If not us, then who?
If not here, then where?
If not now, then when?

Over the last four years, thousands of Tasmanians chose to spend a day outside learning more about how to live a sustainable life.

This is a very popular event. It’s on again on Sunday, April 22nd, so put it in your diary now.

Click HERE to see details.

Dear friends and neighbours- do you have skills in food preserving or are you interested in learning about these skills?

- Bottling
- Drying
- Root cellars
- Making preserves

Would you be able to share these skills with others in a small informal workshop to be timed with this season’s crops?

We’ll organise everything; provide the venue, refreshments etc. We just need your skills and/or interest.

Interested? Then please call Lil on 6224 7390 or email Carol and we’ll get back to you soon!

A number of community members have expressed concern about the sudden clearing of land for a subdivision at the top end of Waterworks Road (197), which took place in the last week of September.

By the time locals had alerted Hobart Council the block had virtually been clearfelled, using large logging machinery normally used in forest coupes.

Owing to high sensitivity of the site to tunnel erosion, weed infestation and damage caused to adjacent properties Waterworks Landcare Group reacted quickly, lodging a letter of concern with HCC’s planning staff and aldermen.

A ‘stop work’ order was temporarily placed on the development, owing to alleged breaches of planning laws. However it appears a sensitive development of the site is no longer possible. A lesson for community members is to be ever vigilant.

Following alerts from a number of local residents (of mains sewage leaks along the valley) Southern Water has been responding.

Dave Graddon met with Southern Water’s Andy Crawford and Kathryn McLeod on September 20 and had a fruitful discussion about ongoing leaks from the sewer main, potential contamination of the rivulet and surrounding environment and the condition of the main.

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A ‘street wall chalk painting’

When: 25th of July (last Sunday of this month), 1.30pm.
Where: In front of Dorka’s house, 101 Waterworks Road
What: Turn the wall into a colorful space around the theme “the street is there for everyone to share”

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Dates for these are as follows: All start at 7.30pm.

102 Waterworks Rd Mon May 3
414a Strickland Ave, Wed May 5
152 Waterworks Wed May 12
14b Livingston Wed May 19
50 Bramble St Thurs May 20
195 Waterworks Rd May 24

Click on image to see details.

Please email us for queries.

Here’s the planting layout for the community garden as of this week.
(Click on graphic to see it full size.)

Spud harvesting and more planting taking place this Saturday 20th (3pm on).

Jonah G @ 46.

Our local community is part of something much bigger – a rapidly growing worldwide movement. It’s an energetic people’s response to peak oil and climate change, springing up all over the planet.

And throughout Tasmania Transition Communities like ours are emerging all over the place. To give this movement visibility there’s a bright new website – Transition Tasmania.

Check it out now HERE. See what other community groups are doing. You can even join Transition Tasmania as an active participant.

On one of those magical Summer days, February 13, the community garden saw its first harvest – whilst one group picked the beans, another crew shelled them (over a little wine and Jonah’s excellent dips) and a good time was had by all.

Spuds will be next and the beds are now being prepared for autumn / winter crops of beetroot, wom bok, kale and a variety of other crops.

For anyone interested, next Saturday (20th Feb) will do more bean harvesting and planting of seeds and seedlings. For the record we have 30 garden beds, each of them allocated to a person or family to manage.

Thanks to Dave Graddon for the photos.

ROLL UP, ROLL UP it’s Waterworks Harvest Fair time again!!!

Calling all you wonderful valley people who would like to help set up our second Harvest Fair about fun, food and sustainable living – it’s on Sunday March 28. Click HERE to see poster.

I am hostessing weekly morning teas (with scones) 10am at my house (144 Waterworks Rd) every Wednesday before the fair.

Amanda Sully (sully.amanda@gmail.com)

Please come if you are able to put in some real time and energy as we need your help!!!

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Hello, if you are new to this site and are a householder wishing to contact us about the Climate Connect Project please email us at wwvalley@dodo.com.au.

A dedicated website link (Powerdown Tasmania) has now been set up so that project participants can find out the latest and contribute to the program.

Meanwhile, please feel free to peruse this community site. Feedback always welcome.

Two working bees in November and the community garden (28 beds) is now all planted with its first crop of beans and spuds. Thanks to everyone who came along. Contact is Jonah.

At a very well-attended community meeting on October 7 there was a lot of discussion around the need for more serious speed deterrents than a 40kph limit for hoons and other speedsters.

People felt this lower limit would be of no use unless enforced (eg by a regular police presence, or better still by a fixed speed camera) and accompanied by other measures like marked crossings (perhaps).

Many doubt that appropriate levels of speed enforcement would eventuate; and, in any case, a lower limit would not solve the ‘footpath problem’.

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