The City of Devonport is located on the Mersey River in the heart of the beautiful North West Coast of Tasmania. It is a river port and the home port of the Spirit of Tasmania I and II, the luxury passenger and vehicular ferry which connects Devonport with Melbourne. Devonport airport, the third largest in Tasmania, is a jet standard facility with frequent scheduled passenger services to Tullamarine in Victoria. Whilst located close to the Tasmanian high country, including spectacular Cradle Mountain, Devonport is favoured with a temperate coastal climate influenced by the ocean. This maritime influence moderates all aspects of the climate and is evident in the small range between summer and winter average temperatures. Devonport is particularly well provided for in it's reserves and recreational facilities. Parkland, which has been established along the Mersey Estuary, along the whole Coastal foreshore and in the Don River valley, contains a cycling/walking track linking many of the City's recreational facilities. Sport is well catered for with The Oval hosting international cricket as well as being a venue for cycling and running carnivals and a home ground for Tas. Football (Aust. Rules) League games. There are dedicated centres for Hockey, Netball, Soccer, Swimming and two recreation centres with basketball facilities in addition to a number of grounds for local football and cricket. The annual Devonport Triathlon is a nationally recognised event and part of the championship series. Cultural facilities include the Art Gallery which has a collection of Tasmanian art works, ceramics, prints, and photographs; the Maritime Museum with a collection relating to early shipping activities and the Town Hall Theatre, extensively modernised in 1981, which seats almost 500 and is a venue for productions by the well established Repertory and Choral Societies as well as an annual Eisteddfod. The Council is small in area at only 116 sq.kms. but is the centre for a rich agricultural district which produces over 40% of Tasmania's vegetable crops (Beans, Onions, Peas, Potatoes etc) and very significant values of cereals, oil poppies, pyrethrum and other crops. Dairy production and processing is also significant. Secondary industry includes processing of agricultural products, production of woven towelling, and production of high grade carpet, all at levels which represent a large share of total Australian production. The district also produces pulp and paper and other forest products and cement of which large tonnages are exported through the port.