facilities interstate and throughout the world.

The e-waste bin is open Friday to Monday and is used for disposal of:

• Computer parts

• Modems

• Smart boards

• Power tools

• Welders

• Car batteries (smaller batteries can be recycled at the Council Offices waste booth).

e-waste that cannot be recycled locally at this stage includes:

• Television screens (these can be recycled at Harvey Norman)

• Printers

• Keyboards

• Docking stations

• Kitchen appliances.

There is a list of smaller e-waste items such as mobile phones that can be recycled via the Brighton Council Offices foyer waste booth. If you have bulk computer changeovers that need recycling, head to www.brighton.tas.gov.au/ property/waste/ to check if it is the type of electronic waste that can be recycled.

Public Notices

unsafe in our communities but in reality, Tasmania is a very safe place to live and we need to communicate more to reassure the community this is the case and the positive work that is being done to keep people safe.”

“My approach is about us building relationships, being continually engaged with the community, talking to people and being guided by what the community tells us. You cannot underestimate the importance of visibility in the community in helping to prevent crime and we will have a daily focus on traffic and road safety. It is a back-to-basics approach to policing.”

Inspector Ghedini is looking forward to being out and about in the community and ensuring there are more opportunities for ‘meet and greet’ style events for police officers and the community, where members of the community can just have a chat about their thoughts or concerns. Inspector Ghedini states, “We are always open to ideas from the community.”

When Inspector Ghedini isn’t hard at work looking after the people in his teams and the communities within the Bridgewater Division, he enjoys the simple things in life including walking, soccer and time with his young family.

Tea Tree Turns 200

The Tea Tree community is celebrating 200 years at an event at the Tea Tree Community Hall in September. Since 1823, the Tea Tree settlement has grown and flourished into a thriving community who are proud to be celebrating their bicentennial milestone.

All are welcome to join the celebrations which start at 2pm on 9 September at the Tea Tree Community Hall, 596 Tea Tree Road, Tea Tree. Food and drinks will be available to buy. For more information, head to www.teatreecommunity.com.

or email me at

For assistance with all federal matters, please contact me on (03)

As a Council, we have now approved the budget for 2023-24 and have a busy year ahead of us. As we’ve witnessed this year, many municipal areas around Tasmania have seen rates increase substantially. I’m pleased to advise that our rates have, once again, been kept to a minimum despite the escalation of costs.

For many years, our policy at Brighton Council has been to raise rates in line with CPI. We continue to do that. On average our residential rates will increase by just $70 in total, less than $1.50 per week. And we’re pleased to be able to continue to offer the lowest rates in Tasmania to assist our community to manage soaring household expenses.

2023/24 – The Year Ahead for Brighton Council

Despite this minimal increase in rates, we have been able to deliver a budget that will continue to see many projects and initiatives undertaken to meet the needs of our growing population and maintain our assets.

Council’s Annual Plan for 2023-2024, developed in line with our 2050 Vision, is now endorsed by Council and available for your review on Council’s website. I would like to share for your information here, just a few of the key projects that will be undertaken this financial year.

Ted Jeffries Memorial Park Masterplan, Brighton

Works to establish a quality recreation and sporting precinct across Ted Jeffries Memorial Park will continue, in keeping with Council’s commitment to plan for and provide infrastructure to support our rapidly growing community. This includes construction of carparks and bus stops to make our community safer, together with soccer grounds, clubroom, changerooms and a long-awaited dog park.

Brighton Town Square Council will complete planning and design for a town square in Brighton and commence construction.

Cris Fitzpatrick Park, Gagebrook

Commence Stage 1 of the Cris Fitzpatrick Park master plan. This project will see a new playground constructed in the park as well as significant upgrades to the connecting pathways between Bridgewater and Gagebrook.

Swan Park, Herdsmans Cove

Based on the consultation that was undertaken with the local community last year, commence construction to complete the upgrades of the park.

Climate Resilience

Council will investigate coastal hazard impacts and building resilience through the Brighton Derwent River Foreshore Coastal Hazards Project.

There will be the ongoing implementation of our Weed Management Strategy, Natural Resource Management Strategy and Foreshore Management Plan.

Road Infrastructure

This financial year will see the:

• Reconstruction of some sections of Andrew Street, Scott Road, Elderslie Road and Myna Park Road.

