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- Avoca (& surrounding areas of Royal George & Rossarden)
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- Evandale (& surrounding areas including Western Junction, Breadalbane, Deddington, Nile & Ben Lomond)
- Longford (& surrounding areas including Bishopsbourne, Toiberry & Liffey)
- Perth (& surrounding areas including Devon Hills)
- Ross (& surrounding areas including Tooms Lake)
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About the Northern Midlands
The Northern Midlands is one of the largest and most diverse municipalities in Tasmania.
Fast Facts
- 60% of population resides in 5% of the area, which is generally in the North of the municipality, including Longford, Perth and Evandale.
- Northern Midlands Council is responsible for the maintenance of 960kms of roads - more than any other council in Tasmania.
- Northern Midlands Council has an annual turnover of $24.6m (2022/2023).
- 53% of municipal total revenue comes from rates ($13m); the remainder is mostly Government grants for various services, and user fees.
- Northern Midlands contains over 7,500 properties, with an Assessed Annual Value of approximately $170m (2019/2020).
- Northern Midlands Council meets monthly, usually on the third Monday of the month.
- Population 14,030
- Municipal area covers 5,128km2.
Northern Midlands Community Profile
Northern Midlands was created as a municipality following amalgamation of Evandale, Longford, Campbell Town, Ross and part of Fingal municipalities in 1993. It took in the major towns of Longford, Perth and Evandale, together with Western Junction Airport, TRANSlink Precinct and Ben Lomond National Park in the north, and the towns of Campbell Town, Ross and Avoca together with Lake Leake and Tooms Lake in the south, with boundaries extending from the coastal range in the east to the Western Tiers. Amongst the many challenges this posed were the integration of the many small communities into a functioning local government area, creation of a unifying image and identity, and formation of a single efficient administration which is supported by several local district committees to serve the needs of this expanded network of people.
Northern Midlands Council inherited some significant issues. One of these is distance, comprising as it does a widely scattered array of small towns across one of the largest rural local government areas in Tasmania. Another has been the equity issues posed by the demographic reality of shrinking country towns and villages in the south, and growing commuter towns in the north. Yet another has been the responsibility of managing some of the most significant heritage sites and landscapes in Tasmania, including the precious 19th century villages of Ross and Evandale.
There have been major problems to solve. Among them is the need to provide water supplies and waste treatment to rural towns which can meet modern standards. Another has been to address the social and logistical problems encountered by remote and aging communities in accessing government, health, commercial and education services, maintain social connections and ensure there is the necessary support for youth in areas far removed from city based facilities.
Northern Midlands is an enviable place to live, work and play.
Connected communities enjoy safe, secure lives in beautiful historical towns and villages. Our clean, green agricultural products are globally valued. Local business and industry is strongly innovative and sustainable.
Honesty
Treat all with honesty, respect and trust
Integrity
Listen, learn and proactively deliver Council's vision
Innovation
Explore, expand and adapt to achieve a share vision
Pride
Serve community with pride and energy
Lead and Progress
- Leadership Serve with honesty, integrity, innovation and pride
- Progression Nurture and support economic health and wealth
People and Place
- People Build a vibrant society that respects the past
- Place Nurture our heritage environment
Municipal Goals
- Bold leadership guides innovation and growth
- Economically sound and flexible management
- Sustainable progress creates a vibrant future
- We strategically plan and deliver infrastructure
- Our culture respects the past in building the future
- Our historical landscapes are cherished and protected
- Connected communities are strong and safe
- The municipality is diverse and innovative
Logo Design
The logo was designed with help and input from a number of focus groups held throughout the community. Although the Northern Midlands Council is one of the state's largest and most geographically diverse with an area of 5130 square kilometers that stretches from the Great Western Tiers in the west, to Avoca in the east, to Franklin Village in the north and Ross in the south, certain elements were consistently highlighted by the focus groups as having relevance to the whole municipality, rather than to just one town or region.
The Great Western Tiers
The most visible landmarks of the region are the Great Western tiers; they can be seen from all parts of the new region forming a "back drop" in the west. The background to the logo is a stylized representation of the major geographical feature. The "table-top" plateau falls away dramatically at the northern escarpment, which is characterized by the right hand side of the logo.
Historic Villages
The second element highlighted by the focus groups was the historical nature of the main urban centres in the region consequently, in the new logo. The stylized "village" incorporates Georgian and early Victorian architecture - without specifically identifying any particular building or town the colour of the village is white, to symbolize the way the man-made structures stand out against the landscape.
Undulating Hills, The River System
The third feature consistently highlighted by the focus groups was the river system that links the communities in the area. A stylized representation of this, together with a suggestion of the undulating hills of the northern midlands have been incorporated into the foreground of the logo.
The Future of Local Government Review Board is developing a bold package of reforms to improve the way Tasmanian councils work for their communities into the future and a report has been released by the Tasmanian State Government that proposes serious changes to our Council.
The Northern Midlands municipality will cease to exist if boundary changes detailed in The Future of Local Government Reviews, "Community Catchment Information Packs" are implemented. Our municipality would be broken up and could be absorbed into Launceston City, Southern Midlands and Meander Valley and/or Central Highlands.
Information packs that affect the Northern Midlands municipality are: Central and Midlands Community Catchment and Tamar Valley Community Catchment.
Council's detailed analysis of the scenarios (advantages and disadvantages) can be found here.
Council's submission to the Local Government Review Board:
At a Special Council Meeting held on 31 July 2023 Council endorsed a submission to the Board appointed to conduct the Future of Local Government Review. Click on this link to view the submission.
To supplement the written submission, Council presented at a Public Hearing held in Campbell Town on 10 August 2023. Click on this link to view the presentation. The "Choose the Scenic Route" short film referenced on page 17 of the presentation can be viewed by clicking on this link.