R[0]="1410";

T[0]="River flows reach low levels";

A[0]="By ... Editor";

Dn[0]="20060921";

Dt[0]="Thursday 21 September 2006";

Acats[0]="a40a69a89a91";

B1[0]="      River flows in Tasmania have reached their lowest levels since records began 40 years ago.... ";

B2[0]=" ";

B3[0]=" ";

B4[0]=" ";

B5[0]=" ";

S1[0]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; River flows in Tasmania have reached their lowest levels since records began 40 years ago.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Terry Leary from the ";

S2[0]=" Department of Primary Industries says record low winter rainfall across most of the state has also meant that many farmers have not been able to ";

S3[0]=" fill farm dams.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He says it is also unusual that the dry conditions are affecting the entire state, even the usually high ";

S4[0]=" rainfall region of the state's north-west.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'There's a real concern and a real worry among the farmers and I'd have to agree ";

S5[0]=" with them, there's a number of regions around the state that if these conditions continue I'm sure there will be restrictions, or will need to ";

S6[0]=" be restrictions in place a lot earlier than we would normally expect,' he said... ";

R[1]="1238";

T[1]="Cradle Coast 2-Year Strategy Launched";

A[1]="By ... Editor";

Dn[1]="20060805";

Dt[1]="Saturday 5 August 2006";

Acats[1]="a44a69";

B1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A co-ordinated and strategic framework addressing transport issues for the next 20 years in Tasmania's Cradle Coast region has been released.... ";

B2[1]=" ";

B3[1]=" ";

B4[1]=" ";

B5[1]=" ";

S1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A co-ordinated and strategic framework addressing transport issues for the next 20 years in Tasmania's Cradle Coast region has been released.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S2[1]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government and Cradle Coast Authority, on behalf of the nine local councils in the Cradle Coast Region, have developed the Cradle ";

S3[1]=" Coast Integrated Transport Strategy as part of the Cradle Coast Partnership Agreement.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Jim Cox and ";


S4[1]=" the Executive Chairman of the Cradle Coast Authority, Roger Jaensch, said the plan identified regional objectives, strategies and outcomes that would contribute to an integrated, ";

S5[1]=" safe, accessible and efficient transport system to meet the needs of the region's communities and industry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'The strategy addresses all major ";

S6[1]=" transport modes, including road, rail, sea and air, public passenger transport, freight movement and non-car based transport.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It is built on community, ";

S7[1]=" industry and key stakeholder consultation, and underpinned by a successful partnership approach,' Mr Cox said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Jaensch said that because the ";

S8[1]=" region and its transport system were complex and dynamic, the strategy did not aim to address every transport issue facing the region.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S9[1]="  'Its focus is on providing a solid and strategic foundation for developing cooperative transport responses as issues and needs emerge over the coming decades,' ";

S10[1]=" he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The strategy is the second regional transport plan prepared for Tasmania following the Northern Tasmanian Integrated Transport Plan.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S11[1]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government is currently preparing the Southern Integrated Transport Plan, which is the state's third and final regional transport plan.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S12[1]=" &nbsp; A subsequent Tasmanian Transport Plan will consolidate these three reports.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Copies of the strategy are available on the internet at www.cradlecoast.com ";

S13[1]=" or available from the Cradle Coast Authority by phoning (03) 6431 6285 or the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources by phoning (03) 6233 2486... ";

R[2]="1237";

T[2]="Launch of Tas Dairy Industry Strategic Plan";

A[2]="By ... Editor";

Dn[2]="20060805";

Dt[2]="Saturday 5 August 2006";

Acats[2]="a02a26a69";

B1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Dairy Industry Strategic Plan for 2006 - 2010 provides direction to make Tasmania an even better place to be dairy farming, ";

B2[2]="the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn said... ";

B3[2]=" ";

B4[2]=" ";

B5[2]=" ";

S1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Dairy Industry Strategic Plan for 2006 - 2010 provides direction to make Tasmania an even better place to be dairy farming, ";

S2[2]=" the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The Minister launched the Dairy Industry Strategic Plan 2006-2010 at the ";

S3[2]=" Elliott Research and Demonstration Station.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Llewellyn said the Dairy Industry Strategic Plan 2006-2010 is the second industry initiated five-year plan ";

S4[2]=" for the dairy industry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The objective of the first plan was to grow the industry and improve profitability, productivity and sustainability ";

S5[2]=" and the new Strategic Plan will be used to ensure new government and industry projects address high priority dairy issues.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  While ";

S6[2]=" the new Plan continues to focus on growth and increased production, the key action priorities have altered slightly.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The introduction of ";

S7[2]=" a new objective to improve animal and feed performance brings added focus to this area of farm management.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Llewellyn said ";

S8[2]=" the dairy industry has changed over the last five years; the profitability, productivity and sustainability of Tasmania's dairy farms are higher today than they were ";

S9[2]=" five years ago.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Milk production over the last five years has remained stable at around 600 million litres while the number ";

S10[2]=" of dairy farms has declined to less than 500.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Milk production per farm has increased over the last five years along with ";


S11[2]=" average farm profit, productivity and sustainability.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Industry and government research, development and extension programs (RD&E) have helped increase productivity and sustainability.<BR> ";

S12[2]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Some of the Tasmanian programs such as the 2012 pasture project were very successful and this project is now to be used ";

S13[2]=" interstate to help farmers increase pasture production.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Tasmania continues to have the lowest cost of milk production in Australia and confidence ";

S14[2]=" among dairy farmers remains high.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The SMART Farming package will provide the funds to reinvigorate the Elliott Research and Demonstration Station.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S15[2]=" &nbsp; &nbsp;  The new strategic plan gives increased priority to RD&E projects on animal and feed performance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This new priority is ";

S16[2]=" consistent with the decision by the University of Tasmania and Dairy Australia to employ specialist dairy nutrition staff and install equipment for dairy nutrition trials ";

S17[2]=" at Elliott.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The Minister congratulated the many dairy stakeholders who collaborated to develop the Strategic Plan.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He commended ";

S18[2]=" them for working together constructively to complete the Tasmanian Dairy Industry Strategic Plan 2006 - 2010 and for providing an example to other agricultural industries ";

S19[2]=" of good leadership and planning.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * the DairyTas Board,  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * TFGA Dairy ";

S20[2]=" Council,  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * All Tasmanian milk companies,  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Dairy Australia,  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * ";

S21[2]=" Department of Economic Development,  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Department of Primary Industries and Water and  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * the Tasmanian ";

S22[2]=" Institute of Agricultural Research.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'I am pleased to launch the new Strategic Plan and I look forward to being able to ";

S23[2]=" refer to the document when working with industry groups to grow and develop the dairy industry over the next five years,' Mr Llewellyn said... ";

R[3]="1220";

T[3]="Community called on to take up fox fight";

A[3]="By ... Editor";

Dn[3]="20060804";

Dt[3]="Friday 4 August 2006";

Acats[3]="a69a86";

B1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; State and federal politicians are calling for the community to redouble efforts to eradicate foxes in Tasmania, while arguing over who should ";

