Morning of the king tide

LAPPING: The water was high at the boat sheds at Cornelian Bay yesterday. Picture: KIM EISZELE

YESTERDAY'S high tide might have been a king tide but it wasn't a monster one.

The combined gravitational pull of the moon and the sun guaranteed a higher than normal tide, followed by an extra-low tide.

But for a king tide to transform into the highest possible tide, extra forces must come into play.

They include storms that can push the sea harder against a coastline, low atmospheric pressures that add extra upward pull and large waves.

Oceanographer John Hunter said yesterday's king tide stopped about a metre below Sandy Bay's Long Beach sea wall and a one in 100 year monster tide could reach 70cm higher, with waves splashing easily over the wall.

Cars parked near the regatta grounds would have got an expensive wash and areas of Sandy Bay and Battery Point might have resembled Venice.

Dr Hunter was an author of a report, used by the State Govern- ment for its sea level rise planning response, that found as many as 620 homes could be affected by the next monster tide, and as many as 980 houses could be permanently inundated by 2100.

Sea levels had risen by 17cm in the past 100 years and were fore- cast to rise as much as 50cm by the end of the century.

bruce.mounster@news.com.au

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Clean, green the way to Asia

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has urged Tasmania to use its clean, green image to take advantage of the Asian century.

Talking to the Mercury for the last time before the Prime Minister takes a break for Christmas, Ms Gillard urged Tasmania to play to its strengths.

"The things that you prize about yourself are the things that will drive you forward," Ms Gillard said.

"You live in a beautiful place with a fantastic lifestyle, with a real sense of community."

Ms Gillard said Tasmania was in a prime position to take advantage of the Asian century.

"I think Tasmania can be a region of prosperity in the years to come," she said.

"I have laid out, for the nation, our plan for this Asian century of growth and change where we have talked about what this huge middle class the biggest middle class in the world living in Asia will want.

"When you go through the list much of it is what Tasmania produces and has available for sale.

"People in Asia with middle-class income are going to want clean green food, they are going to want great quality wine, they are going to want great tourism experiences not the package holidays but the unique tourism experiences.

"Tasmania is in a position to provide all of those things."

Ms Gillard said Tasmania's island state did create challenges with issues like freight logistics and health care.

"Being an island has come with disadvantages about distances," Ms Gillard said.

"[But] those disadvantages about distances are being closed all the time by the National Broadband Network and new technology. I think Tasmania can look to the power of the National Broadband Network, which is being rolled out in Tasmania first, to connect to the world and customise products.

"Customers can deal with people in real time right around the world.

"There is no reason why people can't be running a small to medium business enterprise in Tasmania and connecting to the world and selling their products and services."

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TIS gives help to 90

A FIELD of 90 athletes including Olympians and 25 newcomers were rewarded for their talent in Hobart yesterday when they received 2013 scholarships from the Tasmanian Institute of Sport.

TIS director Paul Austen said it was an exciting time for the institute because it was the start of the four-year Olympic cycle.

A total of 14 sports are backed by the institute, and scholarships went to 57 male athletes and 33 female athletes ranging from 14 to 31 years-of-age.

The TIS continued its support of athletes who have previously represented Australia at an Olympic and Paralympic Games: Scott Brennan, Todd Hodgetts, Matt Bugg, Amy Cure, Luke Jackson, Jackson Woods, Tristan Thomas, Matthew Goss, Adam Gibson, Tim Deavin and Eddie Ockenden.

Of the newcomers, some will go on to represent Australia at world championships and also the Olympic Games.

"The ones coming in are just starting that next phase and the next 12 months determines whether they are ones we would consider having the potential to go all the way," Austen said.

"We've got a group coming in that will be focused probably not on Rio but the Olympics after that.

"But you just never know who will pop up and advance more quickly.

"It's always exciting for the institute to start another four-year process and many of this intake is at the bottom of the cycle and it's exciting to see who we are going to work with and to see how their development pans out."

The 2012 dual world junior cycling track champion, Georgia Baker will again be a member of a strong cycling program.

The TIS has associate scholarships with professional Tasmanian athletes including Richie Porte (cycling), Matthew Goss (cycling), Wes Sulzberger (cycling), Will Clarke (cycling), Cameron Wurf (cycling), Adam Gibson (basketball), Hugh Greenwood (basketball), Ryan McCarthy (golf) and Kalem Richardson (golf).

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Family molester jailed

A 79-YEAR-OLD pensioner has been jailed for abusing three generations of young girls from his own family over 45 years from the 1950s.

