By Ross Hartley
There’s nothing like an issue to get the Penguin community pumping. Just look what it achieved with its penguin-themed trash bins, a story that went global and was broadcast on Vietnam TV news, for example.
Now, it’s the proposed housing development on Penguin’s old footy ground. Recall, and this is important, the community accepts Homes Tasmania’s objective to build on the site. They legally own it. At issue is what the revamped masterplan might look like. So the community asks for this to be a truly collaborative effort. Unlike other housing projects in the NW, Penguin’s will be on prime real estate of long historical and cultural significance. Thus the community’s objective is to work with, not against, Homes Tasmania to create a development design befitting the site.
To this end it has met with the Minister for Homes Tasmania Felix Ellis following meetings with MLC Leonie Hiscutt. Most importantly, however, is its petition from the people of Penguin. Listening to their voices. Hearing their voices. Sharing their voices.
Which started with Homes Tasmania receiving input from 211 people at, or following, its public consultation in late July, of which 121 registered attendance at the 4-hr drop-in session. It is important to understand that many attendees did not register, so the actual number of attendees would have been larger. Anecdotal evidence suggests even much larger. The two community organised meetings, which followed, to discuss the proposal saw more than 100 people attending each and from which the petition was organised. Such is the interest.
So far the petition has 1000 signatures with more still coming in. An astounding response given the 2021 Census population of 3330. Of these, roughly 1658 are children, leaving 1672 adults, the most likely to have signed. Unlike the issue of the themed bins, however, it’s fair to presume the fate of the old footy field is very much a local issue for the townsfolk, and those who may have moved on yet retain strong links to the site. This suggests up to 60% of the adult population has signed the petition. That carries a lot of voting power.
Irrespective of any outcomes, it will be important for Homes Tasmania to recognise and honour the old footy ground’s memory. Something substantial, certainly not just a plaque. Recall the interpretive signs on the eastern side of Ulverstone’s new bridge. That is exactly the justice the site deserves. And with a sizable art piece, of course.
For ongoing updates, follow the Facebook page: Old Footy Ground Penguin Sustainable Village.
