By Huon Valley Mayor Sally Doyle
The Huon Valley south of Hobart is well-known for its long history of apple growing, craft cider and boutique winemakers, salmon producers and other home-grown produce.
Between the Huon River, far south coastline, mountain ranges, World Heritage-listed national parks, forests, caves and bushwalks, it also has plenty of pristine natural beauty.
One of a kind
We are known for our natural beauty, our mountains and waterways. We are right at the southern-most end of Tasmania and Australia.
Huon Valley Council is the food bowl of Tasmania and greater Australia with our agriculture and aquaculture. This in turn creates the most unique local eateries. We also have the most beautiful attractions in nature, like the Hastings Caves and Tahune Airwalk.
When visiting us, if you drive in over Vince’s Saddle, you’ll travel in and out the same way and you’re treated to an incredible view. As you look out into the Valley below, you’ll notice it is just like a bowl. Peaking (sometimes snow-capped) mountains surround the lovely low pastures that grow our small fruits, cherries, apples and other agriculture. Then there are the waterways flowing through, feeding the aquaculture. We just live in a beautiful place!
Getting the balance right
This is my second term on council. I have a passion for progress, but also keeping the Huon Valley a great place to live, work and play.
My Mayoral role is now full time, since our family business sold after 37 years.
Outside of work hours, I enjoy all sports – especially football. And of course, my family and my three grandchildren.
Key challenges
Community expectations are a key challenge councils face, as well as making considered tough decisions now that you know will have great outcomes in the future. One of our ongoing challenges is waste. All of council are working hard on waste reduction by engaging our community on this.
I spoke about rubbish from the first day I started at council, so I’m fully supportive of everything we’re doing here. I’d like to see a rubbish-free Huon Valley at the end of my term.
Leaving a legacy
I want to be able to say to my kids and grandkids, “Nan voted for that, and now you’re seeing the results”- I think that’s important. I’m lucky I have my family living here in the Valley too.
It’s important with climate change and other related matters that we do as much forward thinking as we can. We need to do things carefully and we have to respect that the Valley has major industries.
We must keep the people here for the future.
A true lifestyle location
Roads are often under the spotlight, but we are grateful to have had limited fatalities. We drive to the conditions we have – and the roads make us unique. People know to slow down and allow a bit more time because our roads are not major highways. This also creates and contributes to our hamlets, our small towns that are so unique in themselves. It doesn’t matter if it takes a few extra minutes when we get to town and see the amount of people in the street and shops.
We need to promote more the idea of coming to live and work here. Compared to the city or the mainland, getting to work here really is easy. And you don’t have to pay for parking! There’s a big health and wellbeing bonus, coming into the Valley… It’s a great place to be.
A strong community
Another great thing about the Huon Valley is the amount of volunteering. We are very lucky. The best part of being a councillor and Mayor is seeing the joy when you thank or recognise a volunteer and the effort they have put in to our community.
