New wave of Daves

SAVED: Dave Noonan shows off his namesake and new arrival David Xander Moore - the son of Mel and Matt Moore, who were swayed for the name of their newborn by the "Save Dave" campaign. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

DAVID Xander Moore was born into this world making another Dave very happy.

So concerned was Heart 107.3 radio announcer Dave Noonan that the name Dave is disappearing, he started a campaign on the Kim and Dave Show called "Save Dave."

"Can you imagine a world where not one Dave turns up to a barbecue?" Dave said.

Heart 107.3 searched Hobart for a pregnant woman willing to name her baby boy Dave.

Melissa Moore gave birth to an 8lb (3.6kg) boy at 4.33am yesterday.

And Melissa and husband Matt named their second son Dave.

A friend rang the radio station and suggested a newly renovated kitchen might be a good reward for the Moores.

A builder offered his services, followed by a tiling company and then by 10am Crescon Joinery offered to build the kitchen.

With the deal signed, sealed and delivered, Melissa announced live on the Kim and Dave Show the name of her baby boy David Xander Moore.

A very tired Melissa was over the moon last night about her new son named Dave and her new kitchen

"We've sort of nicknaming him Davey trying to 'cuten' David up a bit," she said.

jennifer.crawley@news.com.au

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

120km/h gales roar in

TASMANIA Police reported no damage from the strong wind that buffeted the south of the state yesterday.

The Bureau of Meteorology's severe weather warning and advice to residents to secure loose items around the home was downgraded at 4pm.

Senior forecaster Glen Perrin said there were "some pretty interesting gusts" during the day.

Mt Wellington had the strongest of 120km/h at 11.15am followed by Spring Bay with 111km/h at 12.53pm, Tasman Island 100km/h at 10.06am and Tunnack 96km/h at 12.45pm.

The highest amount of rainfall before 9am was 71mm at Liawenee followed by 41mm at Blessington and Western Creek.

The northeast continues to receive steady amounts of rain.

And a minor flood warning for the Meander was downgraded at 4pm.

Heavy showers are predicted for Hobart tomorrow, with a high of only 11 degrees and alpine snow developing.

14.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

$185m jewel of the North

The site for a planned $185 million eco-development at Musselroe Bay.

A $185 million eco-development slated for the state's far northeast coast, which includes a golf course, five-star accommodation and its own air strip, has been hailed as a boon for the state's tourism industry.

The Musselroe Bay Ecotourism Development will be designed and managed by Launceston-based firm CBM Sustainability Group, which said it hoped to start the fiveyear building phase next year.

CBM Group chief executive John Dingemanse said his firm's commitment to sustainability was a key factor in it winning the contract from its Melbourne-based developer, a project he predicted would increase the regional tourism spend in Tasmania by $25 million each year and boost overnight visits to the area by 300 per cent.

Mr Dingemanse said construction of the project, which was signed off by Dorset Council in 2006, would create 960 full-time equivalent jobs, while its operational phase would provide employment for another 120 people.

"Our team of architects, engineers, designers and project managers have commenced work and are developing exciting new designs for this world-class eco-tourism venture," he said.

Tourism Council of Tasmania chief Luke Martin said the project would enhance the Tasmanian experience for national and international visitors, and would complement attractions such as the Bay of Fires experience, Barnbougle golf links and Freycinet's Saffire resort.

Mr Martin said the project, incorporating a 100-room hotel, prestige guest house and waterbird-viewing platform, had the potential to benefit the whole state.

"It is fantastic to see proposals like this progressing and such positive expressions of confidence in the future of Tasmanian tourism," he said.

"This is a large-scale proposal that has the potential to create immediate economic activity through the development stages, and then longterm tourism jobs."

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon welcomed the the project's latest development, saying private investment was critical to growing Tasmania's tourism industry.

Mr Bacon said the Government was supportive of new tourism ventures, especially those able to draw visitors into regional Tasmania.

"We know that visitors come to Tasmania for our pristine wilderness so we particularly welcome eco-tourism developments," he said.

duncan.abey@news.com.au

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

One dead in two-vehicle crash

A MALE motorcyclist has died following a collision with a car near Penguin this morning.

The two-vehicle crash was reported just after 7.30am on rural Cuprona Rd.

The road has been closed while investigations are carried out and the scene is cleared.

It is not clear if anyone travelling in the car has been injured.

