Springs resort concept reborn

A computer-generated image of the Mount Wellington Springs proposal.

HOBART'S Lord Mayor Damon Thomas is championing the long-abandoned vision of an eco-resort at The Springs on Mount Wellington.

The Hobart City Council hopes to secure federal funding for an upgrade of the public toilets and parking at The Springs, which Ald Thomas believes will encourage developer Ali Sultan to proceed with his proposed visitor centre at the site.

But the mayor is not content to stop there.

"More importantly (the upgrade) opens up the chance for this high class eco-lodge," Ald Thomas said.

"It will really put the icing on the cake."

The council this month applied for a Regional Development Australia Fund grant to undertake a $2.5 million upgrade of visitor infrastructure at The Springs, including new toilets, a covered boardwalk, tracks and picnic areas as well as bus and car parking.

Ald Thomas said Mr Sultan had indicated if that work went ahead, his company Sultan Holdings would proceed with the plans for a visitor centre and restaurant.

A spokesman for Sultan Holdings said that a successful upgrade "wouldn't do any harm" to the prospect of a major development resort.

"We are aware of council's position and we have said to them to come back to us if the funding is approved," the spokesman said.

The plans for the building, designed by Hobart architect Robert Morris-Nunn, have been in the pipeline for 12 years.

A 50-room eco-tourism resort concept was abandoned in 2006.

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A bit of sparkle for ill children

FAIRY godmother Fairy Sparkle waved her magic wand and lifted spirits on a special visit to the Royal Hobart Hospital paediatric ward yesterday.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation ambassador's first visit to the RHH coincided with the arrival in Hobart of yacht Ragamuffin Loyal in the Sydney to Hobart race.

Ragamuffin Loyal has raised $2 million for the charity, which has donated several thousand dollars worth of medical equipment to the hospital over the past three years.

Describing Fairy Sparkle's work as "absolutely magical", Humpty Dumpty Foundation founder Paul Francis said she brought a special sparkle to sick children in hospitals around the country.

"She somehow manages to make people smile and laugh in their darkest hour," he said.

A full-time fairy godmother for the past 16 years, Fairy Sparkle said she believed it was the sickest children she helped the most.

elizabeth.lord@news.com.au

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Ready, set, Taste

Prue O'Shanesy, of Josef Chromy Wines, and Isaac Vitesnik, of Mountain Pepper Pizza, show their tasty wares. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

TASMANIA'S most popular food and wine festival will open its gates at 11am today, with about 300,000 people expected to pass through the gates in the next seven days.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 of those patrons are expected to hail from interstate and overseas.

Festival co-chairs and Hobart City Council aldermen Marti Zucco and Peter Sexton said this year's festival would have more seating, stalls and toilets and would take up more space than ever.

"People can expect a much more interesting experience this year," Ald Sexton said.

"We have expanded the festival out to 28,000 square metres across a variety of different surfaces --indoor and outdoor."

This year the festival will have 66 stallholders spread over 88 sites -- an increase of 10 stallholders on last year.

Festival organisers have negotiated their liquor licence so that fences around the site can be lowered to create a greater link between the main shed and Salamanca.

"We are trying to embrace the whole of Salamanca," Ald Zucco said.

Ald Sexton said the greatest change had been made to the area referred to as The Winery in 2011.

The area has been rebadged The Pier, floored with decking and opened up to the waterfront.

"Last year this was a relatively small area with an uneven floor -- and a dark space with a poor mix of food and beverages and unhappy stallholders and patrons," Ald Sexton said yesterday.

Ald Zucco said talk of charging an admission fee in the future was off the table.

"What we have done is incorporate a summer festival into the Taste," he said.

"You have to look at the cost versus the return."

Ald Zucco said the estimated cost of $600,000 for the Taste Festival included the New Year's Eve fireworks and the Kids in the Park program on Parliament lawns, which would go on with or without the Taste.

For details on opening hours, click here.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

• For a full list of stalls and what they have to offer, check out today's Mercury. 

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Wild Oats smashes own record

IT'S six of the best for Wild Oats XI after the supermaxi took line honours in a new race record in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart this morning.