B2[3]="foot the bill for the fight... ";

B3[3]=" ";

B4[3]=" ";

B5[3]=" ";

S1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; State and federal politicians are calling for the community to redouble efforts to eradicate foxes in Tasmania, while arguing over who should ";

S2[3]=" foot the bill for the fight.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The discovery of a fox carcass in the northern midlands earlier this week has re-opened debate ";

S3[3]=" about funding for eliminating the pest.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; State Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn wants conservationists, farmers and even hunters to form a 150-strong ";

S4[3]=" force to track down the pests.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Greens leader Bob Brown agrees more community involvement is needed.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Having foxes in ";

S5[3]=" Tasmania is like having a grenade in Noah's ark,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He says both the state and federal governments need to put ";

S6[3]=" in more money.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Federal Conservation Minister Eric Abetz says he will if Mr Llewellyn does.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I would be able ";

S7[3]=" to convince Canberra that this was a serious problem, f Tasmania itself was to make an extra commitment, and just to rely on the public ";


S8[3]=" isn't good enough,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Llewellyn says he has already committed $2.4 million over the next four years and the Commonwealth ";

S9[3]=" should match that... ";

R[4]="1169";

T[4]="Tas Agriculture - Gearing Up To Meet The Challenges Ahead";

A[4]="By ... Editor";

Dn[4]="20060721";

Dt[4]="Friday 21 July 2006";

Acats[4]="a05a57a69";

B1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The innovation of Tasmanian farmers and the policies of the Tasmanian Government are working to ensure our agricultural sector is well placed ";

B2[4]="to face the challenges of the next ten years... ";

B3[4]=" ";

B4[4]=" ";

B5[4]=" ";

S1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The innovation of Tasmanian farmers and the policies of the Tasmanian Government are working to ensure our agricultural sector is well placed ";

S2[4]=" to face the challenges of the next ten years.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Opening the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Symposium in Launceston today ";

S3[4]=" Minister for Primary Industries and Water David Llewellyn said the theme of the symposium 'Tasmanian agriculture in 10 years time - confronting the challenges', is ";

S4[4]=" very appropriate in the current climate.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Our agricultural sector is important so it's vital it is prepared to face the challenges ahead ";

S5[4]=" which include price squeezing, increased overseas competition and competing demands for land.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tasmanian agriculture has a proud history of evolving in response ";

S6[4]=" to international and local pressures and the Tasmanian Government continues to work with industry to face the future.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The State Labor Government ";

S7[4]=" recently announced several initiatives included in the SMART Farming (Sustainable Management of Agricultural Resources in Tasmania) package to help ensure Tasmanian agriculture is ready for ";

S8[4]=" the challenges ahead.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'SMART Farming will help protect our pure-produce branding which is vital to winning and keeping new international markets by ";

S9[4]=" providing a $4 million boost to our quarantine border protection system,' Mr Llewellyn said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The SMART Farming package also contains: · ";

S10[4]="   $7.5 million to develop water initiatives to make the sector more sustainable ·    a $6 million investment to develop two ";

S11[4]=" key research centres for dairy and vegetables, through the upgrade of research and development programs at the Elliott and Forthside Research and Demonstration Stations.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S12[4]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; ·     $1 million assisting farmers and fishers increase their knowledge and their business and farming skills through the development ";

S13[4]=" and delivery of information services.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·    a boost to farm education by providing increased funds to the school farms.<BR> ";

S14[4]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·    $1.4 million to the Fisheries Research Development Corporation to encourage fisheries and aquaculture industries, matching industry payments dollar-for-dollar.<BR> ";

S15[4]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Llewellyn said the State Labor Government is always ready to work with Tasmanian farmers to help them become more innovative and ";

S16[4]=" to maximise their future opportunities.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'With a better understanding of future challenges and therefore better preparation for those challenges, I'm confident Tasmanian ";

S17[4]=" farmers will continue to make an important contribution to our State in the future,' Mr Llewellyn said... ";

R[5]="1136";


T[5]="No old growth, Gunns assures";

A[5]="By ... Editor";

Dn[5]="20060718";

Dt[5]="Tuesday 18 July 2006";

Acats[5]="a39a42a69";

B1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gunns Ltd will continue to export old-growth woodchips from Triabunna and Burnie but is adamant that no old-growth woodchips will be used ";

B2[5]="in its $1.45 billion pulp mill... ";

B3[5]=" ";

B4[5]=" ";

B5[5]=" ";

S1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gunns Ltd will continue to export old-growth woodchips from Triabunna and Burnie but is adamant that no old-growth woodchips will be used ";

S2[5]=" in its $1.45 billion pulp mill.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Project manager Les Baker says even the sawmill residues to be used in a biofuel plant ";

S3[5]=" at the Long Reach site will not use wood from old-growth trees.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The biofuel plant generates electricity from wood waste and ";

S4[5]=" is used to dry pulp.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Baker said yesterday Gunns would take the measures to ensure it retained a certificate under ";

S5[5]=" the Australian Forestry Standard.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'There is chain-of-custody certification and we can track every tonne of wood to this mill and there ";

S6[5]=" will be no old-growth wood used in this mill,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Baker said old-growth woodchip exports would be retained to ";

S7[5]=" support the company's sawmilling industry in the state.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Gunns is the largest sawmiller in Tasmania, we have a lot of value-adding ";

S8[5]=" and we have our veneer mill in Tasmania,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Those operations will still be there and there will still be ";

S9[5]=" a requirement for residues to be exported from woodchip facilities at Triabunna and Burnie.'  Pulp industry analyst Robert Eastment said Gunns had been working ";

S10[5]=" with international auditors to ensure it received international certification for its pulp.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Eastment said old-growth logs would be less economic ";

S11[5]=" because they did not make good pulp.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Baker defended Gunns' boast that there would not be 'additional intensification of forestry ";

S12[5]=" operations' despite a predicted increase to nearly seven million tonnes of woodchip harvest by 2017.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Gunns has been very wise in ";

S13[5]=" investing in plantations and growing trees so we are able to increase the sustainable yield of forest resources in this state,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S14[5]=" &nbsp;  The increased yield would come from private land.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Eastment said the Gunns statement meant 'no extra trees would ";

S15[5]=" be removed from native forests on crown land'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Plantation wood has a higher fibre yield... ";

R[6]="1079";

T[6]="Tasmania Takes International and National Tourism Titles";

A[6]="By ... Editor";

Dn[6]="20060712";

Dt[6]="Wednesday 12 July 2006";

Acats[6]="a44a69";


B1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania has been named the 'No.1 Island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific' as part of the 2006 World's Best ";

B2[6]="Awards announced in North America overnight... ";

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B5[6]=" ";

S1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania has been named the 'No.1 Island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific' as part of the 2006 World's Best ";

S2[6]=" Awards announced in North America overnight.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment Paula Wriedt said the award is the result of ";

S3[6]=" the readers of North America's top selling travel magazine Travel + Leisure having rated Tasmania the ultimate island destination in the region.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[6]=" 'To be voted number one by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine is testament to the appeal of Tasmania as a 'must see' destination.' 'This ";