• Resealing sections of Childs Drive, Landermere Drive, Harvest Lane and Mollineaux Drive.

Welcome additions to Bridgewater Parklands

Brand new toilet facilities at the Bridgewater Parkland in Eddington Street were recently completed as part of the Bridgewater Parkland Master Plan for the area. Alongside the new public loos, there are also new BBQ shelters, picnic tables, a water fountain and bike stands for the community to enjoy. Brighton Council engaged Hobart-based, landscape architect studio, Playstreet, to design and develop Bridgewater Parkland. The parkland has been welcomed by the community and is even now featured on the Heart Foundation’s Health Active by Design website as a “valuable area of public open space”. The official opening of this stage two of Bridgewater Parkland is scheduled for August. All of the local community and users will be invited along for a celebration at the park.

• Sealing parts of Millvale Drive and Rifle Range Road.

• Formalisation of the overland flow path from Andrew Street to Jordan River to improve stormwater and reduce flooding risk in the area.

We continue to work in line with our Council-endorsed 10-year Asset Management Plan and 10-year Financial Management Plan, both approved in July 2021 and due for review later this year.

Social Infrastructure Development

• Council will prioritise and implement recommendations from Council’s Social Infrastructure Plan.

• Continue to advocate for improved public transport access, including ferry infrastructure and services.

• Continue to advocate for the significant freight route between Brighton and Cambridge to be taken over as a State Road and upgraded accordingly.

• We will advocate for Pontville Park to be considered as a high-performance facility for a Tasmanian AFL team.

Community Development

Our commitment to engaging with and enabling our community will continue in earnest.

Council is all too aware of the social challenges facing our community and the importance of supporting our incredible volunteers who are filling the gaps in regard to issues facing young people, food security and health services.

We have committed to reviewing and optimising Council property and assets for community benefit. Council will continue to support the Brighton Alive and Brighton Alive Youth Network, the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) and Brighton Food Hub as invaluable services and networks in keeping our community connected and able to not just survive but thrive.

Our budget is one that reflects we are a place and community that continues to plan for the future. We understand that our communities are experiencing more challenges than ever before but please rest assured, Council will continue to listen, learn and work with our community to try and overcome these challenges. More than ever, we believe in the strength of our community.

Play Cricket This Summer

Have the Ashes got you inspired to play cricket?

Brighton District Cricket Club invites anyone interested in playing cricket to join pre-season training. Training commences in August and games start in October. The club welcomes people of all ages to get involved, whether that’s picking up a bat and playing, joining the committee, or volunteering a bit of

time to assist with events, training and game days. The club is based at Ferguson Oval in Pontville and is a very inclusive and welcoming club - a large number of members come from diverse backgrounds and cultures. For more information about joining or the upcoming preseason dates, head to www. facebook.com/brightondistrictcricketclub.

Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray

A big community thank you to Brittany Szlezak

That must be hard, it looked like you were really enjoying your time at Council. Would I sound like a suck up if I said Brighton Council has been the best employer I have ever had?

Community work and bureaucracies can be difficult to balance when you’re trying to contribute to positive placebased change, but from the day I started at Council, I have been met with curiosity and a willingness from both elected members and staff to try new things and explore what community development can look like for Brighton at a more strategic level. Brighton Council has become a bit of a second family for me really. They have supported me to grow and take healthy risks with my work.

New cafe now brewing in Brighton

There’s a new spot to get your caffeine hit locally, with Bean to Brew cafe recently opening at the Brighton Civic Centre in Bridgewater. The team behind the cafe are Sam and Heather - they ran the business out of a coffee van for many years but the new bricks-and-mortar cafe gives locals a spot to meet, connect and enjoy good food and coffee.

Bean to Brew also sponsors programs like Café Connections. The

new cafe offers a range of lunch eats such as toasties, chowder, soups and curries. They also stock a range of cakes and sweet treats which are supplied fresh throughout the week from Jen’s Kitchen Kreations, a Rosetta-based catering business.

Bean to Brew is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm at 25 Green Point Rd, Bridgewater. For more information, check out www.facebook.com/beantobrewcafe.

It was with much sadness that Brighton Council said goodbye to Community Development Officer Brittany Szlezak in April this year due to her moving interstate. We have said our farewells to Brittany but her legacy in community development at Brighton Council and in our communities will live on for a very long time. In just 12 months Brittany built our reputation and capacity beyond what we could have ever hoped for in such a short time, and we will be forever grateful.