Rated one of the world's fastest supermaxis, Wild Oats crossed the finish line at 7.23am to claim its sixth line honours title and second race record since 2005.

To check out the gallery, click here

It beat its own race record by almost 17 minutes, clocking 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes 12 seconds for the 628-nautical-mile journey.

Last year's line honours champion Ragamuffin Loyal, skippered by race legend Syd Fischer, finished second, crossing the line at 12.08pm.

The next yacht is Lahana, due in at 9.30 tonight.

Wild Oats appeared to have the race record in the bag as the clock ticked past midnight yesterday -- at that time on track to beat it by hours.

But then Mother Nature had her say. As the wind died so did the 100-footer's chances of the record.

She bobbed about in the waters off Tasman Island in the early hours of the morning, going nowhere fast.

"It was very frustrating but the boys dealt with it well and we didn't stop at all, we kept the boat moving," skipper Mark Richards said.

When the breeze returned, Wild Oats took off. When it carved its way past the Iron Pot just after sunrise, Richards knew the record run was back on.

"When we got to the Iron Pot we thought: 'The record's on here'. So we've got to really work," he said.

With the finish line in sight as Wild Oats slipped by the Garrow Light off Sandy Bay, the water became glassy and again Oats slowed to a crawl -- the record again in doubt.

"You do start thinking about the clock ticking away, but we did the right thing, got our heads out of the boat and started looking for the breeze," Richards said.

"We had the right sail up and that got us home."

Wild Oats' run was almost flawless, with the exception of a slightly damaged centreboard after hitting a submerged log on the first night and blowing out its big spinnaker yesterday.

"It was a great ride," Richards said.

"It was a shame we blew out a our big spinnaker because we were absolutely smoking and putting a lot of miles onto Ragamuffin Loyal.

"The weather has changed in our favour now and there's a pretty good chance we could win the race on handicap, so it's pretty exciting."

As it stands, Wild Oats tops the handicap leader board. Jazz, Calm, Quest, Loki and Shogun are also in the hunt.

The first Tasmanian yacht due home is Cougar II, expected late tomorrow.

Of the starting fleet of 76, three yachts have retired.

The last boat in the fleet, Maluka of Kermandie, has a scheduled time of arrival of 10.30pm on New Year's Eve.

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Bird strikes early on debut

JACKSON Bird has made an instant impression in his Australia Test debut at the MCG, grabbing two impressive top-order scalps against Sri Lanka.

The 26-year-old struck in the fourth over of the Boxing Day Test when Dimuth Karunaratne lunged forward and was caught behind for five.

He took his second wicket just after lunch when Thilan Samaraweera played a dreadful shot and spooned a catch to David Warner at mid wicket.

Former Australian swing bowler Damien Fleming likened the impressive Bird to Australian bowling legend Glenn McGrath.

With a habit of uprooting top-order batsmen and a wicket-taking stock delivery, Fleming said Bird showed more than enough today to prove he will be a long-term Test bowler.

Fleming coached Bird in his time at the Australian Cricket Academy and said the subsequent improvements to his technique were the building blocks of a promising international career.

Bird, 26, showed few nerves in picking up 2-32 in 13 overs, maintaining his outstanding first-class strike rate at the MCG.

More importantly though, five maidens highlighted control that not only claimed two key early breakthroughs, but that Fleming says will be critical in English conditions in next year's Ashes series.

"I think it's important for all bowlers to know that your best ball can get out the best batsman," Fleming said.

"And from what we've seen, he already knows that if he bowls enough of his good balls, he'll get enough wickets at Test level.

"He doesn't look like one of these guys who goes on an emotional rollercoaster, he's pretty laid back.

"It's very early days for him, but he's not unlike (Glenn) McGrath and Stuart Clark in that they've got a nice, bouncy, accurate stock ball.

"And it's shown over the history of Test cricket that those types of bowlers get wickets ... and he's probably got a more natural outswinger than those two."

Bird hit the spot early, beating opener Dimuth Karunaratne with the first ball of his second over and having a big LBW shout turned down the next ball.

Again using his stock delivery that swings into the left-hander, Bird almost forged a path between bat and pad with the third ball of the over, then showed nous beyond his experience to slant one across with his fourth ball to find the edge and shove Sri Lanka on the path to its meek demise.

