Tasmanian Business Reporter October 2018

Tasmanian Business Reporter - OCTOBER 2018 13
University heading west
THE University of Tasmania
is progressing a
push to improve access
to education and training
on the state’s West Coast.
Vice-Chancellor Professor
Rufus Black said
the most recent census
figures showed that only
4.5 per cent of West
Coast residents had a tertiary
or higher education.
“In line with our social
mission, this university
has a key role to
play in helping increase
the volume and diversity
of residents engaged in
learning by working with
the community, government,
council, industry
and business representatives,”
Professor Black
said.
“We are exploring options
that support young
people leaving school,
displaced workers who
could be reskilled, and
members of the community
who have never
considered pathways
towards furthering their
education or training.
“This will take a number
of forms, and we
hope that our programs
can be embedded into
existing community sites
and infrastructure across
the West Coast region.”
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Professor David Adams
(Community, Part-
nerships and Regional
Development) said
the university would be
focusing on three key
groups.
“The region faces a
number of distinctive
challenges; population
decline and transition, its
distance from urban centres,
and perceptions that
education and training
options are not aligned
with local employment
The region
faces a number
of distinctive
challenges
opportunities,” Professor
Adams said.
Projects currently under
development include
community learning
programs, short courses
and the roll-out of industry-relevant
associate
degrees, the creation
of a regional study hub,
the introduction of the
Children’s University,
tourism workshops and
potentially, the roll-out
of a project aimed at
increasing digital inclusion.
“The university has
recruited a community
learning officer who will
help implement these
objectives, working
closely with the West
Coast Council’s newly-established
Education
and Training Advisory
Committee and the
broader community,”
Professor Adams said.
NEWS
Tassie’s
vintage
best yet
TASMANIA’S wine
grape harvest set new records
for value and volume,
Wine Tasmania’s
2018 wine grape vintage
report says.
The 2018 vintage was
the earliest, quickest and
largest to date, with a record
16,280 tonnes harvested.
Wine Tasmania’s vintage
survey also reports
on a record average price
paid for Tasmanian wine
grapes of $2,977 per
tonne, with Tasmania
producing just 0.91%
of Australia’s total wine
grapes but representing
4.37% of its value.
Public input sought on Dove Lake shelter
THE Dove Lake viewing shelter development
proposal and environmental impact
statement have been released for public
comment.
The designs are part of the Government’s
$56.8 million investment at Cradle Mountain,
which is being matched by the Federal
Government, to prepare for an expected
half a million visitors a year by 2050.
Improvements at Dove Lake include
a new viewing shelter that consists of
an arrival chamber and two viewing
chambers connected by what’s been described
as “cave like” passages, with a
180-square-metre central courtyard containing
ancillary buildings for walker registration,
locker facilities and kiosk.
Upgrades also include a bus shelter and
amenities building, an external viewing
area, bus turning area, parking, a connection
to the Dove Lake walking tracks and a
viewing platform adjacent to Glacier Rock.
The DPEIS will be on display for six
weeks and public information sessions will
be held at Cradle Valley, Devonport, Launceston
and Hobart.
Submissions close on October21.
Feedback from the community will help
refine the Development Approval that will
be submitted to the Kentish Council, with
work expected to be tendered late this year.
More detail is available on the Parks and
Wildlife Service website - www.parks.tas.
gov.au.
Artist’s
impressions of
the Dove Lake
shelter
development
proposal that
is part of major
investment
planned
at Cradle
Mountain.
LIFE INSURANCE FOR
TASMANIAN BUSINESS REPORTER READERS
Save an average of 22% * compared to other insurers
No payment to advisers
No surprises at claim time
Canstar award-winning Life Insurance
Customer satisfaction rating of 95.8% #
Call NobleOak for a quote: 1300 108 490
and mention ‘TASMANIAN BUSINESS REPORTER’ to switch and save.
nobleoak.com.au/professionals
*Please visit www.nobleoak.com.au/professionals for full details including cost savings. This is general advice only. Please read our PDS available at nobleoak.com.au.
Life insurance is issued by NobleOak Life Limited ABN 85 087 648 708 AFSL No. 247302 #2018 client survey by Pureprofile.