Brittany’s story was one of building relationships, trust and giving people a voice. She operated from a place that was always person-centred, trauma-informed and about making sure people were listened to and heard. To see this in action was to see Brittany’s work with the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG) and the creation of

the Big Bangin Youth Night in Bridgewater - “Nothing about us without us”. Brit’s bravery and boldness with her ‘the worst they can do is say no’ attitude, helped our young people and the BYAG find a voice whilst having a really good time. We thank you Brittany for trusting your gut, joining the team at Brighton Council and bringing everyone on the journey with you.

We had a chat with Brittany and asked her to share a quick reflection on what the year was like for her in this newly created role.

Hi Brittany, so, leaving us so soon? Yeah, if you asked me two months ago if I thought I was moving interstate, the answer would have been ‘no’. I had great plans to make Brighton my forever home and place of work but life has other plans it seems.

What’s your biggest achievement since being with Council? Definitely starting the Brighton Youth Action Group, otherwise known as the BYAG. Even before I started, I knew community was screaming out for something to be done for young people in our community, so it has been really exciting to work with community to get this up and running. Engaging with the authenticity and energy of young people is one of my favourite things about community work, so I look forward to keeping an eye on how this group progresses.

What advice would you give to someone stepping into a community development role at Brighton Council? Be prepared to enjoy one of the most enriching jobs you will ever have and always remember aiming for the stars never hurt anyone so always be idealistic about what you want for community but remember things take time to change.

Carers: Have your say in Carers Tasmania research project

Carers Tasmania are running a research project to better understand the experiences and needs of informal kinship carers across Tasmania. An informal kinship carer is an adult who provides care to a person under 18 years old because their parent is not able to, and there is no formal agreement or court order in place. The project aims to identify informal kinship

carers across Tasmania and consult with them so Carers Tasmania can understand their service and support needs. Kinship carers can share their knowledge via:

• A private (one-on-one) phone call or Zoom chat,

• Attending a community forum in their local area, or

• Completing an online survey.

The research report findings will help develop necessary support services and connect kinship carers with Care2Serve programs, events and initiatives that will support them as informal kinship carers. All information collected will be de-identified and kept confidential. For more information on the Carers Tasmania research project, call 03 6144 7300.

Still time to shoot Jerry

Have you noticed some new street art? The TasWater pump station, located near the Jordan River at Herdsmans Cove, is donning a fresh new look.

Zac and Todd, mural artists from Vibrance, created the artwork for the pump station, doing away with the ordinary and giving the building a brand-new vibe. Go check it out!

Brighton sits at global table for Community Development

In June Brighton Council’s newly appointed Manager, Community Development & Engagement, Angela Turvey and Community Development Officer, Brittany Szlezak attended the 2023 World Community Development Conference “From the Edge” on Larrakia country in Darwin. More than 300 delegates from all over the world reflected on the impact of colonisation on communities and the vital role we all play (not just community development practitioners) in leaning into the ancient wisdom of indigenous/First Nations peoples and using traditional or more authentic approaches to healing people and communities.

A key theme was recognising that culture is a powerful foundation for community development, shaping identities, values and social norms. It was about embracing cultural diversity and honouring traditional knowledge to drive positive change and transformation in communities.

Brittany presented her paper

The Edge of One’s Tolerance celebrating and sharing her story of place-based community development in our Brighton local government area. It was a story that showed that with the right people, local government is about building relationships, trust and giving people a voice.

Here is some of what they heard in Darwin:

• The need to decolonise community development practices and make it about community first, true self-determination - “Nothing about us, without us”, which means bottom-up solutions not cookie-cutter approaches, theories

and frameworks.

• Using human rights law to advocate for better standards of housing, access to food and healthcare. It is outrageous that a country like Australia needs food banks and has the current levels of homelessness. These are basic human rights.

• Local government should always be supporting what community wants and needs, not coming up with what we think is best for the community or has a public relations angle to it.

• Form enduring relationships, not fleeting relationships just to serve a purpose. Humanise local government by building these relationships.

Listening and doing with, not doing to.

• Community development has the latest challenge of needing to include nature and environment as vital elements to community wellbeing.

