LDPA Update April 2025
The ongoing saga of the path between Lilydale and the Falls continues. The Launceston City Council has voted to decline the funding of $150K the state government allocated to start the project and has asked for it to instead be spent on unspecified projects in Lilydale. The LDPA is arguing that the funding should at least be allocated to a feasibility study and costings of the path as a starting point to press for further local, state and federal funding. If the path is not built, Lilydale will miss out on benefits from the rail trail and will lose the chance for a safe place to walk, jog and cycle. We are continuing our efforts.
The LDPA has opposed the Mayor’s proposal for a food van at the Falls reserve. We are aware that Councillor Andrew Palmer extensively doorknocked residents and local businesses and the response was overwhelmingly against the idea. Now, apparently, Council will do more “consultation” – with the residents of Launceston! This food van proposal is a bad idea – bad for the reserve and bad for Lilydale – and one we will continue to fight.
On a positive note, the LDPA worked with the City of Launceston on the new tourist information signage that has been installed in the village green. The upgrade to the noticeboard was part of the project. Still to come is new signage for the painted poles. The LDPA has been working with the school and Heritage Lilydale on further signage to provide information about Lilydale’s history, organisations and activities in the area.
The LDPA is negotiating with the City of Launceston on a deal to lease the Memorial Hall, so that once again management of the hall will happen through the community. The deal offered so far under Council’s policies would effectively transfer costs of almost $13,000 a year onto the LDPA and send us broke in a few years. On Thursday 17 April, Council will vote on whether it is prepared to agree to a lease outside its policies but which will be mutually beneficial. In the meantime, it is great to see that the hall has received a fresh coat of paint!
The Lilydale Events Group has started organising the 2025 Lantern Walk for Friday 20 June. After the success of the past two years, we are looking forward to another big community event. If you want to be involved in the organisation of the event or on the night, we would love to hear from you.
The Lilydale Progressive continues to be a wonderful advertisement for our community, as well as a fantastic source of information and a record of life in the Lilydale district. Our editor, Freya Langford-Sidebottom, is investigating ways to minimise printing costs and still offer the high quality, full-colour publication we now enjoy. Unfortunately, that may mean having the Progressive published in Melbourne. All costs of the Progressive are met through its advertising revenue, so if you own a business in our district, please consider taking out a regular ad. It may or may not increase your business, but it is a way to support our community, and the rates are very reasonable!
Preserving and sharing past issues of the Progressive was one of the motivators for another LDPA project: the creation of a Lilydale Tasmania website. The website will be a repository for all the back issues of the Progressive that are currently being scanned for us by Susanna at the Lilydale Online Access Centre. But it will be more than that – there is information about what’s on in the district, what to see and do in Lilydale, Lilydale’s history and local organisations. The site will go live this week and we will be seeking feedback and ideas before a more formal launch. Our website is being developed by Liam McGrath, the partner of Labor candidate for Bass, Jess Teesdale. Liam offered to create the site free of charge when he learned that it was one of our unrealised projects and he has put many hours into the project over the past few months. More information to follow in the next few days!
The LDPA is monitoring moves to make native forest coupes on Mount Arthur available for logging. We have invited the Mount Arthur Protection group that was established as a result of the recent public meeting to meet with the committee. We are aware that a number of people in our district are employed in the logging industry. However, almost all of those jobs are in plantation forests and it remains to be seen whether there is any need to damage the natural attractions of our area for what seem to be unproven benefits.
Finally, we currently have a casual vacancy on the LDPA committee, following the resignation of Meagan White. Meagan played a key role in the establishment of the Lilydale Events Group and will be sorely missed. The good news is that it creates an opportunity for someone to join our enthusiastic and productive committee. If that sounds a bit intimidating, then consider that the minimum commitment is just to turn up to a monthly meeting for about 90 minutes and give us the benefit of your wisdom and ideas – anything more is entirely up to you!
Tony Naar
President, LDPA