S5[6]=" latest award is further proof of why Tasmania's natural environment, award-winning food and wine, and distinctive heritage make Tasmania perfect for an island holiday and ";

S6[6]=" why our State continues to be acknowledged and praised around the world.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The 2006 World's Best are considered the most prestigious travel ";

S7[6]=" awards of their kind as they are determined by travellers themselves as opposed to expert panels or travel writers,' said Ms Wriedt.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S8[6]=" 'With readership in excess of four million, this rating is guaranteed to put Tasmania on North American consumers' hit lists for their next island holiday.<BR> ";

S9[6]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Wriedt said that on the national front, Tourism Tasmania has been named 'Best Australian Tourist Office - Domestic' at this year's ";

S10[6]=" National Travel Industry Awards announced in Melbourne on Saturday night.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tourism Tasmania's win over finalists Tourism Victoria and Tourism Queensland is an ";

S11[6]=" outstanding achievement in today's challenging domestic tourism market,' Ms Paula Wriedt said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The 2006 win by Tourism Tasmania is especially significant because ";

S12[6]=" this is the first year in which nominations were made by travel agents.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In previous years State Tourism Offices had been required ";

S13[6]=" to nominate themselves.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tourism Tasmania's job is to work with industry to promote Tasmania as a world-class destination.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'To ";

S14[6]=" be voted best of Australian State Tourism Offices by industry customers shows what a great job Tourism Tasmania is doing.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Wriedt ";

S15[6]=" said the award is a result of the success of Tourism Tasmania's Australia-wide program of Tasmanian 'roadshows'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tourism Tasmania's roadshows allow agents ";

S16[6]=" and wholesalers interstate to keep up-to-date with Tasmanian tourism product,' Ms Wriedt said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The roadshows enable agents to talk to Tasmanian tourism ";

S17[6]=" operators at these forums instead of reading about Tasmania's tourism product in brochures.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Travel agents who have this level of knowledge about ";

S18[6]=" Tasmanian tourism operators are much better equipped to get visitors to come to Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Both these awards are significant because in both ";

S19[6]=" cases the judgement comes from the 'coal face'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In one case from North American travellers who have been or wish to come ";

S20[6]=" here for a holiday, and in the other from Tourism Tasmania's customers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'These awards are a credit to our tourism operators and ";

S21[6]=" the staff of Tourism Tasmania, who work hard make our tourism industry strong, sustainable and a major job creator for Tasmania.' Ms Wriedt said... ";

R[7]="1071";

T[7]="Tasmanian fisheries defy national trend";

A[7]="By ... Editor";

Dn[7]="20060712";

Dt[7]="Wednesday 12 July 2006";


Acats[7]="a34a69";

B1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian fishing industry has defied the national trend, with increasing returns and catch values.... ";

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S1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian fishing industry has defied the national trend, with increasing returns and catch values.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; An Australian Bureau of ";

S2[7]=" Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE) report says Australian fisheries production rose by 5 per cent in 2004-05, but the overall gross value of production fell ";

S3[7]=" by 6 per cent to $2 billion.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, Tasmanian fishermen earned 6 per cent more over the same period, with the gross ";

S4[7]=" value of production up $19 million to almost $300 million.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The chief executive of Tasmania's Fishing Industry Council, Neil Stump, says the ";

S5[7]=" increase was largely driven by a $17 million increase in the value of abalone production.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We've noticed in two of our major ";

S6[7]=" fisheries, rock lobster and abalone, particularly abalone which are export fisheries, that there has been an increase in the beach price over the last 12 ";

S7[7]=" months,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I believe these ABARE figures are reflecting that increase in the price received to fishermen.' There was a small ";

S8[7]=" decrease in the value of aquaculture in Tasmania... ";

R[8]="1046";

T[8]="Wineries to cheer new era";

A[8]="By ... Editor";

Dn[8]="20060708";

Dt[8]="Saturday 8 July 2006";

Acats[8]="a13a69";

B1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania's wine industry is set for a major revamp as it seeks to move into a new era.... ";

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S1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania's wine industry is set for a major revamp as it seeks to move into a new era.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A ";

S2[8]=" steering committee including some of the industry's leaders is responding to concerns about a lack of cohesion and declining membership of the Vineyards Association of ";

S3[8]=" Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Leading winemaker Andrew Pirie is part of the group and says the general view is that the industry is maturing.<BR> ";

S4[8]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It has been through the production development phase of growing wine and now the focus is on how we sell wine and ";

S5[8]=" market the industry,' Mr Pirie said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said most of Australia's other major wine regions have developed marketing bodies and Tasmania needed ";

S6[8]=" to do so.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It is about taking the wine industry to the next stage,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'There is a ";


S7[8]=" strong feeling we need to become more professional, with experts in the field running day-to-day marketing and government relations.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We are employing ";

S8[8]=" about 1000 people, so it is starting to become significant for Tasmania.' Mr Pirie said an oversupply in some parts of Australia was not a ";

S9[8]=" problem for Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tasmania is short of fruit and we would prefer to see it stay that way,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S10[8]=" &nbsp; 'The cool climate niche is creating a demand for sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, which is a huge opportunity for Tasmania.' An industry forum ";

S11[8]=" was held in April, with a steering committee nominated.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Operating under the working title Wine 42 Tasmania, the group will be holding ";

S12[8]=" two information sessions in the next fortnight, at Campbell Town and St Helens.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The discussions will include looking a the future of ";

S13[8]=" the industry and the future of the Vineyards Association.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Wine 42 steering committee also includes Keryn Nylander, Maria Lurighi, Andrew Hood, ";

S14[8]=" Gerald Ellis and Peta Sugden... ";

R[9]="1035";

T[9]="Dive Trail Brochure a Tourism Treat";

A[9]="By ... Editor";

Dn[9]="20060708";

Dt[9]="Saturday 8 July 2006";

Acats[9]="a44a69";

B1[9]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minster for Tourism, Arts and the Environment Paula Wriedt today launched a map to some of the world's most precious sunken treasure ";

B2[9]="- the natural wonders of Tasmania's marine environment... ";

B3[9]=" ";

B4[9]=" ";

B5[9]=" ";

S1[9]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minster for Tourism, Arts and the Environment Paula Wriedt today launched a map to some of the world's most precious sunken treasure ";

S2[9]=" - the natural wonders of Tasmania's marine environment.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania's Dive Trail brochure shows the locations of sponge gardens, reefs, seals, seahorses, underwater ";

S3[9]=" caves, whales, giant kelp forests and shipwrecks, as well as providing important environmental and safety information and contact details for dive operators.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[9]=" Ms Wriedt said this brochure will be an invaluable reference for visiting divers and a great way to promote our diving experiences.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S5[9]=" 'By making this brochure available to dive enthusiasts internationally through the Internet, Tourism Tasmania is promoting our cool-temperate marine environment as the new frontier in ";

S6[9]=" world-class diving experiences,' Ms Wriedt said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tasmania has more coastline than any other Australian State, and world-renowned underwater photographer David Doubilet has ";