Angela is new to community development at Brighton, but has 10 years experience working in local government and small regional communities plus an educational background in sociology, social research and human services. The conference was a great start to inspiring new ideas and approaches as Angela and the new Community Development Officer, Kylie, endeavour to continue Brittany’s legacy.

Have you snapped a great pic of the Bridgewater Jerry? The Cafe Connections Bridgewater Jerry Competition is on now and runs until 31 August, so there is still time to enter. Submissions will be on display in Bridgewater

TasWater Pump Station rocking new look Bridgewater PCYC the high achiever of 2023

The Bridgewater PCYC has had a great first half of 2023 with numerous achievements under their belt. Achievements include winning the 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards ‘Building Communities’ category and being a recipient of a MyState Foundation grant, valued at $10,000.

The Bridgewater PCYC has also been short-listed for the 2023 Tasmanian Training Awards in the ‘Small Employer of the Year’ category. This reflects the Bridgewater PCYC’s emphasis in recent years to improve opportunities for staff while continuing to develop the organisation. One member who joined the Bridgewater PCYC at the start of 2022 is Temo Robertson, who originally began as a schoolbased trainee, and is now shortlisted in the Tasmanian Training Awards as the 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.

with finalists announced in September 2023. So grab your camera, phone or polaroid if you’re fancy, and go get snapping. For more info, head to the Cafe Connections www.facebook.com/ cafewithadifference.

Bridgewater PCYC is proud to have given members like Temo the opportunity to excel in a host of community services that she is passionate about.

The Bridgewater PCYC provides a range of services and support programs with a focus on creating more opportunities to engage young people in the community. For more information, check out www.bwpcyc. com.au.

New Brighton dog park will soon have tails wagging

Construction on a much anticipated off-lead dog park in Brighton started in May this year and is due to be completed by early August. The Brighton Dog Park, at the Ted Jeffries Memorial Park in Seymour Street, is set to become a favourite destination for local pooches and their owners.

The park will provide a great space to let your dog off-lead and to meet, play and interact with other dogs. It will have a dedicated small dog area, which is also good for less active, senior or less playful dogs. This new dog park is Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant, so it is designed for people of all abilities.

Although the Brighton Dog Park will be open to the public as soon as possible, Brighton Council will provide further landscaping and access improvements over the coming months to fully complete it. This will include plantings, bench seats, gravel tracks, waste and recycling bins and water for dogs and people.

The park is part of the broader Ted Jeffries Memorial Park Master Plan, which will provide a new club room, soccer pitch improvements and extensions, and upgrade to the Seymour

Street stormwater piping, a new carpark, new improved skatepark, basketball court and recreation area. For more information, head to www.brighton. tas.gov.au.

Bridgewater Community House Reopens

The Bridgewater Community House renovations are complete, with the official reopening held late July. Renovations on the community house, run by the Jordan River Service, began in February with major structural and quality-of-life changes made to the building. During the works, many of the vital community services were offered out of Gagebrook Community House instead. With

New public recycling bins keep Brighton clean and green

New recycling bins have been installed as part of Brighton Council’s efforts to provide greater recycling options and improve the amenity of the Brighton area. The new bins are at the Bridgewater playground, outside the IGA in Brighton and at the Civic Centre.

“The upgrades are part of a suite of sustainability actions, outlined in the Climate Change and Resilience Strategy,” Mayor Leigh Gray

said. “The Council is working with our local sustainability champions in schools and community groups as well as providing improved infrastructure.”

“This initiative complements several government waste initiatives designed to better recycle existing resources, prevent littering, and divert waste away from landfill,” Mayor Gray said. For more info, head to www.brighton.tas.gov.au/ property/waste/

the renovations complete, the new and renewed Bridgewater Community House, located at 6 Bowden Drive, Bridgewater, is back with services running as normal again.

The Jordan River Service is a community organisation that helps support local residents by providing a wide range of vital services through Bridgewater and Gagebrook Community

Houses and Waterbridge Food Co-op. They wish to thank the community for their patience and support during the project and welcome everyone to come and share the new and improved Bridgewater Community House. To check out what’s on at Bridgewater Community House, head to www.nht.org. au/houses/bridgewater-community-house-jrs

Do you need help getting to work or training?

Area Connect offers flexible transport solutions in regional areas to help people get to work or training where access to transport is limited or unavailable.

To find out more about the options available head to www.areaconnect.org.au or call James on 0476 336 220 for more information.

