Stewardship on the Tasman Peninsula
‘Location, location’ might sound like a tired real-estate cliché, but when Kristan and Summer first came across a TLC Revolving Fund property on the slopes of Mt Communication, it was exactly what drew them in.
Perched high on a Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula mountain near Roaring Beach, the Mt Communication property looks out over eucalypt forests shaped by wind, salt and time. For Kristan, the first visit left a lasting impression.
‘We saw the Mt Communication property and I was speechless – I just thought, this is spectacular.’
But the decision to buy wasn’t only about the view. The covenant on Mt Communication protects habitat for Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles, black cockatoos, fairy-wrens and swift parrots moving through the peninsula. Tasmanian devils and quolls are also known from the area, even if they keep mostly out of sight.
For Kristan, one species stands out.
‘The real standout would be our wedge-tailed eagles. That was exciting, to be able to buy a place with wedge-tailed eagles in our gully. Most times we go there you see at least one or two. Recently we saw three.’
Alongside the beauty came a sense of responsibility – and respect for those who cared for the land before, the Paredarerme people.
‘The world can feel overwhelming, but this seemed like a tangible way to do something positive. It felt hands-on and real. If we buy a conservation covenant, that puts me and my family in a position of looking after the place – not just for a day or a week, but for a lifetime.’
Affordability also played a role.
‘Being a relatively young property owner, buying a conservation covenant in Tasmania, compared to the mainland, was accessible pricewise. That was a deciding factor – at the time I could afford it, whereas buying over 300 acres of bush a couple of hours from Melbourne would have meant – add another zero!’
Living with the land
Since purchasing the property in 2019, their journey has evolved. What began as an interstate purchase has become a family move to Tasmania, camping on-site while working through approvals and now reaching the final stages of building an off-grid home.
Their focus has largely been on setting up thoughtfully in a remote landscape, while slowly getting to know the bush around them.
Wildlife sightings are part of that learning.
‘Black cockatoos and all the little woodland birds like fantail, cuckoos, galahs, lots of fairy wrens. Snakes, and lizards, and echidnas. And then just beautiful views, massive old trees, lots of undergrowth, like little coastal banksias.’
On-ground care so far has included planting native species near their home area, targeted weed control, attending ecological burning training days and setting up wildlife cameras. Just as importantly, they’ve been building relationships with neighbours and learning how to care for the land over time.
As Kristan describes it, the landscape itself encourages collaboration.
‘It’s very special that we have continuous bush. Sometimes it feels a bit arbitrary, like whose land is whose, because it’s all just one connected landscape, so I feel like there’s a good incentive there to try and work together.’
They’re also enjoying getting to know the wider community.
‘I’m enjoying connecting with the local community around Nubeena and that area. They’ve heard about what we’re doing, and every time we go down there we meet other like-minded people.’
Support along the way
Each covenanted property is supported by a Nature Conservation Plan that outlines the property’s natural values and management guidance. For Kristan, this has been a practical resource.
‘Particularly vegetation info, and ecological info, teamed up with the covenant rules, gives us a real clear guideline… we don’t want to do the wrong thing. We do refer to that document a fair bit because it’s a big property and there’s a lot to look after.’
Support from TLC and the Private Land Conservation Program (managed by the Tasmanian Government) has also helped them navigate decisions around building, bushfire preparation and stewardship.
Taking the next step
As their connection to the property deepened, they decided to join TLC’s Land for Wildlife program to further guide their stewardship.
A visit from Land for Wildlife assessor Phil Wise highlighted the property’s natural values and practical management priorities, including weed control and habitat protection. During their walk together, they heard critically endangered swift parrots overhead, found Tasmanian devil scats and recorded a diversity of orchid species.
Some areas of the property show signs of past logging, but with protection in place, these forests can now mature and develop the hollows needed by species like swift parrots into the future.
Phil reflects positively on their commitment.
‘It was fantastic to walk around part of the property with Kristan and see how enthusiastic he is to care for this place. We really look forward to sharing this conservation journey with them and contributing in any way we can.’
Kristan’s connection to the landscape also finds expression through his creative work. A photographer and filmmaker, he has created a short film about the property, Turrakana home, capturing the light, wildlife and quiet rhythms of the place. For the family, it’s another way of paying attention to the landscape and celebrating the place they are learning to care for.
A shared future for nature
For Kristan and Summer, Mt Communication is more than a beautiful place. It is a long-term commitment to caring for a small but meaningful part of Tasmania’s natural heritage.
‘It’s definitely been a game-changer, a big positive change in my life. Suddenly we feel like we’re going to be able to give our kids the kind of upbringing and experience of looking after the bush and being part of all the other living things – the non-human living things.
I feel that by becoming a property custodian of this particular bit of land, it’s brought all these different parts of my life together in one really beautiful experience.’
Banner photo provided by Kristan Laemmle-Ruff