Council chief executive Penny Egan said more than nine Tasmanians a day were diagnosed with cancer.

“The need for support is growing,” Ms Egan said.

“Last year we provided over 4,600 occasions of support state wide and this year we are likely to exceed 5,000.”

The Southern Cancer Support Centre, opened by patron Governor Kate Warner on Friday is similar to its first, the Northern Cancer Support Centre in Launceston.

Ms Egan said the centres were unique because they provided a warm environment away from hospitals.

“The centre has an extensive kitchen where people can make a cup of tea, sit together and talk, as well as spacious rooms for our support groups to do their work,” she said.

“This centre and our Northern Cancer Support Centre are based on the model of the Maggie’s Centres in the United Kingdom.

“She was an architect and personally experienced the challenges of not having enough time to process information in a busy oncology clinic and established Centres in the UK where people could call in and receive professional programs and support in a nurturing and safe environment.”

Ms Egan said the centres were important in providing support to families of people with cancer.

“We recognise the importance of supporting people during and after their cancer diagnosis and equally importantly, providing support and assistance to family members and carers who often have similar but different needs,” she said

“We have professional support staff and provide individual, group based and practical support from cancer diagnosis to survivorship.”

The new centre in Sandy Bay will also provide a range of complementary therapies including yoga, oncology massage,