Huonville Reimagined: Working in my backyard
One of the things I've loved most about the Huonville Reimagined project has been the opportunity to work on a place that is already such a big part of my family's life.
When we established Avandra, one of the things that mattered most to me was the chance to work in Tasmania, alongside local clients and strategic partners, helping shape the future of the communities we live in. This project is a great example of that!
We're proud to be working with WSP to deliver transport planning services for the Huonville Reimagined consultancy team, which is being led by Realm on behalf of Huon Valley Council. The project is exploring how the town centre, riverfront, public spaces and transport networks can evolve to support a vibrant, connected and resilient future for Huonville. For me, it's particularly special because I live only 20 minutes down the road.
Huonville is my local "big town". It's where I shop, where my kids do sport and other activities, where my mum accesses the library and health services, and where my eldest son recently passed his driver's licence test. It's also where my daughter is learning to row on the Huon River, where my younger son heads when he wants to go fishing upriver, and where my dog likes to snuffle around by the river while Mum and I eat fish and chips on a Sunday evening. And yes, despite being a proud Cygnet local and ardent supporter of the Port Cygnet Football Club (go the Port!), Huonville is still a place I spend a lot of time in and care deeply about.
That's what makes projects like this different.
Transport planning often involves numbers, models and technical assessments. But when you're helping shape a place that you and your family use every week, you can't help but think about it from a more personal perspective. What will this place be like in 10 or 20 years? Will it be somewhere people want to spend time? Will it work well for the next generation?
I've also enjoyed having colleagues visit my neck of the woods for site visits, stakeholder workshops and observational surveys. There is something satisfying about showing people around the Huon Valley and sharing the places that make it such a special part of Tasmania. One recent visit happened to coincide with my birthday, which gave us a good excuse to finish the day at Willie Smith's cidery with delicious apple crumble cheesecake for a birthday cake… Highly recommended!
Welcoming Santi Fracala to the Huon Valley
Happy Birthday to Mary! Celebrating with cake and cider
Another highlight was our recent stakeholder workshop, where the catering was provided by the Huonville High School Year 11/12 VET Catering students. The food made from local produce was amazing and a great reminder that local projects are ultimately about local people. It's always nice when you can showcase local talent while planning for the future of the community.
Delicious spread from the Huonville High School Year 11/12 VET catering students
There is a real responsibility that comes with working in your own backyard, but also a real privilege. I'm excited to be part of a project that will help shape the future of a town that my family, and so many others in the Huon Valley, rely on every day.
The older I get, the more I appreciate that good planning isn't just about infrastructure and services. It's about creating places where our kids will live, learn, play and build their own memories. Being able to do that close to home with my brilliant colleagues at Avandra, in partnership with great clients and collaborators, is one of the best parts of the job.