The lithe Tasmanian then rushed on to the dangerous Thilan Samaraweera with a shorter ball that he could only spoon to David Warner at mid-wicket.

"What we're seeing here from Birdy is that there are now enough attributes to be a good international bowler," Fleming said.

"Back (at the Academy) he was very inconsistent with his wrist releases, so I reckon a majority of times he pushed the ball in.

"He was working on trying to get that outswinger and that's what you've seen from him not only today, but for the last two years -- consistent outswing.

"What we like is that he's got a nice run-up that goes towards off stump, his action is aligned and he has a high release.

"I don't think any action is bulletproof, but it doesn't look like it puts any strain through him.

"And talking to domestic players, they reckon his big strength is he hits high on the bat and that he makes you play.

"They're qualities you love in an into-the-wind bowler, you can take that anywhere in the world -- particularly England -- and you should have a good success rate."

Fleming said the only knock on Bird in English conditions was that he bowled marginally short during the mid-year Australia A tour.

"You should be about a metre fuller in England anyway, but with his fundamentals, you'll hope he's able to adjust his length just a little bit.

"If your line is good and the action of your run-up is good, you should be able to adjust your length, whether you're looking at the pitch, the stumps, or the keeper's feet, there's got to be something there to focus on and he's been impressive enough that he should be able to do that without a problem."

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Blaze threatens Dolphin Sands

A SCRUB fire is burning out of control at Dolphin Sands, north of Swansea, on Tasmania's East Coast.

Residents of Dolphin Sands Rd have been urged to activate their bushfire plans, with the Tasmania Fire Service sending 10 units to tackle the blaze.

The TFS has enacted a "watch and act status" for the fire, which means conditions are changing and residents need to start taking action to protect themselves and their families.

Anyone wishing to leave the area has been advised to do so now but only if the path is clear.

The football club at Swansea will be the evacuation point if required.

A Tasmania Police spokesman said officers had been sent from Swansea and Bicheno to help the TFS.

The blaze was reported about 3.30pm today.

Non-residents are advised to stay away from the affected areas.

There may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Dolphin Sands Rd and Cambria Rd is closed.

For up-to-date information, listen to ABC Local Radio and visit the TFS website.

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Wild Thing out of Syd-Hobart

FURIOUS Wild Thing skipper Grant Wharington was left to rue what might have been after controversially being banned from this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The flamboyant and highly-experienced yachtsman was booted out of the famous bluewater classic this morning -- just three hours before the start -- after failing to file a cache of important documents relating to recent alterations to the boat.

Bookies had Wharington's super-maxi as third favourite for this year's line honours and her skipper was clearly angry and emotional after a last-minute appeal against the decision was dismissed.

"We are absolutely devastated to be told at the 11th hour that we are unable to race to Hobart," he said.

"Would you believe we have been offered to sail down the course and we can go on into the radio skeds and leave the tracker on (and not compete for line honours), which is an insult."

Wharington later accused race organisers of conspiring against larger yachts -- comments which could land him in further hot water.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's race committee made the decision to pull the 2003 line honours winner at 10am (AEDT), citing the failure of the boat's owners to produce sufficient documentation regarding its design and recent hull modifications.

CYCA commodore Howard Piggott delivered the news while Wharington had his phone switched off as the skipper was giving his crew a pre-race briefing at the time.

Piggott said the race committee's decision was final.

"We made every effort, I assure you. We want to see boats racing," he said.

"However, it's out of our hands. We must comply with the notice of race and ensure that our safety standards are maintained."

After failing to overturn the ban, Wharington and his crew were forced to watch the race from the yacht club bar and said they would down several crates of beer.

That meant a reduced fleet of 76 boats took to the water and race favourite Wild Oats XI looked unbeatable after flying off the start line at 1pm (AEDT) and rounding the South Head of Sydney Harbour first.

The 100ft super-maxi has also had a series of modifications in the lead-up to the Sydney-Hobart race and it showed as she opened up a sizeable lead over fierce rival Ragamuffin Loyal before even leaving the harbour.

