Thursday, June 27, 2019

QVMAG: ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SOURCE
Stuart Roberts spoke the truth when he called out the City of Launceston’s utter mismanagement of the QVMAG. 

This latest effort of closing down two gallery spacers holding important works in a significant component of the collections is a diabolical exemplar of inappropriate management. 

Anyone with the opportunity to dig deeper will discover that this Council operation is functionally unaccountable with almost all its decision-making made in a rather dark place somewhere. 

Anyone who has looked at museums and art galleries around the world will know that there are other ways to achieve whatever the QVMAG is supposedly attempting to achieve. 

What is lost is that the QVMAG costs each and every ratepayer well over $150 a year and as often as not they might ask, for what? 

The Councillors are the ‘Trustees’ of important cultural material valued at something in excess of $240 Million and the institution’s policies are far from ‘best practice’. 

In fact, the QVMAG looking forward, given the chance, could be the city’s most valuable asset rather than one of its largest non-performing liabilities. 

This institution is not a fiefdom nor a theme park. It belongs to Tasmania and Launcestonians and it is past time for some real accountability. 

What 'Council management' and QVMAG operatives are actually saying 'we will decide how conscripted investors funds are used and the manner in which their funds are spent' and by extension the implication is that 'no correspondence will be entered into'.

Perhaps the people at Town Hall and the QVMAG might want to stand on the sidelines as operatives at say 'a family business' attempted to ignore their shareholders/owners/investors.

The other point to be made here is that the Mayor and Councillors – the QVMAG's Governors –  are standing by to allow the 'operatives in management' to determine policy and strategy by-and-large careless of the investors' – Community of Ownership & Interest (COI), ratepayers, taxpayers, donors, sponsors, researchers, visitors, et al – legitimate aspirations and expectations.

In short, and on the evidence, 'Council' is failing to deliver on the 'social licence' that came with their election and is allowing 'management' to run rough-shod over the aspirations ratepayers and the QVMAG's COI. 

Put another way, wittingly or unwittingly, Council is allowing the tail to wag the dog.

Albeit manifested in multiple ways over time, all this has been happening for a very long time. In fact, the social dynamics are, and have been, such as to continue to allow the elected incumbents to blithely look the other way and hope for the best. 

Nonetheless it is probably time to call 'game over' and begin to deliver on the the investment the QVMAG's Community of Ownership & Interest has in the institution.

Ray Norman


Gallery closures  THE article in (The Examiner, June 22) advising that the Colonial and Federation galleries at QVMAG are to be shut for a year is simply another example of the council's disastrous management of QVMAG over a number of years. 

The council spent millions of ratepayer dollars to move all the art from the Royal Park site to Inveresk, and then they spent a few million more to move it all back again. 

Now they want to close the two galleries that are most appealing to visitors to Launceston. 

The suggestion that those visitors can look at the art online is a joke. 

Those same visitors could save a lot of money by visiting Launceston online instead of actually coming here (and it would also reduce the need for parking in the CBD. 

Stuart Roberts, Newstead.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

IN THE EXAMINER LETTERS


AFTER such a long time The Examiner seems to attraction more letter with writers trys to say how it is. Once people bought the paper to read the letters and nowadays they may be reading online. Whatever, keep it up as the good Councillors might see the point of being accountable.


Discussion Needed I certainly hope there is a whole lot more public consultation on the proposed Launceston Cataract Gorge and skyway plan than the skyline decision made by the council a number of years back. Even now as I walk and talk with tourists on my way through the Gorge, there are comments as to why there is a private dwelling disrupting the skyline (I still shake my head at that decision). I'm neither for or against the current proposal but let's have a very informed public discussion on the issue, for if we get this one wrong the sky just may fall in. 
 Robert Lee, Summerhill. 

Enjoy the beauty OUR Launceston Gorge is magnificent. We already have an unnecessary chairlift traversing the centre of this beautiful location. It is hard to believe that anyone could propose an even more imposing side-show-alley type "development" for this stunningly beautiful natural phenomenon. We have a tourism drawcard within the confines of our city that is unique and well known by travellers near and far. It is appreciated daily by scores of locals and visitors. It rightly belongs to the people of Tasmania and should never be allowed to become a project that would destroy the very thing that people go to the Gorge to enjoy. 
 Brendon Hextall, Trevallyn. 

Ambience will be lost IF the proposed Gorge Hotel and the massive infrastructure required to build the Launceston Skyway go ahead then the beautiful Cataract Gorge, in its unique position a stone's throw from the Central Business District, will lose its peaceful, wilderness ambience. There should be no encroachment in this natural paradise. After all, that is the reason why visitors come in the first place. We do not want the Gorge turned into a theme park. 
 Estelle Ross, Riverside. 

Buy Power Station BETTER to take up public subscription and buy the Trevallyn Power Station, and close it down. Return the Gorge to its former glory, and flush out the Tamar River. Everything is spoiling natural assets including the cable car. Increased tourism would soon pay for power station I am sure. A tram running to the original entrance would be a plus. 
 Barry Holmes, Evandale. 