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pedestrian trial begins

SPACE: Morgan Ross, left, and Bronte Wilson have room to move in Liverpool St. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

MOTORISTS beware -- a trial reduction of Liverpool St from two lanes of traffic to one between Elizabeth and Murray streets began yesterday.

Parking will also be affected.

The trial is the first step in a temporary transformation of a major part of the Hobart CBD during the next month.

Australia's Retail Association local spokesman and Hobart Chamber of Commerce director Edward Harry said he expected there would be some backlash to the trial, but new things had to be tried to take the city forward.

He said the Hobart trial followed similar moves in cities around the world.

"I think the trial is a very good thing to do. It is part of a consultation process and gives everyone an opportunity to feel either positive or negative impacts of the proposed changes if implemented in the long-term," Mr Harry said.

"There are usually some initial concerns -- traders will think less cars means less people going past business houses but there is a world-wide trend attempt to make major inner-city roads more pedestrian and shopper-friendly."

The trial is one of the recommendations made by the 2010 Gehl Architects Report to make Liverpool Street have a pedestrian focus between Murray and Elizabeth streets.

West Hobart resident Morgan Ross, 20, said the city was in need of rejuvenation, but was not confident reducing traffic flow would be a drawcard for more shoppers.

"If traffic is too congested people will just avoid coming in here altogether," Ms Ross said.

Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas said changes needed to be made to take Hobart into the future.

"We can't leave everything like it was in the 1950s," he said.

"Even Times Square [in New York] has times where there are no cars now. We are looking at new ways to make the city bright and vibrant."

Ald Thomas said as well as accommodating locals, visitors to Hobart needed to be considered and other changes to traffic flows might be needed.

"At the end of the day, we have spent a good amount of money on this Gehl report and accepted a number of its key projects, so we need to act accordingly," he said.

alice.claridge@news.com.au

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Journey to bottom of the sea

NEW DISCOVERIES: Neville Barrett with the robot sub that is exploring the sea bed off Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

THE great age of exploration is not over in Australia.

Late last week, the research vessel Challenger returned to Hobart after its latest voyage of discovery, surveying the Flinders Shelf off Cape Barren Island.

The crew used sophisticated sonar and video technology mounted on a submarine robot to map and monitor new worlds at the bottom of the sea, providing scientists with mountains of data to analyse.

CSIRO senior researcher Keith Hayes said remarkably little was known about the sea around Australia.

Its internationally recognised exclusive economic zone stretches 200 nautical miles offshore, covering an area larger than the country itself, yet only 5 per cent of the sea bed has been mapped.

"We still have millions of square kilometres to go," Dr Hayes said.

The explorers were looking at Australia's fisheries and resources, biodiversity hotspots and the topography of the sea bed, not least in the huge new marine reserves the Federal Government gazetted last year.

"If we are going to manage it properly, we need to find out more," Dr Hayes said.

He said sonar and video equipment had advanced greatly during the past 20 years and the challenge was to make good use of all the data being collected on voyages.

Up to 50 data specialists from throughout Australia took part in a workshop in Hobart last month to determine how to handle and interpret the masses of information.

"As the data becomes better and the images are of finer resolution, it raises questions of how we can interpret it, what kind of maps we can make and what approaches we can take," Dr Hayes said.

"The questions scientists ask are becoming more sophisticated."

Neville Barrett from the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, who was on the latest Challenger voyage, said the robot sub, officially known as an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, was capable of taking 30,000 pictures a day and reaching depths of 300m.

"Nothing else we've got matches it," Dr Barrett said.

"It hovers just 1m off the bottom taking perfect pictures."

Another device, the Baited Remote Underwater Video, filmed fish at the bottom of the sea.

Despite all the technology, Dr Barrett and his colleagues still face the same elements explorers of old did.

He said the latest voyage was cut short because of "horrendous weather".

philip.heyward@news.com.au

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Steps to protect pristine park

WILDERNESS: King Davids Peak and Lake Salome attract growing numbers to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Picture: GARRY BAILEY

LARGE groups of walkers and campers may be restricted in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park under a proposal to preserve the pristine wilderness.

About 4500 visitors are drawn to the park every year, making it the second most popular walking area in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area after the Overland Track.

However, as visitor numbers increase, the Parks and Wildlife Service is noticing an impact on the environment and is taking steps to ensure the park remains a truly wild destination.

