INTRODUCTION

The St Helens General Cemetery is entering a new chapter with the commencement of Stage 1 of the Cemetery Master Plan—the creation of a Remembrance Garden. This work forms part of Break O’Day Council’s long-term commitment to enhancing local cemeteries, creating peaceful spaces that support reflection, remembrance, and community connection.

PROJECT DETAIL

In 2014, Break O’Day Council collaborated with Lange Design and the community to develop master plans for the cemeteries in St Helens, St Marys, Fingal, and Mathinna. These plans aimed to transform the sites into more serene, garden-like spaces that are welcoming, respectful, and comforting for families and visitors.

The first stage of the St Helens General Cemetery Plan will see the construction of a Remembrance Garden—a quiet and calming space designed for contemplation and tribute. This is a significant and sensitive project that honours the wishes of the community and reflects Council’s commitment to respectful public spaces.

TIMELINE:

Start Mid-August 2025 (weather permitting)– expected 8 weeks to complete

Disruption: Minimal to none; the cemetery will remain accessible to visitors throughout the works

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

This project aligns with several objectives outlined in the Break O’Day Council Strategic Plan, including:

Community – Foster a supportive and welcoming community.
The Remembrance Garden provides a peaceful, inclusive space for all community members to remember loved ones.

Environment – Promote and enhance our natural and built environment.
The garden will enhance the cemetery’s landscape, supporting biodiversity and improving amenity.

Infrastructure – Maintain and improve local infrastructure and facilities.
This project improves the functionality and experience of a key community space.

Project Budget

The Stage 1 works, including landscaping and garden development, have been budgeted as part of Council’s current capital works program.

Cost for Stage 1 Remembrance Garden: $50,000

Click the links below to view the design concept plans:

St Helens General Cemetery Master Plan

St Helens General Cemetery: Phase One Remembrance Garden

LATEST NEWS

Community Workshop – Hazards and Exposed Assets

Wednesday 3rd September at 5-6PM

Scamander Sports Complex

Come to this information session to find out about assessments of the coastal and flood hazards at the River Mouth and the assets and values there that are exposed to them.

Whether you can or can’t make it to this information session, interim reports will be available soon along with a second online questionnaire to share your thoughts on the hazards, things they could impact and ideas for the future.

This information will be used in the project’s next phase, to design and evaluate the best sequence of steps to take and when, to manage coastal and flood risks in the future.  The project will develop that as an overall Adaptation Pathways Plan.  People can also use this information to think about their own risks and how they fit in the Plan.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Scamander Coastal Hazards Project focuses on the increased risks of coastal erosion and inundation at the Scamander River Mouth, especially during extreme weather events when high seas, heavy rain and river floodwaters combine.

The project aims to increase understanding of complex coastal and flood processes at the Scamander River Mouth and reduce risks to properties, infrastructure and the environment from the hazards they pose.  Through it the community, stakeholders and Council will gain insight into the dynamics of this natural system and the implications for them when climate change makes the future at the River Mouth uncertain.  Government agencies and other stakeholders are being involved in the project as the coastal and flood risks threaten public infrastructure and services, natural values and recreation.

The project will develop and evaluate options for risk mitigation and adaptation actions and a plan ‘adaption pathways’ for managing the coastal hazards and risks related to stormy seas, flooding and sea level rise due to climate change.  It includes undertaking limited mitigation works to reduce immediate risks at the River Mouth.

‘ICOLLs’

Scamander is not alone.  The estuary and river mouth is, in coastal science terms, a member of the Intermittently Closed and Open Coastal Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLs), which many communities on Australia’s east coast live by and know well.  The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment has produced an information guide that provides “technical background to the factors controlling entrance dynamics of intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons (ICOLLs), how entrance dynamics affect water quality and ecology, and the likely consequences of different management interventions. “

This ICOLLs information guide is a useful resource for understanding the dynamics of the Scamander River Mouth and its barway.  Access the information guide and their other information they have available online with the links below.

Form and function of NSW intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons – Implications for entrance management. 