S7[9]=" described it as 'the world's most accessible underwater wilderness'.' Almost 4,000 visitors to Tasmania in the 12 months to March this year went diving, spending ";

S8[9]=" a combined total of more than $6.5 million on their holidays.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; These visitors travelled the state for an average of 16 nights ";

S9[9]=" each, which is considerably longer than the average for all visitors.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We are an island of maritime and marine experts - we ";

S10[9]=" know these waters better than anyone.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Special-interest tourism products that capture the inspiring quality of island life and local knowledge are increasingly ";

S11[9]=" appealing to the visitors we want to attract.' Ms Wriedt said she hoped there would soon be another dive wreck to attract visitors - the ";

S12[9]=" Troy D, which is expected to be scuttled off Maria Island in coming months.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The State Government's $280,000 contribution to the Troy ";


S13[9]=" D project is recognition that infrastructure can contribute to regional tourism in a targeted and original way.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'One of the great advantages ";

S14[9]=" of diving is that it gets our visitors out of the cities, ensuring the benefits of tourism are spread throughout the State.' Ms Wriedt said.<BR> ";

S15[9]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tourism Tasmania is featuring the brochure and its information on its holiday website www.discovertasmania.com.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania's Dive Trail brochure was ";

S16[9]=" produced by the National Oceans Office in cooperation with Tourism Tasmania and Dive Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It is available at Tasmanian Travel and Information ";

S17[9]=" Centres and from dive operators... ";

R[10]="994";

T[10]="Water Quality - Upper Grassy Dam";

A[10]="By ... Editor";

Dn[10]="20060628";

Dt[10]="Wednesday 28 June 2006";

Acats[10]="a40a69";

B1[10]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Director of Public Health, Dr Roscoe Taylor, said today that repeat testing for heavy metals of water from the Upper Grassy ";

B2[10]="Dam on King Island had again shown no problems... ";

B3[10]=" ";

B4[10]=" ";

B5[10]=" ";

S1[10]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Director of Public Health, Dr Roscoe Taylor, said today that repeat testing for heavy metals of water from the Upper Grassy ";

S2[10]=" Dam on King Island had again shown no problems.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Taylor said the King Island Council took another round of samples from ";

S3[10]=" the Grassy water supply last Wednesday - from points both before and after the water had been through the Grassy treatment plant.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[10]=" 'The samples were forwarded by the Council to Analytical Services Tasmania for testing at its New Town laboratory in Hobart.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'AST tested ";

S5[10]=" the samples for a range of 12 heavy metals.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The results - including those for lead - were all within Australian Drinking ";

S6[10]=" Water Guidelines.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In fact, no lead at all was detected in the water taken from below the treatment plant.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S7[10]=" 'These results are consistent with the results of a water sample taken from the dam in April.' Dr Taylor said he had no reason to ";

S8[10]=" question the results as they had been taken by a qualified Council officer acting in accordance with the Public Health Act 1997.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S9[10]=" 'I would like to thank the King Island Council for assisting us with this investigation and responding to the concerns of the Grassy residents.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S10[10]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I will also be seeking a meeting between the Grassy Progress Association and an officer from the Public & Environmental Health Service who ";

S11[10]=" will be visiting King Island this week.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'If it is found necessary, further samples will be taken by that officer to see ";

S12[10]=" if further light can be shed on the apparent discrepancies with the results of sampling taken in May by a consultant.' Dr Taylor said PEHS ";

S13[10]=" was currently reviewing information from a recent round of blue-green algae testing from the Upper Grassy Dam and hoped to be able to advise Council ";

S14[10]=" shortly on results.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; However, the current advice to Grassy residents not to drink from the water supply because of a blue-green algal ";

S15[10]=" problem remains in place until further notice... ";


R[11]="846";

T[11]="Tourism worry as ferry reaches end of the line";

A[11]="By ... Editor";

Dn[11]="20060607";

Dt[11]="Wednesday 7 June 2006";

Acats[11]="a44a69";

B1[11]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania is preparing for a slump in tourism after the state Government scrapped the Sydney-to-Devonport ferry in a bid to ensure the ";

B2[11]="survival of the two ferries that cross Bass Strait from Melbourne... ";

B3[11]=" ";

B4[11]=" ";

B5[11]=" ";

S1[11]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania is preparing for a slump in tourism after the state Government scrapped the Sydney-to-Devonport ferry in a bid to ensure the ";

S2[11]=" survival of the two ferries that cross Bass Strait from Melbourne.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Premier Paul Lennon - whose Government made a pre-election 'long-term commitment' ";

S3[11]=" to the Spirit of Tasmania III just three months ago - yesterday announced the closure of the service and sale of the ship.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[11]=" &nbsp; The embarrassing turnaround was made after advice from state Treasury that the Sydney service would need an estimated $50million annual subsidy - or $5300 ";

S5[11]=" for every passenger.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A subdued Mr Lennon was unapologetic.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He insisted his Government was not told by TT-Line of ";

S6[11]=" dire passenger projections for 2006-07 and beyond until last month.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He pledged continuing government support for TT-Line's remaining two Devonport-Melbourne ferries, Spirits ";

S7[11]=" I and II, although the company warned it would need to immediately increase fares.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The last voyage will sail on August 28.<BR> ";

S8[11]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Passengers with tickets for after then can transfer to the Melbourne service or obtain a refund.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Lennon also ";

S9[11]=" announced an extra $31 million for tourism marketing aimed at minimising the losses for the tourism-dependent island state... ";

R[12]="837";

T[12]="Tasmanian cow tests positive for hydatid tapeworm";

A[12]="By ... Editor";

Dn[12]="20060606";

Dt[12]="Tuesday 6 June 2006";

Acats[12]="a26a27a33a69";

B1[12]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A Tasmanian bred cow has tested positive for the hydatid tapeworm, the state's first case in a decade.... ";

B2[12]=" ";

B3[12]=" ";

B4[12]=" ";

B5[12]=" ";


S1[12]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A Tasmanian bred cow has tested positive for the hydatid tapeworm, the state's first case in a decade.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmania ";

S2[12]=" embarked on a world leading hydatid eradication program 40 years ago and while hydatids have been discovered since, most have been traced to imported stock.<BR> ";

S3[12]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The state was declared provisionally-free of hydatid disease in 1996.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Chief vet Rod Andrewartha says the infected cow was ";

S4[12]=" part of a mixed line of cattle.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Occasionally of course we will detect cysts and we can normally trace them back to ";

S5[12]=" sheep or cattle imported from the mainland, in this particular case we found it in an animal which was born and bred in Tasmania,' he ";

S6[12]=" said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'That is the major concern for us, tracing back and finding out how it picked up the infection.'.. ";

R[13]="835";

T[13]="$75 Million For Tasmanian Tourism";

A[13]="By ... Editor";

Dn[13]="20060606";

Dt[13]="Tuesday 6 June 2006";

Acats[13]="a44a69";

B1[13]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Premier has announced the State Government will spend $75 million on promoting Tasmanian tourism over the next four years following the ";

