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RIDE: World Trial director Glen Jacobs at Swimcart Beach after taking on the Poimena to Bay of Fires trail. Pictures: Phillip Biggs
Barnaby Joyce takes a break from a drought funding announcement to play table tennis with Break O'Day mayor Mick Tucker at St Marys.
Nursing unit Manager Janette Cumming and director of nursing Denise Callister at the brand new St Helens District Hospital. Picture: Paul Scambler
- RIDE: World Trial director Glen Jacobs at Swimcart Beach after taking on the Poimena to Bay of Fires trail. Pictures: Phillip Biggs
- Barnaby Joyce takes a break from a drought funding announcement to play table tennis with Break O'Day mayor Mick Tucker at St Marys.
- Nursing unit Manager Janette Cumming and director of nursing Denise Callister at the brand new St Helens District Hospital. Picture: Paul Scambler
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It's been a big year for the East Coast.
From mountain bike trails to a new hospital, here are some of the biggest news stories to come out of the region this year.
Mountain Bike Trails
Following years of hard work, St Helens' long-awaited mountain bike network was opened in November.
About eight years in the making, the trails consist of 110-kilometres of trails and cost $3.2 million to build.
Break O'Day mayor Mick Tucker was one of the first to test out the new trails and said they were amazing.
"When you get up there and you come across some of those horizons and you look across at the sea, the white sand, there's just nothing better," he said.
"It's going to go off like a frog in a sock."
World-renowned mountain biking royalty Hans Rey was also among the first to give them a go.
Rey is known as a pioneer in mountain bike trails and extreme mountain biking and was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1999.
"We were amongst the first get to sample the brand new Bay of Fire trail and they did an incredible job," he said.
One of the masterminds behind the trails, World Trail director Glen Jacobs, was excited to see the trails up and running after years of work.
"North-East Tasmania is fast becoming the number one place in Australia [for mountain biking]... and I think one of the top five in the world," he said.
"It is the only destination where you come from that high alpine area and finish at the coastline like that.
"There's nothing like it in the world."
RELATED STORIES
Cambria Debate
The planning scheme amendment to allow a large scale tourism development on the East Coast was knocked back by the Tasmanian Planning Commission in November.
The $140 million Cambria Green development first arose at a Glamorgan Spring Bay Council meeting in April 2018. The planning scheme amendment before the council was aimed at rezoning areas of the land to facilitate the development.
The development would have consisted of hundreds of units and villas, a health retreat, golf course, entertainment facilities, crematoria and cemeteries, and educational and occasional care.
During planning commission hearings this year, opponents raised questions over errors and discrepancies in letters.
In the commission's decision, it said in the absence of satisfactory evidence of landowner permission, the council had no power to initiate the amendment as there was no valid amendment request before it.
"This commission would, therefore, be without jurisdiction to hear the draft amendment," it said.
In December, Heritage Tasmania began reassessing Cambria Homestead's entry in the heritage register, saying it "warranted review".
St Helens District Hospital
The new St Helens District Hospital opened its doors in May.
Some of the benefits of the site included 10 inpatient beds, lifting equipment, two physio rooms, full security, four consultation rooms, and a "massive" emergency room alongside facilities to provide radiology and oral health care.
The new hospital was approved by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works in June 2017 to replace the existing hospital, which was constructed in 1975. The facility was built by Fairbrother, with work commencing on November 7, 2017.
Former Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the hospital was the work of a wonderful partnership between the state government, the council, the hospital, and the community.
"It has been a marvellous demonstration of community spirit," he said. "We know that the healthcare that will be provided to this community is going to be significantly enhanced."
Freycinet Master Plan
The final Freycinet Master Plan was released in July, outlining a 20-year plan for the highly-visited peninsula.
The plan was initially released in June 2018 but was refined in response to feedback received during the consultation period.
A public meeting in April called for a cap on visitors entering the national park, however, this was not included in the master plan.
The new plan was locked in and promised initiatives such as funding for TasWater to undertake a feasibility study to improve wastewater management along the peninsula; a new visitor gateway outside Coles Bay, where tourists can be taken by shuttle bus to the Wineglass Bay trailhead; new transport connections, including the shuttle bus, a commercial boat network, and new walking and cycling trails; and, upgrades to facilities at "experience nodes" at Moulting Lagoon and Honeymoon Bay.
In November, a state and federal government agreement was announced for an additional $7.2 million in funding for upgrades to the national park.
Federal assistant tourism minister Jonathon Duniam said the money would go toward a visitor gateway hub, new Wineglass Bay lookout, Aboriginal education program, and foreshore walk between Coles Bay and the park.
Drought Communities Program
Nationals MHR Barnaby Joyce visited St Marys in March announced $1 million funding for drought relief in Break O'Day and Glamorgan Spring Bay.
"I apologise if it should have come sooner," Mr Joyce said. "It is not just a drought for the people on the land, it's a drought for the people in towns who rely on the money that comes from the land."
The program supports communities in drought-stricken areas of the country through providing funds for infrastructure projects, boosting employment, and addressing the needs of the community.
The projects to take place will be decided upon by each council.
The program was extended with a further $1 million allocated to both regions.
Councillor resigns
After representing the region for five years, Break O'Day councillor John Tucker stepped down from his position in March.
However, the East Coast farmer left to take up a new position as Lyons Liberal MHA, taking over from Rene Hidding.
Following a recount, Mr Tucker's position was filled by former councillor Margaret Osbourne.
Cr Osborne had been on council for 18 years as a councillor and deputy mayor but lost her position in the 2018 local government elections.