WHAT’S ON IN AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER

Pull on your disco shoes and get your groove on at mY Night ‘All Abilities’ Disco at the Y Glenorchy from 7pm. Tickets start at $10. Book via www. the-y-glenorchy.org. au.

Cafe Connections are meeting today at Brighton Civic Centre from 10am-12pm. Check out www. facebook.com/cafewithadifference for more info.

Do you struggle with asthma?

Healthy Tasmania is hosting a community focus session at Bridgewater Neighbourhood House today. Book via asthma.org.au/ tasdiscovery.

Head up to Oatlands for the Heritage & Bullock Festival. Enjoy a step back in time with bullocks, horses, steam engines, stalls and more. From 10am-4pm.

If you’re in need of affordable groceries, head to the Brighton Food Hub today, held at the Brighton Civic Centre. Groceries start at 50c, hampers from $20. From 11am-2pm. Also on 17 August.

Sea Shepherd Tasmania is hosting a community clean-up at Jordan River Trail today at 36 Ford Rd, Pontville. Look for the Sea Shepherd crew cleaning up along the trail. Starts 11am.

The Country Women’s Association monthly meeting is on today at Pontville Memorial Hall, starting at 10.30am. For enquiries, call Lyn on (03) 6268 1499.

Hand’s Up Clothing Exchange is on at the Gagebrook Community House from 10am-1pm. Fill a bag for $5.

On the hunt for pre-loved items, bric-a-brac, arts, crafts or local produce? Head to the Brighton Market at Pontville Community Hall. From 9am2pm.

Get the kids off Minecraft and head out for some real-world fun at Lego Club at the Bridgewater Library, 3:30pm4:30pm. Register via Eventbrite.

It’s time to roll up your sleeves. The Old Beach Foreshore Monthly Clean Up is on today from 10am12pm. Head down to Old Beach Jetty to get involved.

The Veteran’s Memorial Centre Annual General Meeting is on today at 25 Old Main Road, Bridgewater from 10am. Financial members may vote at the AGM. Memberships are $30 a year.

Head to Coal River Farm for an afternoon of s’mores, fire, cheese and music at Campfire Tunes, from 2pm-5pm.

The Brighton Food Hub is open today at the Brighton Civic Centre, selling groceries items from 50c and hampers from $20. All welcome. From 11am-2pm.

SEPTEMBER

Dining with Friends is on tonight in Bridgewater. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend and enjoy a free three-course meal. From 5:30pm at the Brighton Civic Centre.

Head down to Tea Tree Community Hall to celebrate 200 years of Tea Tree. All are welcome, with food and drinks available for purchase. Starts at 2pm.

Go along to Centacare Evolve Housing’s ‘Bin 2 Win 2023’ event at Cris Fitzpatrick Park. Offload your rubbish and recyclables and enjoy a free BBQ. From 10am-2pm.

It’s time to slip, slop, slap and glove up again. Old Beach Foreshore Monthly Clean Up is on today from 10am12pm at Old Beach Jetty.

NAIDOC Week celebrations

Little learners at Tagari Lia

Child and Family Learning Centre celebrated NAIDOC week with kutalayna Collective by holding a First Nations flag-raising and community lunch event. Legana Hughes gave a beautiful Welcome to Country which was followed by lunch and cultural activities, including hand and foot painting and talks. This year’s theme for NAIDOC Week was ‘For Our Elders’ which pays respect to indigenous elders, past and present, who hold an important place in communities and families. Tagari Lia extends a warm thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to their NAIDOC celebrations. NAIDOC Week is held each year in July and celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. To find out more about NAIDOC week, head to www.naidoc.org.au. Pics: Tagari Lia FB.

Lovers of live country music can head to Dromedary Hall tonight and enjoy tunes from the Derwent Valley Country Music Club. Plays 7pm-10.30pm.

Happy Father’s Day! Take Dad and some sausages for a sizzle at the new Bridgewater Parkland BBQ and picnic area.

The Country Women’s Association monthly meeting is on today at Pontville Memorial Hall. Starts 10.30am. For enquiries, call Lyn on (03) 6268 1499.

Pop down to Glenorchy’s KGV oval today for the annual Kick for Heartkids 4. The retro theme footy match helps raise money for kids with congenital heart defects in Tassie. Bounce from 2pm.