B2[13]="withdrawal of Spirit of Tasmania III... ";

B3[13]=" ";

B4[13]=" ";

B5[13]=" ";

S1[13]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Premier has announced the State Government will spend $75 million on promoting Tasmanian tourism over the next four years following the ";

S2[13]=" withdrawal of Spirit of Tasmania III.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Following a meeting of Cabinet in Hobart, Mr Lennon said the plan would include $31 ";

S3[13]=" million of new funds, backed by $44 million already committed by Tourism Tasmania over the next four years for marketing and promotion of the State.<BR> ";

S4[13]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  The Premier said the four-year plan would place the tourism industry in the strongest possible position for the future, with the ";

S5[13]=" bulk of the funding provided up-front.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'The outlook for domestic tourism right across Australia is challenging, with greater competition for consumer ";

S6[13]=" dollars and the availability of cheaper international travel,' Mr Lennon said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Tasmania will face this challenge head-on under my Government.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S7[13]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; We will be on the front foot aggressively targeting people in our key markets.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'We will meet this visitor ";

S8[13]=" forecast with an integrated plan to aggressively promote Tasmania and make it even more attractive to tourists.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'An important part of ";

S9[13]=" our plan will also be to encourage tourists to travel around the regions and stay longer in the State to arrest the trend of shorter ";

S10[13]=" holidays.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'We will provide $75 million for the biggest tourism promotion plan ever embarked upon by Tasmania - and we will ";

S11[13]=" ensure the bulk of the new funds are provided in the first two years so as we can quickly respond to the changing market conditions.<BR> ";

S12[13]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'There is no point in waiting until 2009-10 to respond to the challenge by ramping up the promotion of our State.<BR> ";

S13[13]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'We are in competition against the other states and I will ensure we provide appropriate resources to ensure Tasmania's tourism message ";

S14[13]=" is heard in a crowded national market.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'We will make sure that $25 million of this $31 million in additional funding ";


S15[13]=" goes into the front end of the process and is made available in the first two years.'  Since 1998, Mr Lennon said visitor numbers ";

S16[13]=" to Tasmania had grown by 50 per cent to more than 800,000-a-year and the value of tourist spending had grown by 93 per cent to ";

S17[13]=" more than $1 billion-a-year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  He said that with 38,500 Tasmanians directly and indirectly employed in tourism and $600 million worth of ";

S18[13]=" new developments either planned or under construction, the Government recognised tourism as a vital driver of the State's economy.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Accordingly, the ";

S19[13]=" $75 million Tourism Promotion Plan would position Tasmania prominently in the national market, involving:  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Promotion of the TT-Line's Melbourne ";

S20[13]=" service in critical markets;  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Tactical marketing of the State in major interstate markets, including Sydney and South-East Queensland; ";

S21[13]=" <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Development of marketing material focusing on regional areas of Tasmania most likely to be adversely impacted upon;  <BR> &nbsp; ";

S22[13]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; * Enhancing regional tourism infrastructure;  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Improving tourism facilities and signage; and  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * ";

S23[13]=" Other initiatives agreed between the Premier, Deputy Premier Bryan Green, Treasurer Michael Aird and Minister for Tourism, Paula Wriedt.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Lennon ";

S24[13]=" said Ms Wriedt would begin consulting the tourism industry this week on the Tourism Promotion Plan and how it could be targeted to have best ";

S25[13]=" effect.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  He said he was confident the tourism industry would recognise that while the Government had no choice but to terminate ";

S26[13]=" the Sydney service, it was doing everything possible to support the industry and those who depend on tourism for their livelihoods.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S27[13]=" 'We have worked hard over the last three years to build Tasmania's profile in the Sydney and South-East Queensland markets,' Mr Lennon said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S28[13]=" &nbsp;  'We have come a long way and we have made significant progress in turning interest in Tasmania as a holiday destination into actual ";

S29[13]=" travel.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Booking trends suggest the bulk of people in the Sydney and South-East Queensland markets prefer to travel to Tasmania by ";

S30[13]=" air and we now have to respond to those market forces.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'Let's not forget that Spirit III will have carried more ";

R[14]="834";

T[14]="Tassie's Spirit III To Be Sold";

A[14]="By ... Editor";

Dn[14]="20060606";

Dt[14]="Tuesday 6 June 2006";

Acats[14]="a05a08a44a69";

B1[14]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government has decided to sell Spirit of Tasmania III and close down the Sydney ferry service.... ";

B2[14]=" ";

B3[14]=" ";

B4[14]=" ";

B5[14]=" ";

S1[14]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government has decided to sell Spirit of Tasmania III and close down the Sydney ferry service.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A ";

S2[14]=" meeting of Cabinet in Hobart today agreed to end the service, two and a half years after it began.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The last service ";

S3[14]=" of the ferry will run on August 27.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Government has been advised that most jobs can be absorbed by the company.<BR> ";

S4[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Premier Paul Lennon said today's decision had been difficult but unavoidable, given the hard facts the Government had been presented with.<BR> &nbsp; ";


S5[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This is a decision not about this year's operation but the outlook for the next few years is extremely challenging,' Mr Lennon said.<BR> ";

S6[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Aggressively attacking the Sydney and Queensland tourism markets by introducing Spirit III was a bold move.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We have done ";

S7[14]=" everything possible to support the service but we have to recognise now that it is not sustainable.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The Sydney service has allowed ";

S8[14]=" us to make inroads into new tourism markets and has delivered Tasmania strong benefits - in terms of promotion of the State's image to tourists ";

S9[14]=" who would never have otherwise considered visiting Tasmania.' Mr Lennon said the trigger for today's decision had been expert forecasts indicating a down-turn in patronage, ";

S10[14]=" flowing from a forecast decline in national tourism expectations.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In the current year of operation alone, more than 80,000 travellers will have ";

S11[14]=" used the Sydney ferry service,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'However, the business case depends on passenger numbers building to around 115,000 per year.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S12[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Expert advice shows that those forecasts cannot be achieved.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Running costs have been rising - mainly driven by fuel cost ";

S13[14]=" increases - and the numbers of passengers cannot keep pace with the increased costs.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Treasury's estimate is that TT-Line would require a ";

S14[14]=" funding injection of more than $50 million each year to be able to operate both Melbourne and Sydney ferry services on a sustainable basis.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S15[14]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'That's effectively a subsidy of $5,300 for every additional passenger coming to Tasmania on Spirit III.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Against those benchmarks, cancelling ";

S16[14]=" the service was a hard decision but a responsible one.' 'We cannot ignore the advice we have been given and responsibility to the taxpayers of ";

S17[14]=" Tasmania demands no other alternative than to call an end to the service.' Mr Lennon also noted the Government's full support for the TT-Line Board ";

S18[14]=" through the decision-making process.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The Board has demonstrated great integrity and professionalism in the way it has considered these issues and brought ";

S19[14]=" them to the attention of the Government,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Lennon said the Government had set aside a contingency of $22.5 million ";

S20[14]=" to cover the costs of ending the service and to ensure that the TT-Line would not be left with additional debt after the sale of ";

