Managing our natural resources
Achieving balance
Renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty, over 16,000 people call the Huon Valley home.
The region is the hub of Tasmania’s fish farming industry. Rock lobster, scale fish and abalone are caught here; salmon, apples, cherries, grapes and berries are grown here; timber is grown and harvested here; and each year over 130,000 visitors are attracted to the region. Aquaculture, agriculture, tourism and forestry are key economic drivers in the Huon Valley and all industries are reliant on the sustainable management of our natural resources.
All this activity puts pressure on our land and waterways and, as with any human activity, can damage the environment on which we all depend.
One of the Huon Valley Council’s roles is to work with residents, industries and businesses to ensure that our natural assets are managed wisely now and into the future.
NRM at HVC
Natural Resource Management (NRM) is about looking after natural values – such as our soils, rivers, plants and animals – so they stay healthy and productive into the future.
At its heart NRM in the Huon Valley is about protecting the land and river systems that are home to our rare wedge-tailed eagles and swift parrots, our land-dwelling and aquatic wildlife and all of the plant and animal life that makes this part of Tasmania so special. Our region has a complex Aboriginal cultural heritage, with important and ongoing spiritual connections, as well as artefacts of ancient human habitation scattered around the area, that need protection too.
There is more to NRM than protecting the environment and cultural heritage. We work closely with farmers on sustainable practices, we revegetate degraded areas and control weeds, and we arrange events to encourage people to build community capacity in NRM. We also support local Landcare groups and provide grant funding to assist them with their own projects.
Maintaining a healthy landscape is the key to ensuring the Huon Valley will continue to thrive. With help from neighbouring councils and groups such as NRM South and Landcare Tasmania we’re looking after our Huon Valley.
For queries related to land and wildlife management, contact our NRM Team on 6264 0300 or nrm@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.