QUADRANT MALL REFURBISHMENT
As reported in the Examiner today, and from the get-go, this “City Heart Project”, and its outcomes, has proven to be utterly ill conceived, ham-fisted and fiscally reckless on the Council’s part.
When setting out to spend $1.9million of ratepayer’s money it would be reasonable to include them in the equation but not a bit of it. It’s our money now!
Yes, the aldermen represent the ratepayers but it seems not actively on the evidence here. The aldermen seem happy enough to stand aside on the pretext of observing ‘due process’.
Yes, people in the street were quizzed but it seems only to get the answers wanted. Arguably, the so-called consultation ‘process’ was conceived as being a box-to-tick and politically decorative.
Here we have all the hallmarks of the operational wing of council telling the aldermen what is going to happen and requiring them to “get out of the way”. Currently, they are doing just that.
Moreover, the Mayor is mouthing management’s perspective rather than either taking on board the trader’s or even his wider community’s concerns. Is this representation?
Reportedly, on the dawn of work about to begin someone asked “what about the stakeholders” only to hear a chorus of “OOPS” followed up by a couple of meetings in laneways with a token number of cherry-picked “representatives”.
A source from within the thick of it, that cannot be named, has described the whole process as a “monumental stuff up.” On the evolving evidence, that seems about right.
The ongoing issue with Launceston Council is it’s disconnect between its constituents and its operations on the ground which in the end boils down to a total disinclination to be accountable.
Sometime soon this must stop!
Ray Norman
Trevallyn
Quadrant Mall works damage local business ... ALICIA BARKER April 21, 2016,
Frustrated shop owners say they’re losing business over ongoing construction works in the Quadrant Mall.
Walkers Flowers owner Jo Pennington said she’d lost more than 50 per cent of her regular business since the works began.
“This is my second dose because they did Dicky Whites [Lane] last year, so that really affected things strongly last year too.
"I don’t know what’s worse, the blocking everything off or the noise levels. It’s been challenging.”
She said when taller barriers were installed outside her shop, a window was smashed by vandals and floral bouquets were stolen from outside her shop.
“When the machines sit straight out in front of the shop, the noise levels have been extreme.
“I realise Baker Construction has done their utmost to limit noise and disruption in a difficult situation close to the shop.
“I’m lucky in that many of my customers will telephone and order in, but foot traffic and walk-ins have been down dramatically and a lot of customers who do come in complain about the noise level.”
Ex-retailer at The Flower Barrow in Quadrant Mall and current sales assistant in the mall Gai Chesworth said she couldn’t see the point of the works.
“They should fix the parking because no-one’s coming into the city to shop and all the businesses are closing.”
Hope & Me homewares shop owner Lindi McMahon said the works had not affected business at the shop in the lead up to Mother's Day.
The $1.9m redevelopment of the Quadrant Mall was part of the Launceston City Heart Project undertaken by the Launceston City Council.
Construction on the project began in the last week of February and is estimated to be complete in August, weather permitting.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said it was important to remember the mall was open for business.
"The works are being conducted in such a way that access to all shops in the Quadrant Mall will be maintained for the duration of the works.
"This presents its own set of challenges, but as a council we understand the importance of maintaining that access for the businesses, and in turn how important those businesses are to the Quadrant Mall and Launceston's CBD.”
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