S21[14]=" the ship... ";

R[15]="822";

T[15]="Spirit III future to be decided";

A[15]="By ... Editor";

Dn[15]="20060605";

Dt[15]="Monday 5 June 2006";

Acats[15]="a44a69";

B1[15]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian Government will decide the fate of its Sydney to Devonport ferry today.... ";

B2[15]=" ";

B3[15]=" ";

B4[15]=" ";

B5[15]=" ";

S1[15]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian Government will decide the fate of its Sydney to Devonport ferry today.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; State cabinet is expected to ";

S2[15]=" announce the sale of the financially-stricken Spirit of Tasmania III after members meet this morning.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The ferry - one of three vessels ";

S3[15]=" operated by the Government-owned TT-Line - has struggled in the face of cheap airlines and rising fuel costs since its purchase in 2003.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";


S4[15]=" &nbsp; Today's decision comes only 15 months after Premier Paul Lennon announced a $115 million rescue package for the troubled ferry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; But ";

S5[15]=" TT-Line chairman Denis Rogers said the vessel needed a further cash injection to survive after a recent downturn in domestic tourism.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Former ";

S6[15]=" premier, the late Jim Bacon, had hailed the ferry as a new era in tourism after its purchase, against Treasury advice, for $105 million.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S7[15]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Lennon has repeatedly rejected selling the ferry, but last week hinted he was in favour of the sale.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'There ";

S8[15]=" comes a time when the amount of money that can be provided from the central budget ...<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; must come to an end,' ";

S9[15]=" he told parliament... ";

R[16]="456";

T[16]="Tasmania Oyster Breeding Project Awarded Funding";

A[16]="By ... Editor";

Dn[16]="20060222";

Dt[16]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[16]="a69a87a88";

B1[16]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; An innovative Tasmanian company developing new techniques and breeding lines to improve oyster quality for consumers has been awarded a $995,562 grant ";

B2[16]="under the Australian Government s Commercial Ready program... ";

B3[16]=" ";

B4[16]=" ";

B5[16]=" ";

S1[16]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; An innovative Tasmanian company developing new techniques and breeding lines to improve oyster quality for consumers has been awarded a $995,562 grant ";

S2[16]=" under the Australian Government's Commercial Ready program.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane today announced Clifton Beach-based company Shellfish Culture as one of ";

S3[16]=" three Tasmanian companies awarded more than $3 million in the latest round of Australian Government innovation funding.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Nationally, more than $39 million ";

S4[16]=" was awarded to 63 projects under the Commercial Ready and Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) innovation programs.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Macfarlane said currently Australian oyster ";

S5[16]=" and mussel industries depend on the production of normal shellfish - diploids - with two sets of chromosomes.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'A perennial problem faced ";

S6[16]=" by farmers of diploid shellfish occurs during spawning season when meat appearance, texture and taste change from that of the favoured 'winter' shellfish,' he said.<BR> ";

S7[16]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Shellfish Culture's project aims to overcome this problem by developing worldleading technology in the production of triploid and tetraploid shellfish, whose altered ";

S8[16]=" number of chromosomes allow farmers to avoid the spawning season and produce high quality shellfish right through the year.' Other Tasmanian companies to receive Commercial ";

S9[16]=" Ready grants to help develop their projects include: o Aprin Pty Ltd of Bridgewater, awarded $1,826,175 to develop a machine for planting new and existing ";

S10[16]=" rotation plantation forests to suit Australian conditions.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [Contact: Mr Ron O'Connor 03 6263 3322] o Vision Instruments Pty Ltd, of Hobart, awarded ";

S11[16]=" a $181,428 grant to further develop a portable retinal camera for retinal eye disease screening programs in public health, remote areas and developing countries.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S12[16]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; The company also received a COMET grant last year to help with the project.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [Contact: Mr Greg Koennecke 03 6278 ";

S13[16]=" 8036] A list of the latest innovation grants and information on the Commercial Ready and COMET programs can be found at www.ausindustry.gov.au, or phone the ";

S14[16]=" AusIndustry hotline 13 28 46, or email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au... ";


R[17]="442";

T[17]="Blue Rocket Shoots for the Stars with $9 million Project";

A[17]="By ... Editor";

Dn[17]="20060222";

Dt[17]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[17]="a06a45a46a69";

B1[17]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; With the help of the Tasmanian Government Hobart digital animation company Blue Rocket Productions is planning to start production this year on ";

B2[17]="a $9 million animated TV series... ";

B3[17]=" ";

B4[17]=" ";

B5[17]=" ";

S1[17]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; With the help of the Tasmanian Government Hobart digital animation company Blue Rocket Productions is planning to start production this year on ";

S2[17]=" a $9 million animated TV series.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minister for Economic Development Lara Giddings said Blue Rocket has secured a significant interest from the ";

S3[17]=" Nine Network for the 26 half hour animated series Pixel Pinkie.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Pixel Pinkie is an animated series based around a pre-teen girl ";

S4[17]=" who discovers a genie - Pixel Pinkie - in her mobile phone and embarks on a series of adventures with Pinkie's help.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S5[17]="  'Aimed at the female 7-11, or 'tweenie', global television market, the project focuses on the traditional coming-of-age themes with story lines ranging from the ";

S6[17]=" arrival of Pixel Pinkie, to typical schoolgirl preoccupations about image, fitting in and parents.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'If financed, this will be the largest film ";

S7[17]=" or television production ever made in Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This is a very exciting project for Blue Rocket and for the entire Tasmanian screen ";

S8[17]=" and television industry, with a minimum of $4 million to be spent in the State and employment for over 40 Tasmanians over the life of ";

S9[17]=" the project.' 'The professional development and training opportunities for Tasmania are enormous,' Ms Giddings said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The State Government, through Screen Tasmania, has ";

S10[17]=" made an offer of investment of $500,000 to Blue Rocket Productions, subject to the company raising the remaining finance on the $9+ million budget.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S11[17]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The interest from the Nine Network is also subject to the project being fully financed.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  'The offer of investment ";

S12[17]=" from Screen Tasmania will help Blue Rocket secure further investment from the Film Finance Corporation.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Blue Rocket is joining with Monaco-based company ";

S13[17]=" Daro Film Distribution and Toronto-based producer and distributor, Canamedia, to raise the remaining finance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'With assistance from Screen Tasmania and Daro, Blue ";

S14[17]=" Rocket will immediately start production on a promotional trailer.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The trailer will be shown at MIP TV - the world's biggest TV ";

S15[17]=" production marketplace - in Cannes, France in April 2006, to help secure the remaining finance.'.. ";

R[18]="334";

T[18]="Literacy in Tasmania already meets Criteria";

A[18]="By ... Editor";

Dn[18]="20060222";

Dt[18]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";


Acats[18]="a05a06a53a69";

B1[18]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania..... ";

B2[18]=" ";

B3[18]=" ";

B4[18]=" ";

B5[18]=" ";

S1[18]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Tasmanian Government says a national report on the teaching of literacy has backed some methods used in Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S2[18]=" Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson is using the report to push for an overhaul of how children are taught to read.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It ";

