It appears that Launceston is working quite hard on cultural irrelevance

Tom Ellison's contribution via FACEBOOK to The Examiner's online comments...

"Just like clockwork, The Examiner wheels out the ‘it’s an eyesore and must be demolished’ editorial.

Just like clockwork, the uniformed masses respond, demanding Launceston be supplied with (in no particular order) a Big W, a JB HiFI and an Aldi.

Only that way, it seems, can Launceston shrug off its reputation as a regional backwater, and start dragging tourists away from Hobart.

And just like clockwork, the Launceston City Council stands mute; refusing to correct the local newspaper on matters of fact.

So here are some facts:

#1 The owner of the CH Smith site, Brile Pty Ltd, a 2-person private company, has consistently failed to honour its promises to develop the site.

#2 Brile Pty Ltd has consistently refused to make any attempts to preserve the historic assets under its stewardship

#3 Brile Pty Ltd has neither the funds, nor the financial backing to develop its proposed shopping centre

Hobart has a Big W and a JB Hi Fi. A couple of each in fact. No Aldi as yet, but hey, that hasn’t stopped tourists visiting the capital in record numbers.

I wonder whether that’s because of other factors? Like the private sector (yes, I’m talking about you Mr Walsh) creating cultural experiences that people actually seek.

Or people hoping to explore what Australia's built heritage looked like before the McDonalds era.

The CH Smith site is not a crumbling eyesore, as Zona Black labels it.

It’s one of Launceston’s earliest remaining reminders of an industrial past. Yes, it’s a relic. An important one. I challenge The Examiner to find earlier, or intact examples of Regency warehouses more important than those standing neglected and unloved in Charles Street.

Ms Black writes: “would anybody truly care if we woke up tomorrow, and both these crumbling sites were gone?”

Perhaps one day, when she’s had her fill of shopping at Big W and Aldi, she might look back and regret that statement."

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This is but one of Launceston's weeping sores that all so often points to serial failures in planning and local government decision making. The myth that tourists come to Launceston to shop in national and multi national department stores is stupid. 

Also, the idea that Launceston residents continue to behave like their parents and grandparents gets way too much credibility. 

All this is specially so in Launceston's council chamber or rather the managerial backrooms well away from the public glare.

We are told that its in "the GM's office is where the rubber hits the road" but if that's the truth it seems that there is a lot of skidding and screeching going on with not too much moving forward to be seen. 

Launceston could be a tourist destination but despite Launceston's assets 'the council' seems to be totally clueless as to what they are and what they are actually worth. 

The chances are that if the C H Smith building, and the adjoining cordial factory building, were to spontaneously combust someone in the town hall building would "chuck a party".

Tom Ellison intimates that what brings tourist to urban Tasmania is the 'culture factor'. In fact that is the very thing that is being missed time and time again. Thank you Tom for putting in your two bob's worth on FACEBOOK!

Tanda Vale