Royal Hobart Show on the move from Glenorchy showgrounds
The Royal Hobart Show will be given a new lease of life when it moves from the Glenorchy showgrounds this year – its home for the past 118 years – and relocates to a different venue. WHY IT’S ON THE MOVE>>>
Tasmania
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The Royal Hobart Show will be given a new lease of life when it moves from the Glenorchy showgrounds this year – its home for the past 118 years – and relocates to the Hobart Regatta grounds.
Scott Gadd, chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania, said the show would be held at the Regatta Grounds for the next three years and would hopefully be back at its redeveloped site in 2025.
“We are about to commence the third and final stage of the showground redevelopment including a new showground and housing and are awaiting approval to start demolition and construction before October,” he said.
“The current site is old and tired with most of the assets, including the in ground assets, beyond their useful life.
“We already work very closely with the Hobart Regatta and we’re hoping this will enable us to expand our demographic.
“It will also provide an opportunity for a rethink of the Royal Hobart Show.
“When we return we hope to stage a reinvigorated and more contemporary event that appeals more to the modern audience.”
The first stages of the showgrounds’ redevelopment included a new Bunnings and Spotlight stores.
Former Premier Peter Gutwein provided $42m at the last election to build a new showground and arena and put in services for up to 400 apartments around the showground edge.
Mr Gadd said some show competitions this year would be held at other locations and at different times.
“For 2022 poultry, rabbits, and guinea pigs will be held at the current showground on July 30 while we still have the old facilities available,” Mr Gadd said.
“Equestrian will be held at the new Coal Valley equestrian centre during show week while the Art on Show, Youth Art and Student Photography will be held at the City Hall during Show week.
“Sheep, goats and fleece will be held at the Campbell Town Showground the week after show week.
The wood-chopping and dog competition will be at the Regatta Grounds in Show week.
Mr Gadd said a carnival, sideshows, show bags and an animal nursery and life on the farm exhibition would be held at the Regatta Grounds.
“We will make it more entertainment based with a lot more animal based entertainment, more entertainment in general and some water based entertainment,” he said.
“This is the culmination of over 10 years planning and work.”
Mr Gadd said the revamped showgrounds would be “available for all of our existing community based groups, animal competitions, festivals and concerts and multiple events happening all year round.
He said the Society would provide the government with enough land to develop 150 social housing apartments and open up other housing lots to developers and builders.
“We are very much looking forward to evolving the show model into something that greater Hobart will want to engage with.”
Glenorchy mayor Bec Thomas said the showground renewal was “a huge investment in our city, which will transform and activate the area and bring significant economic benefits to our community as well as delivering an exciting new precinct”.
‘Population has exploded’: Tassie’s rat battle laid bare
Rodents are on the move in Tasmania in numbers not seen for 10 years.
Scorpion Pest Management owner Jason Eyles has been in pest control for 20 years and says he hasn’t seen so many rats and mice infesting homes across the state for a decade.
He says he’s had to hire two more pest technicians recently to cope with demand.
“The rat and mice population has exploded after two good spring seasons,” Mr Eyles said.
“It’s right across the state and has started very early this season.
“We’ve been busy for three months now and usually it’s much later in June.
“The rodents are looking for somewhere warm to live to get away from the cold and wet.”
Mr Eyles said he was fielding calls from Rokeby to Claremont and Kingston and in semi-rural areas.
He cautioned against people putting baits in ceilings to trap the wily rodents.
“That’s a big no no because they will come back over a couple of days and then they’ll die in the ceiling and smell,” Mr Eyle said.
He uses several ways to kill the vermin including lockable bait stations which cannot be reached by domestic pets or children.
“They can get in anywhere, I’ve seen rats get through the firewall of a car and nest in the seats,” Mr Eyles said.
“Their teeth grow 150mm a year so they have to wear them down so they will bite and gnaw on anything.
“They like fridges because the motor is warm and hoses in dishwashers.”
To keep rodents away from houses Mr Eyles recommends removing overhanging trees from homes and not leaving rubbish outside.
“It’s not a good idea to leave dog biscuits outside or vegetable scraps for chickens because they will attract rats and mice.”
Mr Eyles said the pest control industry was facing problems in getting stock and rises in freight and transport costs had forced prices up.
B&W Appliance Repairs at Moonah is used to repairing damage to household goods caused by rodents.
Service controller John Sheridan said there were often spates of repairs from rodents but nothing had shown up yet.
“They like dishwashers because they are nice and warm and they like the water,” he said.
“They bite into the drain and outlet hoses.
“I had a call yesterday from someone about a dishwasher they had done a fair bit of damage to and sometimes you find more damage further up the hose
“Sometimes they even get into ovens.”
For expensive dishwashers it can cost up to $150 for a new hose and fittings.
Claremont man accused of grievous bodily harm to baby
Police allege a Claremont man of causing serious harm to a baby after the baby reportedly was taken to hospital with significant head injuries.
New mum ‘devastated’ others will miss hospital’s maternity care
New mum Alicia Read will be eternally grateful for the professional care she and baby Millie received from doctors and midwives at Hobart Private Hospital earlier this month.