NORTHERN MIDLANDS COUNCIL PRIORITY PROJECTS 2019 January 2019 Contents Devon Hills Western Junction 2 Avoca Strategic Projects Ben Lomond Bishopsbourne Perth Evandale National Park 4 Ben Lomond Strategic Projects Longford 6 Campbell Town Strategic Projects Nile 10 Cressy Strategic Projects Rossarden 14 Evandale Strategic Projects Cressy 19 Launceston Airport and TRANSlink Strategic Projects Epping Forest 22 Longford Strategic Projects Avoca 28 Perth Strategic Projects Poatina Conara 34 Ross Strategic Projects Royal George Campbell Town Ross Kalangadoo ƴ Ben Lomond’s spectacular rugged peaks Northern Midlands Council | Priority Projects 2019 1 Avoca Strategic Projects About Avoca Avoca, a small rural town, is located 81kms south-east of Launceston on the Esk Highway – 25kms from that highway’s intersection with the Midland Highway. The town is a popular rest stop for travellers to and from the East Coast. Avoca is situated on the banks of the South Esk river near the confluence with the St Paul’s river; renowned fishing waters. The area was officially settled in 1834 as a farming, coal and tin mining village. Mines in the area have closed and Avoca serves now only as a farming community. Boucher Park, in the heart of the town, is the focal point for town activities. The park is home to the museum/visitor centre, Cenotaph, public toilets, public BBQ and children’s playground. These facilities are high usage by locals and passing travellers. The 2016 ABS Census recorded the town’s population as 216 people, with a median age of 44 years. 11.2% of the town’s residents aged over 15 years were recorded as unemployed, compared to the state average of 7%. The median household income was $637, compared with the state average of $1,100. The town has services including a small primary school with a swimming pool, Post Office, service station, small general store and takeaway, and a museum/visitor centre situated in the old schoolhouse. ƴ Avoca Town Entrance Statement Northern Midlands Council | Priority Projects 2019 2 Avoca Strategic Projects (continued) The need for change Progress to date The museum/visitor centre in the old schoolhouse is managed Council has secured a State Government grant of $23,000 by volunteers who not only staff the facility but also need to to purchase and install solar panels and a heat pump at the fundraise to meet the centre’s operational costs. Power is one Museum and Visitor Centre. of the highest costs incurred. The preferred new playground unit has been selected: a The children’s playground is old and the equipment in dire life-size tractor and trailer unit that has many play options need of upgrading. including climbing and a slide. The cost of the play unit and high quality softfall has been quoted as $42,700. There are many rich and engaging untold stories associated with the Avoca Cenotaph. The cost of purchasing and installing night security lighting has been quoted as $64,000. ƴ Avoca Cenotaph at Boucher Park Where to from here? The vision Council is seeking funding partners to enable the purchase Avoca will boast: and installation of: • a community managed museum and visitor 1. The new children’s playground: $42,700 centre that is viable in terms of being able to meet operational costs into the future 2. Night security lighting: $64,000 • a refreshed and serviceable children’s playground 3. Cenotaph Interpretation Project: $2,000. with a farming theme, and night security lighting at Boucher Park • entertaining and educational Cenotaph interpretation. ƴ Proposed Playground Equipment Northern Midlands Council | Priority Projects 2019 3 Ben Lomond Strategic Projects About Ben Lomond National Park The need for change The Ben Lomond ski field, a mere 60 minute drive from Being able to drive to the plateau, visitors can readily enjoy Tourism numbers in Tasmania dramatically slump in the Launceston (50kms) and Launceston Airport (60kms), is the striking mountain-top features such as dolerite columns winter months, with accommodation occupancy rates in most accessible alpine environment in Australia. and scree slopes. The vegetation of Ben Lomond is different Northern Tasmania dropping from a summer high of 80- to other parts of Tasmania and in the summer months, the 90% to a winter low averaging 20% or less. Accommodation The magnificent mountain is dominated by an alpine wildflower displays are a visual delight. businesses, eateries and tourist attractions struggle to stay plateau over 1500 metres high and surrounded on all sides viable over the winter months and many close for this period. by precipitous escarpments. It is also the main destination The village on the plateau comprises ski lodges of varying The impact is highly negative on the region’s economy. for downhill skiing in Tasmania. architecture and age, a day shelter, hotel (being rebuilt after a fire) Ben Lomond Snow Sports (ski and toboggan hire, One drawcard to Northern Tasmania during the winter is the Its stark, treeless landscape is visible from the majority of lessons) and Alpine Enterprises (tow and lift operators). opportunity to ski on Ben Lomond. However, snowfall on the Tasmania’s north and the road to the top, known as Jacob’s mountain is inconsistent and as a result, the length of the Ladder, leaves an indelible mark in everyone’s memory! Snowfall on the mountain is inconsistent and as a result, the ski season (if any) each year is unpredictable. This makes it length of the ski season (if any) each year in unpredictable. The national park plays an invaluable role in regional wildlife problematical for interstate visitors who want to book their The starts and stops during a season are extremely conservation. Of the larger mammals, Bennett’s wallabies holiday to be in the state when the ski field is coated in snow detrimental to snowfield use and threaten the viability of the and wombats are common and are regularly seen in the and fully operational. businesses in the Alpine Village. village during summer and winter. Pademelons are abundant Snowmaking is the only way to bridge the inter-seasonal in wet gullies and areas with thick undergrowth while Forester Ben Lomond Snow Sports and Alpine Enterprises collaborated breaks and to guarantee a starting date for a consistent kangaroos have been recorded along the south-west edge several years ago to purchase and install two snowmaking ski season. of the park. guns for the beginner’s ski area and the area along the Bass ski tow. These have partially addressed the snow cover issues The walking and cycling trails on Ben Lomond are in these areas of the ski field. rudimentary and in desperate need of upgrading. Northern Midlands Council | Priority Projects 2019 4 Ben Lomond Strategic Projects (continued) Progress to date Where to from here? The vision In 2014 Council collaborated with Parks and Wildlife Council is seeking: Ben Lomond will have a guaranteed ski season of at Services, State Growth, Launceston City Council, Regional 1. Funding partners to enable the full implementation of least 12 weeks, with a known start date and consistent, Development Australia, Northern Tasmania Development, the recommendations of the Ben Lomond Tourism Feasibility uninterrupted snow cover, as well as improved Ben Lomond Committee and two private individuals to fund Study: $2 million (current as of 2018) infrastructure on the slopes and in the Alpine Village a feasibility study to clarify the sustainability of Ben Lomond 2. State Government funding to position Ben Lomond as the to meet the needs of the significantly increased as a financially viable, seasonally reliable, beginner to low/ state’s next iconic walk. number of people visiting the mountain to ski, and intermediate ski and snow play destination. for recreational snow play. The study report identified an investment of $1.8 million The most obvious reason for our state’s low (current as of 2015) in the Ben Lomond ski field will provide a winter tourism numbers is Tasmania’s low winter major tourism and recreational product of state significance, temperatures. This project will capitalise on that fact capable of generating new and complimentary tourism and turns our winter temperatures from a negative to investment in Northern Tasmania and contributing to the a positive in terms of attracting visitors to Northern economic growth of the wider region. A variety of growth Tasmania. Thus Ben Lomond becomes a key economic scenarios suggest regional spending increases from $3.6m to driver in the region, significantly contributing to $5.4m. Jobs growth is estimated between 24.6 – 33.1 FTEs. Tasmania’s economic health and growth. The project involves the purchase and installation of another Further, Ben Lomond will be known as one of ten snow gun systems, improving the ski fields including Tasmania’s iconic walks. grooming and drainage works to remove water and improve snow retention, the installation of a Fun Air bag and Magic carpet (primarily aimed at the junior and beginner skiers), enhancement of the terrain park, ski village signage upgrade, boardwalk replacement, construction of an additional toilet/ shelter facility and the construction of a new dam to meet the water requirements of the additional snowmaking guns. Council is preparing an application to the state government to position Ben Lomond as the state’s next iconic walk. Economic impact ƴ Ski Lodge, Ben Lomond Alpine Village Economic impact modelling for this development indicates the combination of all direct, industrial and consumption effects would result in an estimated rise in output of $1.18 million annually in the Northern Midlands, and would result in a total estimated increase of 22 jobs in the Northern Midlands. This represents a Type 2 employment multiplier of 1.71. Northern Midlands Council | Priority Projects 2019 5 Campbell Town Strategic Projects About Campbell Town Conveniently located in the heart of Tasmania, close to The 2016 ABS census recorded a population of 996 for The town centre also features a variety of retail and service the midpoint of the Midland Highway, Campbell Town is a Campbell Town.