The Old Beach Neighbourhood Watch bi-monthly meeting is on tonight from 7-8pm at Old Beach Community Centre.

Brighton Places of Worship

Catholic St. Paul’s Catholic Church 2-4 Paice St, Bridgewater

Saturday Vigil - 6pm

Sunday - 9am and 12 noon

Fr. Leo 6263 6242 St Matthew’s Catholic Church 231 Brighton Rd, Brighton Sunday - 10:30am 6263 6242

Hindu Sri Ganesha Cultural Center and Worship Place 6 Letitia Grove, Bridgewater 400 273 249

New Life Christian Brighton Civic Centre Green Point Rd

Sunday - 10.30am

Pastor Brian Edwards 0458 505 070

Anglican St. Mark’s Church LOT 1 Kimberly St, Pontville

Sunday - 10am

Rev. Rod. Curtain 6263 7700

Uniting Church

Claremont-Bagdad

Claremont 36 Wyndham Rd, Claremont Sunday - 10am

Glenorchy 446 Main Rd, Glenorchy

Sunday - 9.30am

On the 1st Sunday, services are combined.

Venue alternates between the two churches, starting at 10am

Rev. Sherrin Jackman 0447 507 059

Uniting Church

Bridgewater-Gagebrook

Bridgewater

Uniting Hub, Green Point Rd

Sunday - 10am 0434 799 506

Sunny day at Brighton Market. Pic: FB

Cows! At the Oatlands Heritage and Bullock Festival. Pic: Olde Time Portraits

Inspiring Future Leaders Program returns to Brighton

Centacare Evolve Housing Inspiring Future Leaders program is returning to Brighton in the second half of 2023. Funding from the Tasmanian Community Fund has helped the Inspiring Future Leaders program to be expanded in 2023, to grow into new areas of Tasmania.

The program supports and empowers local

community members to recognise their leadership potential and gain confidence and skills in planning and delivering projects in the community.

“We have had a fantastic start to the year with the expansion of the program and the development of great projects,” Inspiring Future Leaders Coach, Liana said. “We are

No-bake Lemon Slice

looking forward to the program returning to Brighton in late July and seeing what amazing ideas this community come up with.”

If you would like to find out more about the Inspiring Future Leaders program, visit www. centacareevolve.com.au or call Liana on 0467 542 239.

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients

½ cup sweetened condensed milk

125 grams butter

250 grams milk arrowroot biscuits

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 cup desiccated coconut

Lemon icing

1 ¾ cups icing sugar

3 tablespoons lemon juice

15 grams butter

2 tablespoons coconut

Method

Slice: Put the condensed milk and the butter in a small saucepan and stir it over a gentle heat until the butter is melted and combined.

Crush the biscuits finely in a food processor. If you don’t have one, you can place the biscuits in a plastic bag and carefully smash them with a rolling pin to crush them. Add the lemon rind and coconut and mix together. Add the condensed milk and butter mixture to the crushed biscuits and combine. Press this into a greased slice tin (I also line with baking paper) 28cm x 18cm. Refrigerate for an hour.

Icing: Combine the icing sugar, lemon juice and butter in a bowl and mix well to form a smooth icing. Spread evenly over the slice and top with coconut or icing sugar.

What a journey! 16 memorable years at Brighton Council

with just herself and one qualified town planner. Today, the team consists of five qualified planners, all supported by Helen up until her retirement. Back when Helen commenced, the Council Offices were surrounded by paddocks with horses and cows grazing quietly and lots of open space. Today the Council offices are surrounded by new housing.

effectively managed to stay on top of what was required.

After 16 years of dedicated service, Helen Hansen retired from her role as Development Services Officer at the end of June. Helen is a long-serving local government employee, having worked for Derwent Valley Council for seven years, prior to taking on a customer service role at Brighton Council in 2007. Her skills and expertise in the area of planning administration are second-to-none.

Helen has adapted during times of rapid change in our municipality, not least of which has been the huge growth of developments within our area. When Helen started working for Brighton Council, the team was able to function effectively

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“I remember vividly myself and two other officers having to try and catch a horse on the loose near Tivoli Road. There were three of us trying to get the horse back where it belonged! You certainly need to be multiskilled when you work in local government,” Helen recalls with some amusement.