The southern Tasmanian man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in Hobart's Supreme Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, four counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person, one count of attempted rape and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Crown prosecutor Linda Mason told the court the man abused his sister, daughters, granddaughters and a niece.

At the time of his crimes they were all aged under 13.

The man abused his sister in the mid-1950s and abused his daughters on an almost weekly basis from the mid-1960s.

He had sexual intercourse with one of his daughters, aged 11 or 12, on three occasions while he pretended to be tucking her into bed.

The man abused another daughter aged between 10 and 13 in the early 1970s, a niece aged seven or eight, and four granddaughters aged about six or seven between 1986 and 1997.

Ms Mason said the man had been confronted about the abuse some years ago and had admitted touching his daughters.

After several of his victims gave statements last year, the man was interviewed by police and confessed the bulk of his offending.

The court heard the man had admitted to investigating officers that he still found young girls attractive.

His lawyer, Amber Mignot, said he accepted he was likely to spend much of the rest of his life in custody.

Justice Peter Evans jailed the man for nine years and ordered he not be eligible for parole until he had served half the sentence.

He also ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years on his release.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Photograph a king tide for science

WALKING ON WATER: Penguin sculptures at Macquarie Wharf during a previous high tide in Hobart. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

BEACHGOERS and photography buffs are being urged to register and capture images of tomorrow morning's king tide in the name of climate science.

A king tide affecting Tasmania's southern and eastern coastlines is due to reach its peak at 8.53am tomorrow, although the effects will still be apparent through to Sunday.

People are being urged to photograph the tide in their area as part of the national Witness King Tides photography project, jointly funded by the Tasmanian and NSW governments and run by Green Cross Australia in partnership with bodies such as the CSIRO.

King tides are not linked to climate change but the scientists running the project hope to use the events to visualise how rising sea levels may impact on beaches and coastal communities in the future.

To register to take part in the photography project, visit http://www.witnesskingtides.org/

Send us your king tide pics via email to readerspix@dbl.newsltd.com.au.

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Gill signs with Dees

NORTH Hobart's star recruit Nick Gill can't wait to get back on the ground where he starred for Sandringham and Port Melbourne in VFL games against the Tassie Devils in the early 2000s.

The former Melbourne, North Melbourne and Adelaide Crows utility has signed a one-year contract as playing assistant coach for the Demons next season.

The 2013 TSL roster was released yesterday, and Gill's debut for the Dees in round 1 will be against Hobart at the TCA ground on April 14.

North recruited Gill, 30, as a key forward, but the man who played 16 games and kicked 20 goals for the Crows between 2007 and 2009 says he will bring more than onfield talent.

"It's an exciting challenge at my age to pass on a bit of experience to a pretty young team," Gill said yesterday.

"That adds to the challenge for me.

"North Hobart finished sixth on the ladder this year and I feel that I can pass on a bit of experience rather than just contributing on field."

The 2013 TSL roster covers 26 weeks and boasts three Anzac Day games, seven Friday night games, two matches on Good Friday and 13 Sunday games.

Gill's first match at North Hobart will be against reigning premier Burnie on April 27.

He played in Cairns this year where he kicked a career-high 106 goals.

That caught North Hobart's attention, as well as the eye of numerous other clubs.

"It was a tough decision and it was good to speak to all the clubs," he said.

"In the end I'm happy with my decision.

"It came down to a couple of clubs but I won't say who."

Anzac Day action involves Glenorchy hosting Lauderdale at KGV at 12.30pm, and Devonport-Launceston (Devonport Oval) and North Launceston-South Launceston (Aurora Stadium) clashing in night games, both starting at 6pm, thus avoiding the AFL blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon.

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Walk Hard's star rises

GREYHOUND Walk Hard has the potential to earn star status at the Group 1 Tattsbet Hobart Thousand tomorrow night.

He'll win, but only if he can reproduce the trial time he recorded last Saturday in a heat of the series.

Walk Hard, prepared in Victoria by Nicole McRae at Clyde, ventured to Hobart for the trial with the hope of producing a competitive time but when he walked away with the unofficial record of 25.69 seconds over the 461m, McRae was thrilled.

The time eclipsed Bergermeister's record of 25.71 that he set in a race in July last year.

Walk Hard's trial time was revealed at the official Hobart Thousand launch at Tattersall's Park this week.

The dog has drawn box one in heat three (race four) and would only need to begin with them to win if he ran up to his trial time.

This year's Hobart Thousand series has again attracted a star-studded field, with 30 interstate invaders comprising some of the best greyhounds racing in Australia to line up in eight heats. But Tasmania's best will be very competitive against the visitors.