S3[18]=" recommends testing children's literacy every six months during their first three years at school, literacy plans for every school student in Australia and national standards ";

S4[18]=" for teachers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; State Education Minister Paula Wriedt says some recommendations are already in practice.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It does vindicate the approach ";

S5[18]=" that we have been taking here in Tasmania and that is phonics does play a very important part of the way we teach children how ";

S6[18]=" to read,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'But of course we also use a range of other appropriate methods because children do learn in different ";

S7[18]=" ways and what might be acceptable for one child may not work for another.'.. ";

R[19]="256";

T[19]="Green Light For Meander Dam";

A[19]="By ... Editor";

Dn[19]="20060222";

Dt[19]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[19]="a04a06a40a42a69";

B1[19]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Premier today announced that the State Government had taken decisive action to ensure the vital Meander Dam project proceeds..... ";

B2[19]=" ";

B3[19]=" ";

B4[19]=" ";

B5[19]=" ";

S1[19]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Premier today announced that the State Government had taken decisive action to ensure the vital Meander Dam project proceeds.Mr Lennon said ";

S2[19]=" that with the support of the Government, the Government-owned business Rivers and Water Supply Commission would fund the dam's construction, own the dam and have ";

S3[19]=" the ability to sell, lease and trade unallocated water rights to recoup its investment.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The Meander Dam project has been talked about ";

S4[19]=" for 30 years and is too important a project to be allowed to stall,' Mr Lennon said.'The State Government is committed to this project and ";

S5[19]=" to meeting the very real needs of irrigators in the Meander Valley.'We were not prepared to allow this project to fall over and we have ";

S6[19]=" taken appropriate steps to underpin what will be Tasmania's largest irrigation scheme.' Almost $20 million had already been committed to the Meander Dam project by ";

S7[19]=" the State Government, the Federal Government and private investors, including 48 farmers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government's increased commitment through the Rivers and Water ";


S8[19]=" Supply Commission is expected to see construction completed in September-October 2007.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Water is expected be available to farmers during the 2007-08 irrigation ";

S9[19]=" season.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The dam will have a capacity of 43,000 megalitres (1 Megalitre = 1 million litres) and will annually provide 24,000 megalitres ";

S10[19]=" of water for irrigation at a reliability of 98 per cent, making it one of the most reliable water sources in Australia.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S11[19]=" It will provide around three times as much irrigation water as the current largest scheme, Cressy-Longford.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The remaining capacity of the dam ";

S12[19]=" provides water for environmental flows in the Meander River and covers evaporative and seepage losses.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The dam will also provide for hydro-electricity ";

S13[19]=" generation and shore up the reliability of town water supplies for Deloraine, Exton and Westbury.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Over 100 farms can be supplied with ";

S14[19]=" water from the dam and there are over 20,000 hectares of land that could be irrigated with the water.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Even at a ";

S15[19]=" conservative average irrigation application rate of three to four megalitres per hectare, it is clear that the 24,000 megalitres available will irrigate far less than ";

S16[19]=" half of the available land.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Therefore, there is little doubt that in the medium to long-term, all available water taken up for ";

S17[19]=" irrigation,' Mr Lennon said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The dam will be of roller compacted concrete construction and the completed dam wall will be 48 metres ";

S18[19]=" high.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The area covered by the water behind the wall at fully supply is 364 hectares.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The dam is ";

S19[19]=" relatively small compared to our major Hydro dams but will be the largest water supply dam in Tasmania, more than three times.. ";

R[20]="239";

T[20]="Tasmania Maintains Goal Of GM Freedom";

A[20]="By ... Editor";

Dn[20]="20060222";

Dt[20]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[20]="a12a69";

B1[20]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government won t be giving up its goal of maintaining GM free status and is determined to eradicate unwanted GM ";

B2[20]="material as soon as possible... ";

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B5[20]=" ";

S1[20]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The State Government won't be giving up its goal of maintaining GM free status and is determined to eradicate unwanted GM material ";

S2[20]=" as soon as possible.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Steve Kons, has reaffirmed the Government's commitment to a Genetically-Modified (GM)-free ";

S3[20]=" policy.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'GM-free is defined as a zero tolerance to contamination of canola seed or grain by GM canola and that is our ";

S4[20]=" ultimate target.' However, Mr Kons confirmed that, as expected, preliminary trials of the Grace strain of canola at Cressy had shown it was likely to ";

S5[20]=" be contaminated.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Follow-up laboratory testing is continuing.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'But given that the strain is the same as that found to ";

S6[20]=" be contaminated in Victoria it was always the expectation that some of the Tasmanian crops would be found to be contaminated as well.' Mr Kons ";

S7[20]=" said this need not threaten Tasmania's status or the aim for zero tolerance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Given the low levels of contamination there is no ";

S8[20]=" need for wholesale crop destruction, in fact it would achieve nothing.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The crop sites will still have to be monitored over coming ";


S9[20]=" years and managed similar to the way the old GM canola trial sites are, that is any volunteer plants are dealt with as they appear.<BR> ";

S10[20]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In the interim commercial crops will be able to be harvested and sent to other state's which have agreed to a tolerance ";

S11[20]=" level for contamination.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We acknowledge that a zero tolerance of GM material in canola is probably not achievable in the large canola-producing ";

S12[20]=" states, but we believe it should be possible here in Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Our relatively small industry and our isolation gives us hope that ";

S13[20]=" we can maintain GM freedom and I reiterate that remains our aim,' Mr Kons said... ";

R[21]="238";

T[21]="Ocean Beach to become Conservation Area";

A[21]="By ... Editor";

Dn[21]="20060222";

Dt[21]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[21]="a37a42a69";

B1[21]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Virtually the entire hinterland of one of Tasmania s breathtaking Southern Ocean beaches - Ocean Beach near Strahan - is to become ";

B2[21]="a Conservation Area... ";

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S1[21]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Virtually the entire hinterland of one of Tasmania's breathtaking Southern Ocean beaches - Ocean Beach near Strahan - is to become a ";

S2[21]=" Conservation Area.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The new Conservation Area will cover almost 6000 ha stretching from the State forest at Macquarie Heads to as far ";

S3[21]=" north as the Little Henty River (near Trial Harbour).<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This includes the impressive Henty Dunes, believed to be Tasmania's highest sand dunes.<BR> ";

S4[21]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Environment and Planning Minister Judy Jackson announced the decision today when releasing the outcomes to date of the Crown Land Assessment and ";

S5[21]=" Classification Project which systematically is assessing nearly 3% of Tasmania's land area and recommending its future usage.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The magnificent Henty Dunes are ";

S6[21]=" one feature of this large area which also includes coastal and sub-alpine heath, paperbark swamp and wetlands,' Ms Jackson said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The dramatic ";

S7[21]=" expanse of Ocean Beach and its hinterland are on the northern migration route for the orange-bellied parrot the area is significant for the swift parrot ";