Anyone who has interacted with the Development Services team at Brighton Council is likely to have met Helen. She would assist customers in navigating the planning and approvals process, as well as managing the advertising of development applications, processing information through the right systems and issuing permits. Even with the many changes to planning schemes in recent years, Helen very

No

When asked what Helen enjoyed most about her time at Brighton Council, she was very quick to say, “It has most definitely been the work culture. It has always been a great bunch of people to work with, everyone is so friendly and accommodating. It’s a harmonious work culture from top down and unless you have experienced it, it’s hard to believe. It is quite unusual and unique to have this over such a long period of time. I have always enjoyed what I did, but who it is for, and who it is with, that was so important. I leave with many fond memories. It’s truly a wonderful place to work and I will miss you all.”

Although Helen is looking forward to some downtime, she is incredibly sad to be leaving her colleagues, customers and work friends at Brighton Council, but is looking forward to staying in touch. Congratulations Helen, your dedication, depth of experience and expert knowledge will leave a big gap, but we hope you have a well-deserved break with many new adven tures ahead.

to forced council amalgamations

The state government has officially announced there will be no forced amalgamations of local governments across Tasmania, including Brighton Council. Instead, communities and councils will decide their own future and the state government will ensure they have the final say. Each council has been invited to be a part of the Local Government Review Board’s review into local government, which has been ongoing since January

2022. The review aims to create a more robust and capable sys tem of local government. After the Board hands down its final report in October, each council will be invited to review it and make a submission to state gov ernment about what they want. Communities will then get a chance to have their say and the state government will respect their decision as it has been made clear that there should be no forced amalgamations.

Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys swing into Zoodoo Zoo

In a Tassie first, Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys have arrived at Zoodoo Zoo. Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray welcomed the spritely primates, originally from Melbourne Zoo, at the official launch opening of their new habitat in June. Zoodoo’s newest residents Tito (aged 6), Carlos (9), Enzo

intelligent monkeys - they can usually only be experienced by travelling to the mainland or overseas. The Squirrel Monkeys are an exciting addition to the Zoodoo family who are continuing their ongoing progression of the zoo’s new strategic plan to evolve into a conservation organisation.

Labor has a plan with the right priorities for Tasmania

Carer Gateway helped me get some time for a break.

Mary - Carer, Midway Point

Permanent venue needed for vital Brighton Community Food Hub

The Brighton Community Food Hub, a not-for-profit, community-run association, is in need of a suitable long-term venue so they can continue their work for the community.

Operating since March 2022, the Food Hub helps around 700 people in Brighton and surrounding areas each fortnight by providing affordable food through the Hub Shop, grocery hampers and free or low-cost food programs.

Geoff Hull, President of The Brighton Community Food Hub, said, “The Food Hub is greatly appreciative of the generous support we have received from Brighton Council Elected Members, but without

a permanent venue, the future of the Food Hub remains in doubt.”

“There are alternative venues outside of the Brighton LGA however moving the Food Hub to another LGA would greatly impact the local community and considerably reduce our volunteer base, so this is not a preferred option at this stage but will need to be considered in the near future.”

The Food Hub is currently operating from the Brighton Civic Centre (25 Green Point Road, Brighton) however, this isn’t a long-term solution. Since the end of 2022, the Brighton Food Hub committee has worked hard to find an alternative ven-

ue to run their events. Despite having approached several government departments, private individuals and similar organisations to explore partnerships, they are yet to secure a permanent venue.

Ideally, the new venue would have a small shop front and an attached storage area that can be adapted to the Food Hub’s needs, and be located within the Brighton area. This would make sure the Food Hub can keep running and supporting the community. Anyone able to offer assistance or would like more information should head to the Brighton Community Food Hub Inc Facebook page or email brightonfoodhubinc@ gmail.com.

The local Brighton doctor will see you now

Bedford Street Medical Centre opened its doors recently, offering vital medical services to Brighton area residents. With many doctors closing their books to new patients, Bedford Street Medical Centre is focused on providing affordable, sameday appointments with minimal waiting time.

How many doctors do you have at the clinic and what can patients expect there?

At present, we have one doctor, Dr Harpreet Kaur. We are accepting walk-ins, so it’s super easy for the new patients to see the reception staff and fill out the registration form. They will register the new patient on the spot and book the appointment with Dr Kaur on the same day if required.