Gallery closures THE article in (The Examiner, June 22) advising that the Colonial and Federation galleries at QVMAG are to be shut for a year is simply another example of the council's disastrous management of QVMAG over a number of years. ................. The council spent millions of ratepayer dollars to move all the art from the Royal Park site to Inveresk, and then they spent a few million more to move it all back again. ................. Now they want to close the two galleries that are most appealing to visitors to Launceston. ................. The suggestion that those visitors can look at the art online is a joke. ................. Those same visitors could save a lot of money by visiting Launceston online instead of actually coming here (and it would also reduce the need for parking in the CBD). ................. Stuart Roberts, Newstead.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

THE VC TALKS UP THE INVERESK INITIATIVE



A group of ratepayers have met with the Vice Chancellor to discuss ratepayers' concerns in regardto UTas's proposed moved to Inveresk. There is a great deal that is concerning about the initiative in respect how UTas's move will impact upon ratepayers into the future. The group was/is concerned that UTas is apparently disinclined to share ratepayers concerns. Similarly the City of Launceston, for whatever reason, has shown little to no empathy towards ratepayers in regard to the multiple issues arising.
Attached is a noted response the the Vice Chancellor's update on UTas's plans relative to Inveresk ... CLICK HERE

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

WHY ARE RATEPAYERS REQUIRED TO PAY TWICED?

The really big question that needs to asked here is why pay once for something that is very good and after that pay again foe something that is quite awful? Why would you do that?

Whoever designed the first manifestation delivered what is arguably a trend setter in good civic design for now. They should be nominated for an award. Good work!

Then comes along "a manager" who has has had a complaint from some grumpy person who probably hates children who says "I will fix it". He, and apparently it is a he, puts on a designer's hat, thinks tennis or something and decides all by his little self that he will do the fence again. Actually he gets some team or other to do the work and hang the expense apparently. 

As for design, why bother. You see he is probably one of those people who think that they would have done a better job always.n Thank goodness Boeing keeps them away from their design team.

Now the hapless ratepayers get to pay over and over for a job that was done well and then to pay again for it to be done badly. 

Apparently the General Manager signed of on all this. How can that be? Why would he do that? Isn't this the silliest bit administrative nonsense you have ever heard?

The second time around fence is apparently costing something like $4 thousand to $5 thousand but why? A flea bite really! This whole affair is too, too silly for words and why do ratepayers have to put up with it? More to the point, how can it happen in a well run operation? 

The fact that it is, and that the evidence is plain, means that ratepayers are paying way too much for mediocre services all round. 

As Arthur Conan Doyle said mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.  Launceston deserves better.


Monday, June 17, 2019

COUNCILS IN TASMANIA DOING REALITY CHECKS




Tassie council berates its own financial performance as rates rise

A local mayor says his council needs to “take a good look at itself” in light of the budget for the 2019-20 financial year and will audit its service levels for potential savings.

A COUNCIL in Tasmania’s North-West has berated its own financial performance as it raises rates by 4 per cent and reports an overall operating deficit of more than $1 million.

Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam says the council needed to “take a good look at itself” in light of the budget for the 2019-20 financial year.

Cr Quilliam said taking on a new indoor pool facility had hurt the council financially but benefited the community and it was being well used.

“Taking on the Smithton Wellbeing Indoor Recreation and Leisure centre has been a big thing for us, and while it is operating at a loss there is no denying it’s an important community asset,” Mayor Quilliam said.

“But with an overall operating deficit of $1.06 million in the coming financial year, we really need to take a good look at ourselves, how much we are spending and how we operate.”

The council will audit its service levels to see if there were any savings or other efficiencies to be made.
“That’ll include everything from how often we grade roads, sweep the streets, clean facilities, empty bins and the like,” Mayor Quilliam said.

He said rates would rise by 4 per cent next financial year which would ease some cost pressure.

The rate increase will come at the same time as municipal revaluations, which are used to
calculate rates.

“This is why we need to be clear with the community and ask them want they want, how much they are willing to pay for, and whether they believe they are getting value for money,” Mayor Quilliam said.

The council’s capital works program will be pared back to $2.6 million, the biggest item of which will be the $800,000 Mawbanna Rd upgrade.

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Climate change to be a hot topic at Hobart council meeting
UPDATED: The Hobart City Council has joined more than 600 other jurisdictions around the world in declaring a climate emergency.
JACK PAYNTER, Mercury| June 17, 2019 5:36p
UPDATED: HOBART has finally declared a climate emergency. After about a month of back and forth with walkouts and amendments, the Hobart City Council on Monnight voted 8-3 to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency.

They join more than 600 other jurisdictions around the world who have also called it an emergency.

Council voted largely to support Councillor Bill Harvey’s original motion that first went before council on May 19.
Surprisingly, Alderman Jeff Briscoe, whose amendment at last week’s planning committee meeting removed the word emergency, voted tonight to reinstate it.

He said he had received a lot of emails throughout the week.

EARLIER: CLIMATE change activists have packed the Hobart City Council chambers in anticipation of tonight’s climate emergency non-emergency motion.
The original motion — to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency — was heavily amended by the council planning committee last week to remove the word “emergency”.

Councillor Bill Harvey, who brought the initial motion, has signalled he will put forward the original as an alternative at tonight’s meeting to reinstate the emergency.

About 50 people have filled the chambers at Hobart Town Hall to watch the debate, many carrying signs and sporting costumes.

The topic has been hotly debated since it was first raised as an urgency action on May 19 when three aldermen — Briscoe, Damon Thomas and Simon Behrakis — walked out of the meeting to stop it going to a vote.

Cr Harvey said declaring a climate emergency was about a statement of leadership.

COMMENT: The question hanging in the air here is, should Launceston's Councillors get their knuckle rapped for handing down the unsustainable budget that it just has OR are they dragging on the ground in 'fiscal la-la-land'? Perhaps, fiscal planning should be outsourced to a body somewhere that has a handle on money management