The winner of each heat will progress to the final on December 20 that carries $75,000 to the winner.

While Walk Hard (Bit Chili-Miss Bling) has impressed running solo on the U-bend circuit, there are plenty of other contenders with good enough credentials to make an impact tomorrow night.

Arguably Australia's best trainer, Graeme Bate, has won the race four times and he has entered seven of his best chasers to try to become a five-time winner of the series.

Trainers and owners across the nation have hailed the Hobart track as the best in Australia because it gives every dog a chance of winning because of his long run to the one turn.

Of the locals, last year's Hobart Thousand final runner-up Rewind looms as the state's best chance.

Rewind has been in sensational form, winning his past eight on the Hobart circuit.

Since finishing second to Dyna Tron in last year's Hobart Thousand final, the Morris Strickland-trained dog has been beaten just twice in 12 outings.

Rewind has drawn box four in the sixth heat (race seven).

Top Victorian trainer Andrea Dailey won the race last year with Dyna Tron.

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Athlete of Year finalists

SPLITTING the six finalists to see who will be crowned the 2012 Tasmanian Athlete of the Year will be no mean feat when the winner is announced tonight.

The Apple Isle continues to produce world-class athletes who perform on the international stage and this year was again no exception.

Such were the achievements of the final six that last year's winner Matt Goss won't be defending his title, despite a third-place finish for the green jersey in the Tour de France.

Another Tour star, Richie Porte, will instead fly the flag for the cyclists after his gruntwork allowed Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins to snare the yellow jersey as race winner.

Boxing world champion Daniel Geale, Olympic silver medallist Kate Hornsey (rowing), hockey duo Eddie Ockenden and Tim Deavin and Paralympic gold medal star Todd Hodgetts (shot put) are the other finalists.

Tasmanian Institute of Sport director Paul Austen said yesterday it was an impressive batch of athletes.

"We have had another highly successful year," Austen said.

"Certainly I believe when you look at those performances, Tasmania has a very strong and proud sporting heritage and great capacity to produce athletes that are world class."

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Cash for jobs -- at a cost

THE State Government will slide further into debt in a bid to create hundreds of jobs and leverage much needed new investment.

Premier Lara Giddings yesterday announced the Tasmanian Jobs Package she hopes will deliver 3300 jobs and create about $375 million in private investment.

The package will cost the State Government $24.5 million over the next four years and $11.7 million this year, as the state slides a further $44 million into deficit.

As revealed in the Mercury yesterday, Ms Giddings has more than doubled grants for Tasmanians building their first home topping up the existing $7000 first-home buyers' grant with a further $8000 for those who opt to build.

The money will be available for Tasmanians constructing new homes beginning on January 1 and continuing for 18 months.

Ms Giddings said the First Home Builders Boost will help to build 1100 first homes and create 1800 new jobs.

The move was supported by the building industry and the State Opposition yesterday.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the grant, that his party has been calling for, was a step in the right direction. "We are quite happy from Opposition to lead the Government when they have run out of ideas," he said.

HIA executive director Stuart Clues said in the past year 3000 jobs and 1000 projects have been lost.

"The State Government's announcement today could be the adrenalin shot in the arm the industry needs to start rebuilding in 2013," he said.

A further 850 jobs are hoped to be created by offering payroll grants for businesses putting on new staff from today up until June 30, 2014 and maintained until June 30, 2015.

The payroll exemption for new jobs would give medium and large businesses the ability to save about $3000 a year on a new worker earning about $50,000 a year.

Acting CEO and the TCCI chief economist Phil Bayley commended the move that has been a proven winner in the past. "The TCCI has also been highlighting the impact of payroll taxes on employment for many years, so today's announcement of relief for new jobs is welcome," he said.

"This is a win for all employers, particularly those that are considering putting on new employees."

Ms Giddings said the relatively modest outlay will make a massive contribution to job creation and private investment. "The package is a key part of my agenda for 2013 which will focus on jobs, people and opportunities," Ms Giddings said yesterday.

"I look forward to seeing more Tasmanians find jobs as a result of the strong action we have taken today."

A further $2.5 million in additional funding for the Tasmanian Government Innovation and Investment Fund will be used to try to leverage $11 million in private investment and create 170 jobs.

The North will get a boost, with $2.8 million investment in projects, including the Seaport boardwalk expansion on the Tamar River in Launceston and the creation of the Hollybank Mountain Bike Park, for the combined creation of 80 new jobs.

