From the Acting Mayor 

Welcome to the July edition of Your News, the City of Launceston's monthly newsletter. 

This week we've come together to celebrate and recognise NAIDOC Week 2022, with this year's theme 'Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!' a rousing call to action extended to every Australian.

For the first time, both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are being proudly flown at Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery throughout this week, and the Aboriginal flag now flies above Town Hall each and every day.

The City of Launceston is an organisation that values its relationship with the local Aboriginal community. We're on a journey of understanding and learning in this space and we will continue to listen and we will continue to learn - that is our pledge.

Also this week, it was great to see our reputation as a City of Gastronomy further cemented by hugely popular TV show Masterchef's latest episodes filmed in Launceston - a testament to all those involved in making this a reality.

In other news, the Council has outlined a dynamic new future for the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery with the unanimous endorsement of the QVMAG Future Directions Plan.

The plan contains a roadmap to a new governance structure and sustainable funding, improved activation outcomes, and infrastructure overhauls of both the Royal Park and Inveresk sites.

The new governance model allows the Council to retain ownership of the museum buildings and collection, and a new skills-based board will be established to oversee all operational activities. 

The plan also outlines five potential future funding models to replace the current model under which the majority of funding is met by Launceston ratepayers - you can read more here. 

I look forward to seeing you out and about in our wonderful Launceston!

- Acting Mayor Danny Gibson

Council endorses 2022/23 annual budget

A capital works program totalling more than $18 million headlines the City of Launceston's 2022/23 annual budget, which was unanimously endorsed by the Council on June 16.

The general rate increase of 3.75 per cent in 2022/23, in line with the Council's Long Term Financial Plan, is the first rate rise in two years after the Council elected to freeze rates in 2020/21 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and well below the CPI rate of 5.1 per cent.

For the first time, Council rates include a new Waste Levy, which all local governments in Tasmania will collect on behalf of the State Government. 

Capital projects proposed in the budget include $800,000 to upgrade the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery's popular children's activity centre, the Phenomena Factory, $8.5 million for road, footpath and trail upgrades and $1.3 million for parks and playground upgrades.

As a local government authority, it's important that we always seek to balance the challenges faced by our community with the need to maintain the wide array of services and facilities our community relies on.

With a rate increase well below CPI, and a significant capital works program aimed at maintaining and upgrading existing assets, the Council has attempted to strike this balance at a time when many households are facing cost of living pressures and we think this budget achieves just that.

As a Council, we frequently enter into payment arrangements with property owners and I would encourage anyone who is facing genuine difficulties paying their rates instalment to contact Customer Service. 

New homelessness advisory committee

Four representatives from the Launceston community are being sought to sit on the City of Launceston's newly created Homelessness Advisory Committee.

The committee will also include two Councillors and representatives from Launceston City Mission, St Vincent de Paul, Anglicare Tasmania, Tasmania Police, the Salvation Army, Shekinah House and the State Government's Department of Communities.

"It's important to note from the outset that the City of Launceston cannot solve homelessness," Mayor Albert van Zetten said.

"However, it's clear that local government can play a proactive and positive role in collaboration with other stakeholders. 

"The new committee is being established in order to provide strategic, evidence-based advice to the Council, using expertise from relevant agencies in order to deliver positive outcomes in this challenging area."

kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary Report Card

The Tamar Estuary & Esk Rivers Program's latest report card draws on monthly samples taken from 16 sites along the length of the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary between December, 2020, and November, 2021, which were then measured against ideal water quality conditions to produce a health grade.

The water quality data used in the report card allows the TEER Program to better understand the condition of the estuary and the impact of natural and human pressures.

The latest report highlights the maintained improvements in nutrient levels in the lower estuary, first observed in 2020, and maintained improvement in dissolved metal concentrations in all zones of the estuary. Water quality in the lower estuary continues to have excellent ecosystem health.

Help plant 8000 new trees in Launceston 

Launceston residents, businesses, organisations and schools are being invited to participate in the single largest National Tree Day event in the city's history, dubbed The BIG Plant.

Coordinated by Tamar NRM and the City of Launceston, The BIG Plant will be held between Thursday, July 28 and Sunday July 31 and will see more than 8000 native trees planted on 176 hectares of land surrounding the Launceston Waste Centre.

Tamar NRM Project Coordinator Trish Haeusler said all tools and equipment for planting would be provided, but participants would need to bring gloves and sturdy shoes.

"This is an opportunity for your family, friends, school, organisation, local clubs or business to take part this important event and know you have done your bit to contribute to our local environment," Ms Haeusler said.

Invermay community project underway

Launceston's sixth ABCDE Learning Site is now underway in Invermay for the next 18 months.

Asset Based Community Driven Effort Learning Sites enable communities to identify their assets, build connections and create change in the heart of the community with a focus on what's strong, not what's wrong.

Since implementing the program five years ago, the City of Launceston has operated Learning Sites at Rocherlea, Ravenswood, Mowbray, Youngtown and Kings Meadows.

If you live, work, or study in Invermay and would like to be involved, please contact our Community Connector Sarah McCormack on 0428 109 948 or by email. 

Community Achievement Awards 2022

The Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions of community members Statewide. 

Do you know an individual, group, business or organisation deserving recognition? Completing the online nomination form is easy & there are great prizes up for grabs! Nominations close August 9.

What is your superpower? Find out about animal superpowers and then make your own superhero costume in this supervised school holiday event for 5-12-year-olds.

Please bring an old plain coloured t-shirt to use as part of your costume.

• QVMAG Inveresk
• Friday, July 15 | 10.30am - 12.30pm
• Tickets $15 BOOK NOW

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