YAC West Tamar had a really busy 2020 despite a number of events and programs being affected.

Throughout the year, YAC West Tamar focussed on achieving 3 key objectives of Council’s Youth Strategy.  These objectives were:

1.2 – support new infrastructure that is aimed towards young people (bike tracks, pump tracks, youth appropriate playgrounds, sports fields)
2.3 – develop better communication methods to support young people
3.3 – Amplify YAC to further enable young people to positively affect Council about issues that matter to them

The result

• The initiation of the Youth Mayor Program
• A new Pump Track at Legana
• A new website for young people in the West Tamar
   

Youth Mayor Program:

The inaugural West Tamar Youth Mayor Program selected a student from year 7-9 to represent the youth of the West Tamar municipality for one year. This position provided a focus for young people’s views to be heard by Council through promoting the West Tamar Youth Strategy in shaping a positive future for our local youth. Our inaugural Youth Mayor is Chloe White who is in year 9 at Exeter High School. She is passionate about the West Tamar and encourages other young people to be as well. Chloe has already assisted with the opening of the Legana Pump Track and Australia Day Awards. Keep an eye out for her at ANZAC Day, National Volunteer Week and Youth events during 2021.

“I was fortunate to be selected as West Tamar Council’s first Youth Mayor in December 2020.  Since this time, I have assisted with the official opening of the Legana Pump Track, attended a WTC meeting, assisted with the Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony for WTC and have a number of other events to look forward to during the year.  I have really enjoyed the opportunities provided to me to meet some interesting and inspiring people, learning about their journeys in leadership.  I’m keen to help bridge the gap between my peers and the WTC by representing the young people of our region.

As a member of the West Tamar Council Youth Advisory Council (YAC) it has been great to see the impact we can have for the youth in the region.  The most significant example of this would be the Legana Pump Track which was a suggestion made to WTC by YAC.  Since it’s opening in December, this has been proven to be an extremely popular and well used facility for children of all ages (and even some adults).  It’s exciting to be a part of a group with a focus on developing new ideas to improve the West Tamar region and seeing the results eventuate.” – Chloe White, Youth Mayor


Legana Pump Track:

West Tamar Council Mayor Christina Holmdahl officially opened the Legana Pump Track alongside the Honourable Jo Palmer MLC, and West Tamar Youth Mayor Chloe White on Saturday 12th December 2020. Consultation undertaken in 2017 with Legana’s young people identified that a recreation area should have spaces for active sports such as climbing, parkour (obstacle course), ball courts, bike activities and areas with skating elements. The Tasmanian Government, through Liberal member for Bass Michael Ferguson, provided $136,000 in funding for the Recreation area in February 2018. Upgrades were officially opened in May 2019, including a full size basketball court with down ball line markings, tables and seating to compliment the new BBQ area, free Wi-Fi, rock climbing Bloqx and multi shared pathways with skating elements. Further consultation was undertaken in 2019 for the new Youth Strategy, with respondents identifying that mountain bike tracks and bike friendly facilities were needed in the West Tamar. This was reiterated by members of our Youth Advisory Council who suggested that a pump track would be a valuable addition to the Legana Recreation Youth Space. The West Tamar Council’s Stimulus Capital Works Package 2020/2021 allocated $150,000 for the construction of a pump track, ancillary landscaping and civil infrastructure in Legana, with an additional $50,000 added to the project from the Tasmanian Government’s Improving the Playing Field Grants. At the September 2020 Council Meeting, the tender from DirtArt and Rob Potter for the construction of a 500m2 pump track was approved, and work started in October. Council’s Infrastructure Department also undertook drainage and landscaping work around the track to complement the project.


New Website – www.westtamaryouth.com.au 

The website is designed to be a central platform for West Tamar young people accessing support, connecting with youth news and events, having fun and engaging with Council’s program all on one platform.  Youth Services, youth groups and sporting groups can share their info, young people can apply for grants, leadership opportunities and camps, and parents can book their children into youth centre programs. 

Source: West Tamar Council Media Release “Legana Pump Track Opening”