State’s growth hot spot
LATROBE was Tasmania’s fastest growing municipality between 2011 and 2016 and Mayor Peter Freshney expects new data released in March to cement and build on that leading status.
Latrobe’s population grew by 21.7 per cent (2319 people) between those years and Mr Freshney said the high number of development applications and new subdivisions gave him confidence the North-West local government area would again be on top.
Regional Australia Institute’s The Big Movers snapshot shows regional Australia is attracting more people than the capitals.
The other standout performers in regional Tasmania were the West Tamar (19.7 per cent growth), Kentish (19.6), Huon Valley (18.1 per cent) and Meander Valley (17.9 per cent).
“I expect the next figures will show an even greater rate of growth,” Mr Freshney said.
“The Latrobe Council received 316 development applications last year and developers are openly approaching council over land on which to build in both Latrobe and Port Sorell.
“The Josef Chromy Group for instance is involved in three-stage subdivision at Hawley and there is a 35-lot subdivision under construction in Shearwater.
“And the building rush is not just confined to Latrobe and the Port Sorell area, rural locations are popular too with Squeaking Point going gangbusters.”
A $9m development application has also come into the council recently for a storage facility at the Piping Lane industrial precinct.
Mr Freshney said the challenge now was to work with TasWater to ensure sewerage infrastructure could handle the rate of growth.
The council’s draft Strategic Plan 2020-2030 lists five priority projects — a $10-$20m rehabilitation of a former tip at Port Sorell, floodproofing Latrobe, the continuation of the Wild Mersey mountain bike trails project, an upgrade of the Port Sorell Caravan Park and a redevelopment of the Banksia Park facilities.
Under opportunities it lists more festivals and events, the beauty of its coastline and the strength of its agricultural sector. Under threats it lists amalgamation, saying a forced merger with another of Tasmania’s 29 councils would distract from service delivery, cause technical staff to be lost and trigger populist politics.
Mr Freshney said liveability was the cornerstone of the council’s plan. “It is a fine balance with service provision to protect and enhance the lifestyle our residents and visitors have come to enjoy while at the same time providing the right encouragement which allows business and industry to establish, operate and prosper locally,” he said.