Wild Oats XI is attempting to beat her race record time of just over one day and 18 hours, set during her 2005 race victory.

But she'll need favourable conditions all the way to Hobart to do so.

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Yachties go the extra miles

INTERSTATE yachties on their way to the Launceston-to-Hobart race will spend much of Boxing Day on a bus after their morning flight into Launceston was cancelled.

About 200 passengers were affected when the morning Jetstar flight from Melbourne, due into Launceston at 10.50am, was cancelled.

Many of the passengers were transferred to a Qantas flight due to arrive in Hobart at 4.10pm.

They will then board a bus to Launceston.

The yachties have to go the extra miles to get to the Beauty Point start.

The tough West Coast yacht race begins tomorrow morning.

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Bruny delays likely

Long queues for the Bruny Island ferry at Easter.

COMMUTERS bound for Bruny Island are advised to expect delays during the busy festive period.

Shane Gregory, from the Department of Infrastructure, said motorists traditionally had a longer wait in Kettering from Boxing Day through to December 28 and again on New Year's Eve.

He said a contingency plan had been developed to manage the possibility of queuing on the Channel Highway.

"We're encouraging motorists to consider travelling during non-peak times, for example catching one of the first two sailings of the day, at 6.35am or 7.45am," the general manager of traffic infrastructure services said in a statement.

"If you do decide to travel during peak times, try to allow enough time for your journey and remember there could be delays of at least two hours.

"Make sure you carry enough water, especially if you are travelling with pets or children, and try to be patient and respectful of others.

"Motorists should only stop in Ferry Rd where it's possible for local traffic to pass."

To check out the ferry timetable, click here.

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Santa visits tree sitter

Santa helps environmental activist Miranda Gibson celebrate her second Christmas in a tree in southern Tasmania.

WHILE most Tasmanians will gather around a Christmas tree today, conservationist Miranda Gibson will still be up one – a 400-year-old eucalypt to be precise.

The 31-year-old began her tree sit in the state's Styx Valley on December 14, 2011, as part of a protest against logging in Tasmania's high conservation value forests.

Perched on a platform 60m above the ground, the former school teacher is now spending her second Christmas in the Observer Tree.

"This time last year I had hoped that I would not have to spend another Christmas here, and that this forest would be securely protected by now," Ms Gibson said in a statement yesterday.

"Sadly, after a year, I still need to be here watching over this forest that remains under threat.

"I hope that I will not be here for a third Christmas."

She said the Federal Government would have an opportunity in 2013 to nominate the surrounding forests for World Heritage protection.

"What a wonderful Christmas gift it would be for all of Australians … to have these forests protected for future generations," Ms Gibson said.

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The inside running on Tassie

Alice Hansen enjoying cheese and wine at Villa Howden. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

HOBART author and travel journalist Alice Hansen is eating, sailing and even abseiling her way around Tasmania in an effort to provide visitors to the state with the best experience possible.

Ms Hansen's new website, Tailored Tasmania, is effectively an online travel guide to the state, featuring advice on where to eat, shop, play and sleep, along with a stack of insider knowledge and tips.

"I began thinking about the website idea travelling around Europe, when you can't find a cafe and you settle for some awful little sandwich when a beautiful cafe could have been around the corner," Ms Hansen said.

"I want to be sure visitors, and even locals, know where our top spots are."

A growing number of businesses, including cafes, pubs, shops and even the Brookfield Polo Club at Margate have jumped on board, offering deals for those who mention the website.

Although she is yet to "monetise" the website, Ms Hansen hopes it will one day pay its own way, as she loves test-driving Tasmanian experiences.

To check it out, click here.

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Rink on ice after one day

Mawson's Skate, on Hobart's waterfront, was shut after operator Richard Crawford deemed the temporary skates for the rink were unacceptable.

HOBART'S newest tourist attraction had to shut up shop yesterday, just one day after opening.

Mawson's Skate, on Hobart's waterfront, was shut after operator Richard Crawford deemed the temporary skates for the rink were unacceptable.

The skate rink, which opened next to the Mawson Pavilion on Saturday, could be closed for a week while the company waits on new skates to arrive from Italy.

Mr Crawford said the company had purchased temporary skates to ensure the rink could open for a trial run on Saturday.

