Derwent Valley Council News The newsletter of the Derwent Valley Council Winter/Spring 2011, volume 1 number 1 COUNCIL DECISION BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO UNDERUTILISED BUILDING The old Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) building, adjacent to New Norfolk High School, will receive a new lease of life and help disengaged youth in the Derwent Valley. This comes thanks to a decision made by the majority of Councillors at the August Council meeting. In doing this Council has reaffirmed its commitment to work with disengaged and at risk youth in the Derwent Valley. The BEC building will be leased for a peppercorn rent by Council from the State Government for two years. After The BEC building as it is now. Photo courtesy of Matt Hill that time, if the proposed programmes prove successful, there is an option Derwent Valley. Having a number Following a community survey about for Council to permanently take of services housed in the same area the needs of young people in the over the building through a transfer will provide a community focus area, in 2007, Council adopted a from Crown Land. Council has not for collaborative efforts involving recommendation to support RAFT committed to a permanent takeover of education and training. to establish an educational facility. the building. The building will require Although still in its planning stages, This was reinforced in a 2010 survey little work to bring it up to standard that showed education was the most for its new use. this project has great potential to change education and youth important issue to young people in In committing to this project participation, not only in the Derwent the municipality. In 2008 a suitable Valley but right across the region. building was identified, but due to the Derwent Valley Council has the amount of money needed to shown its willingness to work There are discussions around setting up a committee type structure to refurbish the building it was not outside the square to support help guide the progress and guide the possible to move ahead with the idea. young people in the valley. project. There are also hopes that the The BEC building was investigated as old hostel may be used in the future a potential site during late 2010 and The programme, to be led by RAFT and that a caretaker who is in some early 2011 and negotiations with the (Real Action Forward Thinking) way involved in the project will be State Government commenced in will see a number of youth based found for the site. 2011. ∆ organisations housed in the building to provide support and training for at The BEC was originally built by Hydro risk youth. The RAFT team will work Tasmania as a hostel to house children FIND US ON THE WEB in conjunction with the High School from the outer reaches of the Derwent and non government organisations Valley and Central Highlands while You can find Derwent Valley Coun- like Mission Australia to provide they attended New Norfolk High cil on the web at; opportunities for young people who School. After lying idle for some time www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au would otherwise find it hard to cope the building was used by the New Our website contains lots of use- in the system. Norfolk Business Enterprise Centre. Since the BEC left the building, it has ful information including Council In the long term it is hoped that the not had a major commercial use. Meeting Agendas, Minutes of past teaching spaces can be used for a meetings, our Strategic Plan for range of courses for students who Council has had a commitment to 2011 – 2015, information on plan- are disengaged or at risk, and that youth services in the valley since before 2005 when the RAFT steering ning and Council services, forms those courses will eventually become and other important information. ∆ available for students outside the committee was initiated by Council. Derwent Valley Council – Phone – 6261 85 00 Postal Address – PO Box 595, New Norfolk Tas 7140 COUNCILLOR’S AWARD FROM THE GENERAL A TRIBUTE TO VALLEY MANAGER’S DESK Stephen Mackey, General Manager of the Derwent Valley Council assist in the management of the road network and help to advise residents on when work will be done on various roads. Council will use the Road Hierarchy to help it plan and provide a safe, convenient and comfortable road system to the region. The aim is to responsibly allocate limited funds for road works in the fairest possible way. Cr Judy Bromfield receives congratulations on her award from Mayor Martyn Evans. Each road is classified into the hierarchy based on traffic flows and Cr Judy Bromfield recently won Welcome to the first edition of our road function (that is, what the road is the first Life Members Award for newsletter, we hope that you find it mainly used for, an arterial road with Meritorious Service presented by interesting and informative. over 1500 vehicle movements per day the Local Government Association In coming editions you’ll find will have a higher priority for general of Tasmania. information on the decisions made by maintenance than a local road with only 35 vehicle movements a day. The Award recognises exceptional Councillors at Council Meetings and how Council will implement those; Inspections and basic maintenance service to Local Government in will be carried out in a scheduled Tasmania by an elected member. as well as information on what’s happening at Council and the jobs fashion, but major emergency works “This is an award for our whole that our dedicated staff do behind the will still be fixed as soon as possible. Valley, it shows that when we put scenes to keep things happening in The Road Hierarchy Policy was our minds to something we can the Derwent Valley. advertised for public comment in really achieve. We are coming to the end of a long, January, with comments closing in “This award isn’t just for me, it wet winter one of the wettest we’ve March. The Policy was presented recognises the work of the whole seen in a long time and this has had to the last Council Meeting for Council, a lot of which goes an effect on our roads. Water seeps Councillors to discuss and vote upon, into the road from runoff and rain and will soon be implemented. Copies on quietly behind the scenes,” of the policy will be available from Councillor Bromfield said. ∆ creating potholes, cracks and other problems with the road surface. Council Chambers or the website LOCAL GOVERNMENT During very wet periods it’s almost once it has been finalised. ∆ ELECTIONS ON THE WAY impossible to successfully fix these types of problems, as water loosens Voting in Local Government any patching and other remedies Elections is not compulsory, but to the problem. I know that many everyone who is eligible to vote is residents have raised concerns about encouraged to do so and have their the state of some of our roads in say in the future of the Municipality. recent times. As the ground is starting Local Government voting is done to dry out Council will be able to start by postal vote, and enrolled voters repairs very soon. should expect to see voting forms With responsibility for over 300km arriving in their mail soon. of roads in the Municipality, Council This year elections will be held for is preparing a Road Hierarchy to Mayor and Deputy Mayor, as well as 5 Councillors in the Derwent Thanks to Local Businesses for Supporting this Newsletter Valley as part of State wide Local Derwent Valley Council would like to thank Molesworth Fabulous Foods- Government Elections. the following businesses for helping to Molesworth Road, Molesworth distribute this Newsletter to the community: Lachlan General Store- Lachlan Rd Lachlan Candidates’ nominations close at 12 Maydena General Store- Magra Village Store- Back River Rd, Magra noon on Monday 26th September, Kallista Road, Maydena Our next edition will be out in December, nominations will be announced on Westerway Road House- and available from the above businesses the 27th September. The Polling Gordon River Road, Westerway and the Derwent Valley Council Chambers Bushy Park Road House- in Circle Street. period is from 11th October to We value your input and feedback, if you 10am on Tuesday 25th October, and Gordon River Road, Bushy Park Eagle Snack Bar- Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk would like to make a comment on the results will become available as they New Norfolk Newsagency- newsletter please contact our Regional are counted from the 25th to the High Street, New Norfolk Development Officer: Jess Dallas on 28th October. ∆ 6261 8517 or email: [email protected] Change happens when council MAYOR’S MUTTERINGS and community work together Welcome to the first edition of the Derwent Valley Council In June this year, the State offering their support and wanting Newsletter, the aim is to pro- Government announced they had to know how they could help to vide residents and ratepayers plans to close 20 schools across the keep Glenora as a High School, it with information on some of the State. One of those was Glenora was amazing to see the community workings of and happenings in District High School, which would from Maydena to New Norfolk and Council. have been changed from a District Lachlan to Gretna and everywhere As Local Government elections High to a Primary School. in between working for a common are close at hand I will not go into Within hours of this decision being cause. detail about projects that are on announced by the State Government, Then, only days before the the way and things that I have Council was contacted by concerned submission was to be put together been involved in recently.