How much are the fees? It is a mixed billing practice where the standard consult fees are $85 (the Medicare rebate is $39.75), so out-of-pocket will be $45.25. Children under six years old are bulk billed, as are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Why is the new clinic important for the Brighton area? We heard the community was struggling to find a local GP in the Brighton area and sometimes they have to travel into

Hobart to see a doctor. Also, the waiting time to see the doctor can be very long. Some patients are unable to find a doctor as many clinics are not taking new patients. We are trying our best

to support the community as much as we can. Call the clinic on 03 6246 7855, or visit at 1 Bedford Street, Brighton or online www.bedfordstreetmedical.com.

BEDFORD

1 BEDFORD STREET, BRIGHTON, TAS 7030

OPENING HOURS

TUESDAY : 08:00 AM - 12:30 PM

WEDNESDAY : 08:00 AM - 12:30 PM

THURSDAY : 08:00 AM - 12:30 PM

BOOKING INFORMATION

Currently our reception team is taking bookings from the main branch located in Mount Nelson.

Please DIAL : 03 6144 6499 OR 03 6246 7855 to book your next appointment at Bedford Street Medical Centre OR Email toinfo@bedfordstreetmedicalcentre.com.au

CAN'T BOOK THE APPOINTMENT ?

WALK-INS ARE WELCOME

BUT CLIENTS WITH THE APPOINTMENTS ARE GIVEN PRIORITY

Winterfest23 burns bright

The community celebrated with the vibrant Winterfest23 in Bridgewater in late June. The kutalayna Collective and Material Institute’s 24 Carrot Garden collaborated to host the festival, which was packed with live music, entertainment, a beauty lab, the Bridgewater Bridge Lifting Frame naming competition, a free communal

feast cooked by 24 Carrot Garden’s Chef Vlad, and heaps of other fun activities.

Shout out to the talented artists and entertainers who performed and to everyone who went along and enjoyed the festivities.

Pics: Photography By Danni.

More affordable housing options on the way

More housing options are on the way in the Brighton municipality with a new social and affordable housing development to deliver 53 properties in Bridgewater.

The new homes will become available for Tasmanians on the Housing Register, as well as people looking to buy their own property. The development includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom units, which will allow for a range of household sizes. “Built by Centacare Evolve Housing’s building and construction social enterprise St Joseph Affordable Homes, every apprentice employed by St Joseph’s has worked on this development at some point, Minister for State Develop-

ment, Construction and Housing Guy Barnett said.

“This shows that not only is our social housing construction program delivering more new homes for Tasmanians in need, it’s also providing significant employment opportunities and strengthening the industry’s workforce.”

The majority of new lots will be available for affordable home purchase with the MyHome shared equity program, which has helped about 150 Tasmanian individuals and families into a home in the past year.

Minister Barnett said, “With MyHome, you only need a deposit of two per cent of the purchase price. The cost of buying your home is shared

with Homes Tasmania through shared equity. Shared equity is available up to a maximum of $200,000 or 40 per cent (whichever is the lesser amount) of the purchase price for purchasers of new homes or house and land packages.”

“Homes Tasmania will retain around 15 percent of the Brighton subdivision lots for future social housing development and lots are expected to be available for purchase from mid-2024,” Minister Barnett said. Funding for the properties was provided by the state government through Homes Tasmania and the Hobart City Deal, and Centacare Evolve Housing which has fully funded 10 of the units.

Along with the units built in Bridgewater, plans are in the works for a new subdivision at Elderslie Road that will release about 100 new lots in Brighton. The project, again run by the state government through Homes Tasmania, aims to

reduce the impact of the housing crisis.

The majority of new lots will be available for purchase via the MyHome shared equity program which is offered through Homes Tasmania.

Future of Local Government Review Community feedback hearings are on soon.

Community hearings for the Future of Local Government Review are fast approaching. Nine public hearings are scheduled to be held this August, where both councils and community members will be presenting the Local Government Board with their ideas for the future of local government in Tasmania. Community sessions will be held between 5:30pm - 7:35pm at the following locations:

August 2023 Council sessions will also be held on these days from 9:30am - 4:40pm, which community members can also register to attend. Hearings will be livestreamed where possible. If you wish to attend a hearing, you must register your interest prior.

To find out more about the hearings and to register, visit engage.futurelocal.tas.gov.au/community-hearing-registration