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Tough times cut Federal's profit

Greg Farrell at Federal's flagship property Saffire, on Tasmania's East Coast.

A TOUGH year for domestic tourism and new regulations in gaming have hit the Federal Hotels group, the owner of Tasmania's two casinos.

Federal Hotels parent Mulawa Holdings yesterday reported a significant fall from $21.3 million in the previous year to $16.5 million after-tax profit for 2011-12.

The profit fall came despite an increase in revenue from $515 million to $520 million.

Despite a dramatic fall in employee numbers from 2016 to 1727, the company recorded an increase from $152 million to $160 million in personnel expenses. Gaming taxes and licence fees were down nearly $3 million.

In his recent Christmas address, managing director Greg Farrell blasted the Gaming Commission's mandatory code of practice, part of which was introduced on March 1.

Other measures were introduced on September 1 and have resulted in a fall in year-to-date gaming machine expenditure from $73 million to $68 million. The group expects a $20 million- a-year decline in revenue.

The code included measures such as no free alcohol, no ATMs in gambling areas other than casinos, adequate lighting and clocks in gaming areas, and no food or drinks at gaming machines after 6pm.

Mr Farrell said with the dollar at record levels, Australians had never had it so good if they wanted to travel offshore.

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First home grants to double

It is understood a key plank of the State Government's jobs plan will be the reintroduction of a first home-builders grant, doubling the $7000 already available to those entering the housing market. Image: THINKSTOCK

NEW homeowners will be the big winners when Premier Lara Giddings unveils her jobs stimulus package today.

Ms Giddings is remaining tight-lipped about the details of the package but it is understood a key plank of the jobs plan will be the reintroduction of a first home-builders grant doubling the $7000 already available to those entering the housing market.

The State Government has promised the new Tasmanian Jobs Package will support the creation of more than 3300 jobs and leverage $375 million worth of private investment.

"The Tasmanian Jobs Package has been designed to boost confidence and maximise jobs in the state," Ms Giddings said yesterday.

"The included measures have been carefully considered to provide an immediate economic stimulus."

Tasmanian first home buyers currently receive a $7000 grant under a national scheme but the building industry has been calling for the reinstatement of a further $7000 for new homes.

The Mercury understands the State Government has agreed to at least double the grant for Tasmanians building their first home.

Although he was yet to see the details of the package, Master Builders Tasmania executive director Michael Kerschbaum last night welcomed the move.

He said any incentive to build homes would provide a much-needed confidence boost to the state's construction industry, which he said had shed 3000 jobs in the past 18 months.

"This will give people some confidence we're moving in the right direction," he said. "It will certainly lead to some new home builds."

It appears the Government will not take on the Opposition's policy of also offering additional stamp-duty relief via concessions for Tasmanians buying their first home.

The Mercury understands the Government has decided greater benefits will flow to the building industry by concentrating on new homes.

Ms Giddings said yesterday the Tasmanian Jobs Package, to be released today with the Revised Estimates Report, formerly known as the Mid-Year Financial Report, would include funding to extend the Tasmanian Government Innovation and Investment Fund and tax incentives for businesses to create new jobs.

"The Tasmanian Government is committed to growing jobs and opportunities for Tasmanians," she said.

"We have seen the creation of 1400 new jobs since May but we readily acknowledge more needs to be done to bring the unemployment rate down."

Ms Giddings said the first round of TGIIF attracted 76 applications for projects worth $36 million, with just 10 funded in round one.

The State Government will encourage unsuccessful companies to apply for the latest grant round.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Crusader on the move

Paul Watson, pictured here in Hobart last year, is planning to rejoin the war against whaling this season.

ANTI-whaling crusader Paul Watson will not be deterred from his mission this whaling season, even if it means getting caught in Interpol's far-reaching nets.

The skipper of Sea Shepherd and its three sister ships will be joined on the southern seas by a fourth anti-whaling weapon in coming weeks to do battle in what it has dubbed the Whale Wars.

Sea Shepherd Hobart co-ordinator Anna Kingston said Mr Watson, wanted in Germany after skipping bail over an alleged boat-ramming incident earlier this year, had "jumped on board the Steve Irwin" and was on course with the ship Brigitte Bardot to approach Japan within weeks.

"This time they're aiming to cut the boats off as they're leaving Japan rather than wait for them to get into Antarctic waters," Ms Kingston said.

The jewel in the anti-whaling fleet's crown this season will, however, be a "new" vessel dubbed Sam Simon, after the environmental activist and co-creator of The Simpsons.