NSW and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment 2021 – ICOLLs webpage

CONSULTANTS

Working with Council and you are SGS Economics and Planning (sgsep.com.au), the lead consultant who are applying a ‘coastal adaptation pathways approach’ they have previously applied in Break O’Day around Georges Bay.  Moffatt & Nichol (www.moffattnichol.com) is providing coastal and marine specialist expertise.

HOW PARTICIPATE

Keep in touch with the project

Return here to keep up to date and get news and updates by email.

If you’re not on the project email contact list already you can register an address with the last question in the questionnaires. (You are on the list already if you received the first project email recently, inviting you to share what you know with the questionnaire.). Or call or drop in at our office in St Helens.

Come to project workshops

There is a project calendar below with future workshop activities.  Final dates and times will be confirmed as the project progresses.

Share your comments and ideas with the project

We’ll have more online questionnaires for you to provide input through the next analysis and evaluation stages of the project.

PROJECT CALENDAR

The Project so far

You’ll find previous ‘Latest News’ items from the top of this project webpage here.

Information Gathering and Community Workshop June 2025

In this first stage of the project in June the consultant team visited Scamander to collect site information and hear from the community.  That included a community information workshop attended by over 30 people, meeting with several community members and stakeholders and inspecting the River Mouth.

While this workshop for the project was primarily aimed at landholders and groups directly impacted by hazards and at risk at the Scamander River mouth, it attracted wider interest such as the Beaumaris coast, demonstrating coastal hazards are a concern beyond Scamander on Break O’Day’s coastline.

You can view the presentation by Ellen Witte from SGS and Nick Lewis from Moffatt & Nichol at the community information workshop on 24 June here.  It includes links on some content to sources of more detailed information you can explore.

View the Annotated presentation slides from the 24 June information workshop (6Mb)

First online questionnaire – River Mouth history and things people care about

We’d like to get your input for the early stages of the project on three things.

• Have you photos and recollections from the past you’d like to share? Photos and other evidence of how the river and coast have behaved together in the past, and the things that have been done, and worked or failed, are important lessons.
• What do you care about that is exposed and vulnerable? The project will be considering what different assets and values are exposed to coastal and flood hazards at the Scamander River Mouth, be they private or public and shared.
• Ideas for what to do in the future. We want to have a good menu of interventions and risk mitigation actions to evaluate and plan the best future pathways to reduce impacts and to adapt to changing coastal and flood hazards.  Stormy seas and flood already impact foreshore land and increasing future risks have been mapped.  What short term and future actions, big and small are there?

We put those questions into an online questionnaire.  Access the questionnaire with this link or the QR code here.  People wanting to join the email contact list for the project can do so at the end of it.

INTRODUCTION

This project will see the installation of 75 low-impact pole-mounted solar lights along the 3km length of the Georges Bay foreshore multi-user track in St Helens, to improve the safety, accessibility, and sustainability of the area.

PROJECT DETAIL

The multi-user track is currently unlit and is a popular and scenic route for pedestrians, cyclists and other users who enjoy the natural beauty and amenities of the area as well as those commuting to school or work.

The absence of lighting on this track limits its usage and safety at night, particularly in the darker, winter months as well as in lowlight conditions.

By providing lighting around the track we can provide and ensure a reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly lighting system that will enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as health and wellbeing outcomes. The addition of lighting will also encourage and allow for more frequent use which in turn supports active living, the benefits of which are well known.

TIMELINE:

Start 29 July – expected 8 weeks to complete

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

During the development of the Georges Bay Foreshore Activation Strategy, Council surveyed the community to understand how they use and access the Georges Bay facilities and what improvements they would like to see.

More than 160 people took the comprehensive survey and from the results Council noted that the community would like to see lights around the Georges Bay Multi-User Track, particularly around Beauty Bay and Kirwan’s Beach, two of the most utilised areas for recreation activities.

The Strategy noted: “Lighting along the foreshore can help improve safety and amenity, integrate sustainability and enhance the foreshore lifestyle and character. Good lighting design complements the environment, improving the quality of public spaces, and is crucial aspect of supporting outside daylight hours.”