"We got some temporary skates to allow us to open," Mr Crawford said.

But after operating on Saturday, he decided the equipment was not up to standard.

Mr Crawford said the temporary skates were not cutting into the rink's synthetic surface as they should.

"The figure skaters that brought their own skates were carving it up on Saturday," he said.

"It really did show the difference.

"So I have decided to maximise the visitor experience by waiting for the new skates to arrive."

Mr Crawford said about 200 people had used the rink on Saturday.

But despite a popular opening day, he said not too many people had to be turned away yesterday.

The new 450sq m synthetic ice rink had been on the drawing board for two years.

Mr Crawford said a number of gift vouchers had already been purchased for Christmas.

The rink is expected to be used by 40,000 people each year, acting as a much-needed winter attraction for the Hobart waterfront.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Action plea on light rail

SUPPORTERS of Hobart's proposed light-rail system have renewed calls for action following the release of the business case review yesterday.

Aecom's review of ACIL Tasman's 2011 business case found it was an essentially fair and sound appraisal of the project but likely optimistic in terms of capital and operating costs.

The review also forecast low commuter numbers.

Describing the review as "disappointing", Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group president Ben Johnston said action, including genuine community consultation, was needed.

"We really haven't progressed over the past two and half years," he said. "There needs to be more stakeholder engagement and genuine community consultation to build an effective business case.

"We're keen on action beyond words and flawed reports."

Mr Johnston also raised some concerns about the independence of the review.

"As the major community stakeholder, we are concerned that the mainland-based consultants were selected without going through an open tender process," he said.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown said he would convene a meeting of people and organisations who had shown an interest in the project on February 15 next year at MONA to help push it forward.

"I think the light rail is a fabulous opportunity but it needs co-ordination from the wider community," Mr Brown said.

"The Hobart light rail is a sign of whether our city is going to zing into the future or languish."

And Tasmanian Sustainable Transport Minister Nick McKim said he remained firmly committed to the light-rail project.

"I do think it's in the best interests of public transport in Hobart and, in fact, in the best interests of Hobart and Tasmania," he said.

"We will now conduct a separate business case on Stage One from Hobart to Glenorchy on the basis we believe we can get a significantly improved outcome that will allow me to make application to the Commonwealth Government for funding next year."

Opposition spokesman on sustainable transport Matthew Groom said the public was tired of reviews.

"Nick McKim releasing yet another review is a bit like Groundhog Day," he said. "What we need is a clear strategy and plan of action rather than these endless reviews."

He said the Liberal Party was not prepared to give up on the prospect of a light-rail system.

"We support additional public transport options in the northern suburbs and the light rail needs to be assessed in that context," he said.

To access the full report, go to www.dier.tas.gov.au

elizabeth.lord@news.com.au

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Festive real estate boom

WITH fewer open homes and active agents, Christmas and New Year can be a tricky time to buy or sell a home.

But with a slight market improvement across the state over the past three months, Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Adrian Kelly says the current climate could translate to a spike in sales.

"The interest rate reductions have put more confidence into the market so I do think it is a good time to be selling," he said.

"Personally, I think we'll have a pretty good run of sales right through to Easter. And then we may see the usual winter slowdown that we've experienced over the last few years."

With Hobart the country's most affordable capital city with a median dwelling price of $305,875, there are many bargains to be had for serious local buyers or those coming from interstate or overseas for a summer holiday.

"It tends to hot up [the market], particularly in Hobart because you've got the Sydney to Hobart, the Wooden Boat Festival and the Taste Festival," Mr Kelly said.

"The agents that do actually work over Christmas and New Year's tend to do OK while we've got lots of mainlanders here.

"It might be a little bit different this year with the market being the way it is. Nevertheless they'll be here and many will look for properties."

Last summer there were 1712 sales across the state and with more than 9000 houses and units for sale, real estate agents and industry professionals are hopeful for even higher sales figures this summer.

Of the properties on the market, around 130 come with a price tag of more than $1 million but Mr Kelly believes prospective visiting buyers may target the cheaper end.

"A lot of them are looking for a little investment property," he said.

jessica.howard@news.com.au

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