Large groups can displace other campers from the park's limited number of camping platforms, causing visitors to camp in spots where vegetation could be damaged.

As a result, the Walls of Jerusalem Draft Recreation Zone Plan 2013, which is open for public comment, proposes that groups of more than seven people would need to register before visiting the park.

Parks and Wildlife Service northern regional manager Chris Colley said visitor numbers to the Walls of Jerusalem had been growing steadily.

Mr Colley said the park was attractive to groups such as schools and Scouts because it was easily accessible relative to other wilderness areas.

"The registration system is about trying to manage some of the larger groups that are using the area. We know of groups of around 20 and anecdotally we've had groups coming in that are larger than that," Mr Colley said.

"People go out there in twos and threes for a remote-area experience where they are not expecting to find a lot of people and to find a group of 10 or 20 really detracts from their experience."

The PWS plans to build additional camping spots in key areas because current camps cannot meet demand.

Mr Colley said the PWS was keen to encourage camping in designated areas only because vegetation in some alpine areas where camping has historically occurred still show no sign of recovery.

The Walls of Jerusalem draft recreation zone plan is open for public comment until July 19. On Wednesday Environment, Parks and Heritage Minister Brian Wightman announced a shake-up of parks management in Tasmania, with a new authority to be managed by a chief executive and guided by an appointed five-member multi-skilled board.

The draft plan can be viewed at the Parks and Wildlife Service  website.

blair.richards@news.com.au

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cold-blooded killer on run

CORDONED OFF: Tasmania Police forensics officers were on the scene at the Marrawah Tavern after yesterday's execution-style shooting of a local man, believed to have been aged in his 40s, with two children. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

A KILLER is on the loose and a peaceful Tasmanian hamlet in shock after a Circular Head father of two was shot at close range while leaving the Marrawah Tavern.

Police have appealed for public help in hunting down the gunman, who struck at closing time early yesterday morning in what authorities described as a targeted attack.

The murder has shocked the tight-knit, North-West coastal town -- population 400 -- better known for its lush dairy pastures, fresh air and world-class surf break.

Yesterday, the Marrawah Tavern remained closed, with the village cordoned off by police tape from daybreak and forensic officers establishing a forward command post outside the pub.

Roadblocks were set up at Boat Harbour and Corrina, with police searching all cars leaving the area.

In the afternoon, a body covered in a blue tarpaulin was carried out on a stretcher. The identity of the victim, aged in his 40s, is yet to be released, but he is understood to be a local worker and father, who had separated from his partner.

No arrests had been made last night.

Police would not reveal what type of firearm was used.

Residents the Sunday Tasmanian spoke to feared the cold-blooded killing was linked to a criminal turf war, after reports two bikie gangs had established bases in the far North-West recently.

Locals too afraid to give their names said drugs were the most likely catalyst for the execution-style hit.

Acting Police Commissioner Matthew Richman urged anyone with information about people acting suspiciously in the area to come forward, saying unusual vehicles sighted in the area or people hitch-hiking could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

Police said they had deployed significant resources to Marrawah and asked residents to remain alert, but not alarmed.

Circular Head mayor Daryl Quilliam said the violent incident would devastate the Marrawah community, and the whole region, for some time to come.

He said the deceased, who for several years had performed contract work for the council, was reliable and a hard worker.

"He always did a good job for us," Mr Quilliam said.

"Something like this affects the community badly. You hear of these things happening in other parts of Australia, but when it happens in your municipality it's terrible.

"This is a small community where everybody knows everybody and usually that is a damn good thing. But when something like this happens, it's devastating."

Mr Quilliam said community members would support each other through the tragedy, which was certain to have a long-term impact.

He described the Marrawah Tavern as an important part of community life in the region.

"People will eventually recover, but something like this will devastate us for some time," he said.

A spokeswoman for Police Minister David O'Byrne said the Government was confident police would catch the killer, and, after a string of armed robberies across the state, denied Tasmania was experiencing a gun violence epidemic.

"Tasmania maintains low crime rates and remains one of the safest states in Australia," the spokeswoman said.

"Police clearance rates remain extremely high, and the fact remains that if you commit these crimes in Tasmania you will get caught."

People with information about yesterday's shooting are asked to call police on 131 444 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

duncan.abey@news.com.au

14.57 | 0 komentar | Read More