Sam Simon is now a member of the Sea Shepherd's advisory board.

The Japanese whalers are likely to get a shock when they see the ship.

It is a former whaling boat, bought from the Japanese by the anti-whaling activists, who did not alert the former owners to their true intentions with the ship. "It's been hidden away being refurbished up in Brisbane and this one is all white," Ms Kingston said.

"It'll look majestic coming into Hobart on Tuesday or Wednesday. Everyone who can should take the chance to get down to the docks to witness it for themselves."

The Sam Simon's namesake donated all the money needed to get the ship up to scratch for its role in this season's Operation Zero Tolerance to be played out on the Southern Ocean.

The ships will be backed up by a new airborne force unmanned drones. They will also have two helicopters.

Ms Kingston said the battle would continue even if Interpol caught up with their leader during the fight.

zara.dawtrey@news.com.au

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Seeking warmer waters

TROPICAL fish are venturing as far south as Tasmania in response to ocean warming.

Recent tropical sightings include turtles, a yellow-bellied sea snake, a green moray eel, tiger shark and a mahi-mahi dolphinfish.

The unusual sightings have been documented on the website Redmap, based on reports from divers, anglers and scientists.

Warmer waters are also attracting increasing numbers of big gamefish, such as marlin and yellowtail kingfish, which anglers say is a boon for the sport in Tasmania.

The "out-of-range" fish are being documented by Redmap so scientists can use sightings by recreational anglers and divers to help research into marine species' changing geographical range.

Redmap, the Range Extension Database and Mapping project, will extend from its current state focus when it goes national this week.

Redmap principal investigator Dr Gretta Pecl, from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, said all Australians would be able to report their unusual findings to Redmap after the national launch on Thursday.

Dr Pecl said the migrating tropical fish had been detected in increasing numbers over the past few years, and other popular fishing species from NSW and Victoria were becoming frequent visitors too.

"Some species that only appeared on the mainland, or only appeared in the north of Tasmania, are venturing further south," she said.

She said there were also growing numbers of eastern rock lobsters, including a population of about 35 living off the East Coast.

And snapper, not often sighted in the South until recently, is now so common it has a bag limit.

Dr Pecl said the migration of northern marine species could be for a range of reasons. While climate change was a major driver, other potential causes included changes in ocean currents, habitat availability, pollution and changes in mainland fishing activity.

The migration of new species has been welcomed by recreational anglers, who say the new species have created a boom.

Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing (TARFish) chief executive Mark Nikolai said anglers had noticed a rise in the number of popular sportsfish, including yellowtail kingfish, King George whiting, marlin and snapper.

He said these four species were extremely popular and would potentially increase fishing tourism to the state.

"It's all good news for Tasmania, as they expect more of these species to call Tasmania home," Mr Nikolai said.

He said the migrating sportsfish species were of little threat to local marine life, because the baitfish they ate moved down with them.

But Dr Pecl warned the warming oceans did attract some damaging species, such as long-spined sea urchins which were destroying habitats essential for rock lobsters and abalone.

Mr Nikolai said warmer waters had been detected by the CSIRO this year, as a result of the extension of the East Australian Current.

Data shows sea temperatures off the East Coast are warming at three times global average.

Redmap invites people to take photos of uncommon marine species and post them on www.redmap.org.au

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Ideas plan to lift Tassie

WHISKY and food trails, attracting more international students and bringing old industrial sites back to life are some of the ideas contained in three regional economic plans for Tasmania.

The regional plans were released last month, following 38 community consultations held around the state in March and April involving almost 700 people.

They followed the release of a statewide economic development plan in August last year and the establishment soon after of three regional reference groups.

The plans include initiatives already announced and suggestions about new projects to boost each region.

Economic Development Minister David O'Byrne said the economic plans were 10-year strategies focussing on diversifying regional economies and identifying potential growth industries.

He said: "In developing each regional plan, we've talked directly to Tasmanians living, working, studying and investing in each region. We know regional communities are under pressure. This plan is an economic strategy run by communities, for communities."

Mr O'Byrne said key drivers of Tasmania's southern economy included aquaculture, viticulture, agriculture and Antarctic and Southern Ocean science.

The North's key industries were advanced manufacturing, food and agriculture including poppies, dairy, fruit, meat, vegetables and wine, forestry and related products, minerals and mining.

In the North-West, key industries were also advanced manufacturing and food production, as well as floriculture, aquaculture, dairy and mining.

Tourism was identified as an area of opportunity in all three regions. Go to: development. tas.gov.au to view the plans in full.

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