Related documents can be found here:

Final Georges bay Activation Strategy

Georges Bay Activation Strategy_ Summary of Engagement

LIGHTING SYSTEM – Environmentally friendly

The lighting system planned for the Georges Bay multi-user track has been designed with local wildlife in mind, especially birds and other animals that can be affected by artificial light.

The lights will use low-impact LED fixtures that are just 10 watts, with a warm colour tone (3000K) that helps reduce glare and is less disruptive to wildlife than cooler, blue-toned lighting.

Each light has a special beam design that directs the light only along the path, avoiding unnecessary spill into surrounding areas. There is no upward light, which helps protect birds and other animals from disorientation and maintains the natural night sky.

The lighting system will:

• Turn on at full brightness at dusk and stay on for 5 hours.
• After that, the lights will dim to 20% brightness until dawn.
• If movement is detected, the light will briefly return to full brightness for 30 seconds, then dim again.

This setup ensures that the track remains safe and accessible for people, while minimising light pollution and disturbance to the birds, animals, and marine life that live around the foreshore.

PROJECT BUDGET

Break O’Day Council $54,500

Tasmanian State Government – via Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT) Open Space Grant $350,000

Total Funding $404,500 

BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Council has begun work to demolish the existing BBQ shelter at the Binalong Bay Village Green and construct a brand-new BBQ facility in its place. The current shelter is no longer fit for purpose, and following community consultation—including a public survey exploring three location options—Option B at the Village Green was selected as the preferred site. This upgrade will provide a more functional and accessible space for residents and visitors to enjoy in Binalong Bay.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

As part of the planning process, Council undertook community consultation to ensure the new BBQ facility meets the needs and expectations of Binalong Bay residents and visitors. A public survey was conducted, offering community members the opportunity to provide feedback on three proposed location options. This feedback helped guide Council’s decision-making, with Option B—situated at the Village Green—emerging as the preferred location.

You can read the Binalong Bay BBQ Community Engagement Report here:

Binalong Bay BBQ Area Survey Report

PROJECT TIMELINE:

Construction commenced on Wednesday 7 May 2025 and is scheduled for completion by Friday 11 July 2025, weather permitting. Council appreciates the community’s patience during this time and looks forward to delivering an upgraded space for all to enjoy.

Click here to view the site plan for the new BBQ facility at the Binalong Bay Village Green:

Binalong Bay Bbq Site Plan

Break O’Day Council are preparing a Structure Plan for the Scamander-Beaumaris area and has partnered with Era Advisory and Playstreet who will be undertaking community consultation and developing the plan.

The Plan will create a shared vision for the townships and guide future land uses in the area and we want to hear your thoughts!

We’re also seeking your ideas for improvements at the Scamander Sports and Community Complex.

How to get involved:

There are several ways you can share your thoughts – head to the project website to find out more about Community Engagement times, online surveys and read the discussion paper.

www.scamander-beaumaris.com

BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Parks & Wildlife Service (PWS) and Break O’Day Council (BODC) have partnered to engage a consultant to prepare a Bay of Fires Master Plan that will deliver a high quality environmentally, economically and socially sustainable Bay of Fires experience for the next twenty years to 2040.  To deliver on that objective, the Master Plan must have regard to the need for protection and enhancement of the natural environment and cultural values, the needs of the community and residents, and he nature and drivers of the local economy.  The primary scope encompasses national park, conservation and recreation areas north of Humbug Point, to the Binalong Bay township, the Bay of Fires beaches and campgrounds, Anson’s Bay, to Deep Creek in the north and the freehold land within this area.

CONSULTANTS:

Hansen Partnership Pty Ltd

KEY ACTIVITIES & INDICATIVE TIMELINES: 

These activities and timelines may be subject to changes during the duration of the project

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

There will be several opportunities for the community to have their say on the Bay of Fires Master Plan project.  We will share links and promotions to these opportunities here as they arise. We will also promote these opportunities through our Newsletter, Social Media and email databases as well as other local media outlets.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REPORT:

The Bay of Fires Master Plan will provide a basis  for managing the future use of the Bay of Fires area to deliver a high quality experience for those who visit and use the area.  It will guide the actions and priorities of the Parks and Wildlife Service who have the overall land management responsibility for the Bay of Fires as well as the activities of the Break O’Day Council and other community organisations who have an interest in the area.

BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 

 The Break O’Day Council is exploring the potential construction and operation of an Aquatic Facility in our area. The project initially involves a feasibility analysis to assess whether such a facility is viable. This analysis will examine the various components of the proposed aquatic facility, including its design, potential locations, and the anticipated level of community use. Additionally, the financial projections will be broad and consider the community’s ability to fund the project. The primary goal of the feasibility analysis is to address key questions, such as whether an aquatic facility is feasible, what it could look like, where it might be located, and how it would be financed. 

CONSULTANTS: 

Otium Planning Group 

KEY ACTIVITIES & INDICATIVE TIMELINES:  

* It is important to note that the Key Activities and Timelines are indicative only and that they may evolve and change as the consultancy progresses. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES: 

There will be several opportunities for the community to have their say on the Aquatic Feasibility Study project.  We will share links and promotions to these opportunities here as they arise. We will also promote these opportunities through our Newsletter, Social Media and email databases as well as other local media outlets. 

COMMUNITY FACE-TO-FACE WORKSHOPS

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REPORT 

Once the Feasibility Analysis has been developed, it will be presented to the Council who will decide if the project investigation should proceed to Stage 2 which is the development of a detailed business case and concept design. 

The investigations and ultimately decision making around a potential Aquatic Facility in the area will be the most complex and ultimately future shaping project to be considered by the Council since the amalgamation of Portland and Fingal Councils creating Break O’Day in 1993.  A decision to build and manage an Aquatic Facility will be lived with for future generations. 

Once this work is completed, Council will need to make a decision on whether to progress to Stage 2, you can find the various stages of this project in the Methodology document below.  

If progressed, the construction of a facility will require external funding, meaning Council will need to seek State and Federal funding to deliver such a project. 

COMMUNITY SURVEY NOW OPEN 

You can find Community Engagement activities here:  Community Engagement

UPDATED – 18 JUNE

SURVEY NOW OPEN  – Head to our Community Engagement Page to share your thoughts with us by CLICKING HERE.

Why an Industrial Land Study?

Council’s Development Services are commencing a strategic land use project to identify a forward supply of industrial land within our local government area.  A forward supply of industrial land is important in ensuring sufficient land is available to support new or expanded activities and incentivise diversity within industry.  The objective is to place the Break O’Day local government area in the best position in terms of industrial land supply, to meet demand, to provide opportunities for emerging or expanding sectors and entrepreneurship and to support its residents in terms of liveability and well-being.  Diverse and sustainable industry relies on choice and flexibility in terms of location, freedom of operation, land size, access to services, resources and transport networks.

An aspirational goal of identifying adequate and appropriate ‘industrial’ land is the Break O’Day municipality can increase the diversity of employment sectors and provide significant economic and community benefits including job creation, investment and entrepreneurism.

What Happens Next?

The project will be undertaken by REMPLAN in partnership with Council.  REMPLAN brings extensive experience in industrial land analysis, economic modelling and strategic planning, with a strong track record of delivering similar studies for regional councils across Australia.  Their approach integrates quantitative economic analysis with qualitative stakeholder insights as we aim to ensure the study is practical, market responsive and aligned with local conditions.  Below is an indicative timeline of the project with milestones identified.  As you can imagine we want the project to be responsive to findings and will be consulting with our local community stakeholders.

How can I get involved?

Stakeholder engagement is an important part of this project and as the engagement strategy is finalised, more information will become available on this page as well as other communication channels.  REMPLAN have access to an extensive stakeholder database and so further information will be coming soon.

At this stage it is likely that the final report will be delivered in July 2025 and publicly available soon after.

*Timelines are subject to change based on how each stage of the project progresses.

For more information:

Contact Council on telephone 6376 7900 or email admin@bodc.tas.gov.au.