S8[21]=" and wedge-tailed eagle and also contains mutton bird rookeries.' Ocean Beach also features in the coastal Tasmanian lifestyle for many families who enjoy the wild ";

S9[21]=" recreaction possibilities of the area between Trial Harbour and Macquarie Heads.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Crown Land Assessment and Classification (CLAC) Project, which started in ";

S10[21]=" July last year, is about half way through its task of assessing some 7000 Crown properties in Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; All these properties are ";

S11[21]=" either unallocated Crown land or Public Reserves under the Crown Lands Act 1976.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; As at the end of August, 3,290 properties in ";

S12[21]=" 13 municipalities have been assessed totalling approximately 75,500 hectares.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Suggestions for the future tenure of these properties have been released for public ";

S13[21]=" consultation.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Jackson said that State Cabinet has now endorsed recommendations for properties in the first seven of those municipalities: Tasman, Sorell, ";

S14[21]=" King Island, Burnie, Waratah Wynyard, Circular Head and West Coast.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The remaining municipalities around the State will be progressively assessed and released ";

S15[21]=" for public comment over the next ten months.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The breakdown of the recommendations endorsed by the State Government to date is: · ";


S16[21]=" 63,620 hectares will be reserved under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, predominantly as Conservation Area · 4,307 hectares have been allocated as Public Reserve under ";

S17[21]=" the Crown Lands Act 1976 · 3,053 hectares may be offered for sale and · 1,096 hectares are to be transferred to local government.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S18[21]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Jackson said that features of the decisions by Cabinet to date are: · Many of the Conservation Areas to be created are ";

S19[21]=" along the coast or along rivers · Many of the existing Regional Reserves on the West Coast will be expanded by the addition of large ";

S20[21]=" areas of previously unallocated Crown land ·.. ";

R[22]="48";

T[22]="Tassie Devil on the vulnerable list";

A[22]="By ... Editor";

Dn[22]="20060222";

Dt[22]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[22]="a42a69";

B1[22]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A State Government decision to list the Tasmanian devil as vulnerable has received a mixed reaction from wildlife park owners..... ";

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S1[22]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A State Government decision to list the Tasmanian devil as vulnerable has received a mixed reaction from wildlife park owners.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S2[22]=" &nbsp; Ray Green, of Something Wild Wildlife Sanctuary at National Park, said the species needed to be listed as endangered but Androo Kelly, of Mole ";

S3[22]=" Creek's Trowunna Wildlife Park, said the 'vulnerable' listing was appropriate.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Environment and Planning Minister Judy Jackson said she had formally accepted a ";

S4[22]=" recommendation from the Independent Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Committee to list the devil as vulnerable under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S5[22]=" She said the Government recognised the threat that the facial tumour disease in devils posed to the iconic species and had provided considerable funding for ";

S6[22]=" establishment of a program to address this threat.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Already we have a rigorous response in place, but this listing means a recovery ";

S7[22]=" plan will also be done for the species to identify other measures that may assist in the ongoing survival of the species,' Ms Jackson said.<BR> ";

S8[22]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tasmanian Greens MHA Nick McKim said the listing was welcomed and marked the end of a process which began in March when ";

S9[22]=" he nominated devils for inclusion on the threatened species register.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr McKim repeated a call for extra Government funds to accelerate laboratory ";

S10[22]=" work.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said the listing of the devil as a vulnerable species would have many benefits including attracting further funding to assist ";

S11[22]=" the devil, which should be allocated specifically to pathological research into the disease, which was massively under resourced.Other benefits would include ensuring proper consideration of ";

S12[22]=" the species in any planning and resource management decisions.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Kelly said he did not believe devils were endangered.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S13[22]=" 'I am more concerned for platypuses and frogs,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Mr Kelly said the view was the disease was a natural ";

S14[22]=" process embodied deep in their genetic code and it appeared to be related to the population density of devils.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said the ";

S15[22]=" cause of the facial tumours would never be proven to be from a chemical entering the environment, but he was not suggesting chemicals were not ";


S16[22]=" involved in the disease.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Green said unless the devil was listed as endangered the listing meant nothing.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He ";

S17[22]=" said the move played to people who did not know the difference between declaring an animal vulnerable or endangered.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It was a ";

S18[22]=" step in the right direction but a long way from what was needed... ";

R[23]="38";

T[23]="Tasmanian Landcare Award Winners For 2005";

A[23]="By ... Editor";

Dn[23]="20060222";

Dt[23]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[23]="a04a42a69a90";

B1[23]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The winners of the Tasmanian Landcare Awards 2005 have been announced at a ceremony in Launceston..... ";

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S1[23]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The winners of the Tasmanian Landcare Awards 2005 have been announced at a ceremony in Launceston.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; With a theme ";

S2[23]=" of 'Searching for Inspiring Individuals and Projects, Showcasing determination, perseverance and rewards' the Tasmanian Landcare movement joined to honour the hundreds of volunteers involved across ";

S3[23]=" the State.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Steve Kons, who presented the Awards with the sponsors, said there was a ";

S4[23]=" wide variety of projects worthy of attention in Tasmania, which was why it was important for groups and individuals to be recognised in the awards.<BR> ";

S5[23]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He said the national awards provide a wonderful opportunity to recognise the efforts of the hundreds of people within the community who ";

S6[23]=" give so much time to conservation projects within the State.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Excellence in environmental management is being recognised through these Awards,' Mr Kons ";

S7[23]=" said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'There are some outstanding examples of Landcare success among the recipients of the Tasmanian Landcare Awards.'  There are more than ";

S8[23]=" 4500 Landcare groups across Australia, and just over 300 of these are in Tasmania.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Kons said these groups were supported by ";

S9[23]=" and interact with local councils, and received support from the State Government, predominantly through his department, but also through non-government organisations such as the Tasmanian ";

S10[23]=" Landcare Association, Greening Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Green Corps.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Commonwealth Government adds its support through the Natural Resource Management regional ";

S11[23]=" framework, Natural Heritage Trust, Envirofund, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the National Landcare Program and other funding programs.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S12[23]=" The Winners of the Tasmanian Landcare Awards 2005 are:<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * Australian Government Coastcare Community Award Southern Beaches Landcare/Coastcare Inc (working at Dodges ";

S13[23]=" Ferry)<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Australian Government Bushcare Nature Conservation Award Friends of Frenchs Road Nature Reserve (working in Waratah-Wynyard Council area)<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Westpac ";

S14[23]=" Landcare Education Award  Woodbridge School and Natone Primary School<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Alcan Landcare Indigenous Community Award  Indigenous Green Corps Team (working at ";

S15[23]=" Oyseter Cover and Risdon Cove, Saltwater River and Murrayfield on Bruny Island)<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award Wynyard Landcare Group<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S16[23]=" &nbsp; *Landcare Australia Local Government Community Partnerships Award Devonport City Council<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *Australian Government Landcare Regional Award Cradle Coast NRM <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S17[23]=" &nbsp; *Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer AwardAndrew Colvin, of Blackwood Creek.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  <BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *National Landcare Program Individual Landcarer AwardDr ";


S18[23]=" Graeme Stevenson, of Somerset.. ";