Flinders Island Mayor Annie Revie sees the traditional industries of tourism and agriculture as the growth areas on the island and is excited about its sustainable future.
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Cr Revie said positive change was happening in agriculture and tourism and these successes had led to investment, development and progress on the island.
One major priority for Flinders Council in 2020 was improvements to the airport, which was economically draining and unsustainable.
"Being an island, the airport is the life blood of the island but it's also economically draining for the council itself. How can we best use the airport for our needs but at the same time have less money that we have to spend on it," she said.
"It is an area that will see some solutions and help other areas to grow. If we the council, do not have the huge burden of the airport, then we will also be able to put more money into other areas."
The federal government has promised a grant to upgrade some aspects of the runway, which begins in mid-February.
Strategic planning, including a business plan with partners on the island, identifies self-sufficiency and sustainability as key focusses so Flinders does not rely so heavily on importing goods for the population's daily needs, Cr Revie said.
"We want to start driving this island towards a more sustainable future because being an island, we have to bring in almost everything," she said.
We want to start driving this island towards a more sustainable future because being an island, we have to bring in almost everything.
- Flinders Island Mayor Annie Revie
Waste management, exporting cattle and importing vegetables are economic concerns for the council, which they would like to address in the coming year.
The council is considering private/public investment into a Hot Rot Composting System, a machine that generates compost from sewage, green waste, food waste and the abattoir that can be re-used in the agricultural industry.
The abattoir is not functioning because there is no solution for the waste. Therefore cattle has to be shipped to Tasmania and the meat shipped back.
"We want to seek some grants and investment from perhaps some local farmers and local businesspeople so that we can buy this machine," Cr Revie said.
"Then, we can kill and process lamb and beef on the island, we can save sending them off the island, which will mitigate injury to the animals and therefore we will have a better product.
"That is one of the projects that is exciting and is just beginning to look possible.
"Having a fully functioning meat processing plant that is currently on the island would generate an additional eight to ten jobs.
"The sale of compost back the farmers from the Hot Rot machine will generate more income and lower the costs for farmers who will no longer have to purchase fertiliser from mainland Tasmania."
Cr Revie sees collaborating with UTAS on student opportunities and research in aquaculture and permaculture as an additional revenue stream on the island.
"Getting some people from the University to maybe work with us on this, so that they can have students working in an exploratory and research way while we do some benefiting from it," she said.
Another focus of Flinders Council was population growth to offset the decline in the working age population.
The island wants to increase its population from 920, of which about 150 are part-time residents, to at least 1200 by 2030.
Aboriginal people make up 17 per cent of the population and Cr Revie believes a greater integration of Aboriginal art, culture and history would be part of growing tourism.
"This is the year for our strategy plan to be developed," Cr Revie said.
"A good part of this year, as well as promoting some other projects, will also be having the community engaged in telling us what is important to them."
Cr Review said she was excited about the island's sustainable future with council staff and community onside and investment looking possible.
At the end of this decade, she sees Flinders Island being completely self-sufficient agriculturally, with an established industry of exporting Flinders beef and lamb across Australia and throughout Asia too.
That agricultural industry will be complemented by an expanded eco-tourism industry that see the island's location and isolation as a key drawcard.
"Agriculture and tourism are definitely improving," she said.
- 2020 Vision is a partnership between Northern Tasmania Development Corporation and its member councils to highlight their economic development plans for the year ahead.
