Thursday, March 31, 2011

COUNCIL BLUNDER ON HENRY STREET


It seems that there has been a somewhat concerning planning blunder on Henry Street Ravenswood, and arguably one made by Council Officers.

In Council approving a development for 66-88 Henry St. will this mean a very expensive acquisition in the future?

Alternatively, will it be enough to prevent the road or otherwise cause a more expensive or longer route ?

Even if Launceston's General Manager, Robert Dobrzynski, now argues that:
  • Council has (or more correctly, may in the future) adopt another suitable course for such a road; and
  • incorporate that road as a future road in the new Interim Planning Scheme;
then the appropriate course would have been for council to have firstly proposed an amendment to the present planning scheme, removing the present zoning and substituting the alternative future road course. Then the way would have been open (if the amendment was approved by the Tasmanian Planning Commission) for this residential development to proceed to approval without difficulty.

Alternatively, if the new course became part of the Interim Planning Scheme (thus avoiding an amendment to the present scheme), the same result would occur.

Yet again Launceston's ratepayers are at risk of bearing the cost of a bureaucratic blunder, the kind of blunder that tends to accumulate and provide a background for unsustainable rate increases sometime in the future.

Where is the quality assurance in Council decision making? Where can we find if it exists? Who is accountable to who in all this?

Presently, the Tasmanian Ratepayers Association's current submission is that the current construction of a private residence encroaching on the Zoned Future Road (minimum 200m wide reservation, plus a setback dimension) is not valid.

CLICK TO SEE THE RELEVANT CORRESPONDENCE
This is the correspondence concerning the encroachment by a new house development on the land zoned for Future Road as part of an Eastern Road bypassing Launceston central area.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

LAUNCESTON CITY COUNCIL: New way to have your say!


MEDIA RELEASE
March 29 2011

The Launceston City Council has unveiled a new method to make it easier for residents to participate in the decision-making around key projects in the Council area.

The Your Voice. Your Launceston. website is an easy, safe and convenient way for the community to contribute ideas and opinions about key projects. There are many ways to participate via the website, including completing surveys, sending in submissions and contributing to online discussions. The site can be accessed at www.yourvoiceyourlaunceston.tas.gov.au

Launceston City Council General Manager Robert Dobrzynski said "I encourage all residents to check out the Your Voice. Your Launceston website and have their say. The Council values residents' involvement and input into key projects and wants to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to join in."

Registration is required for people wanting to participate and post their own comments in the online discussions forums, but anyone can download the project materials and read the
forum discussions. Registration is quick and easy, allowing people to sign up and contribute
anonymously by creating their own username.

Privacy is protected because the registration and online discussion forums are moderated by an independent organisation.

The first project to utilise this form of community consultation is the Launceston Public Spaces and Public Life report prepared by the world renowned urban design firm, Gehl Architects. Residents are invited to download and read the report and to join in the online discussion forum that has been established at www.yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/public-spaces.

The Launceston Public Spaces and Public Life comment period will be open until 29 April 2011.

Mr Dobrzynski said "Your Voice. Your Launceston. is one of several ways the Council invites community participation. It will complement information available from the Council's website and Community Update Packs and supports other consultation forums, such as the Residents' Panel, community meetings and surveys.

"We are conscious that different people engage in different ways and Your Voice. Your Launceston. is another forum that the Council believes many people will find convenient and accessible. It is anticipated that there will be a number of projects put on this website for community consultation."

THE QUESTION OF VALUES

On Monday Launceston’s General Manager, Robert Dobrzynski, at the last Council Meeting, as reported in the Examiner yesterday, engaged in an unseemly stoush with an Alderman, Ald. Rosemary Armitage.

As reported “Alderman Rosemary Armitage had proposed that aldermen be notified of upcoming neighbourhood or street meetings between council officers and ratepayers.

Mr. Dobrzynski, claimed that his authority was being threatened and claimed that what Ald. Armitage was seeking represented "an unreasonable interference" in his ability to perform his functions as a General Manager. Did it really?

Ratepayers are bemused. Just what is that is the problem here? See these earlier entries ... [1] ... [2]
  • Is it that the GM does not welcome ratepayers winning the support of Aldermen on an issue?
  • Is it the case that Council Officer’s advice to Aldermen is always consistent with ratepayer’s experience of a consultation process between Council Officers and themselves?
  • Is it extraordinary that ratepayers should wish to have Aldermen present at a meeting between themselves and Council Officers to have first hand insights into what happened?
  • Is it unacceptable for ratepayers to wish to have Aldermanic representation or presence at a meeting between themselves and Council Officers on an issue?
One cynical ratepayer has suggested that this whole situation, and others leading up to it, is starting to resonate with undertones of Capt. Queeg in Herman Wouk's 1951 novel and the 1954 movie staring Humphrey Bogart, “The Caine Mutiny” ... Click here for more information on Capt. Queeg

Perhaps it is time to take another look, in fact a good look, at Launceston City Council’s so called core values to do with Integrity, Stewardship, Inclusion, initiative, Teamwork and last but not least Accountability.

Council Officer should revisit the Council website and do a reality check for themselves and the Aldermen need to do the same as well as asking themselves how they rate as upholders of these values. Ratepayers depend upon both Officers and Aldermen to uphold these values but most of all the Aldermen as it is they who endorse them.

Just in case anyone has missed this entry on the Launceston City Council’s website here they are for your information and reference.
Copied from LCC Website 30.03.2011

Organisational Values

Integrity

  • We behave ethically;
  • We tell the truth;
  • We keep our commitments; and
  • We meet both the spirit and intent of the law.
Stewardship
  • We care about people and the community in which we live;
  • We operate safely;
  • We are environmentally responsible; and
  • We strengthen the community.
Inclusion
  • We value diversity and respect the dignity of each person;
  • We value differences in people and perspectives;
  • We build relationships based on mutual trust; and
  • We recognise the contributions of every individual.
Initiative
  • We lead the way;
  • We have the courage and creativity to shape the future;
  • We have the discipline to manage risk; and
  • We act decisively in a timely manner.
Teamwork
  • We work together to achieve superior results;
  • We share ideas and talents to develop solutions;
  • We support and rely on each other; and
  • We value clear and open communication.
Accountability
  • We take responsibility for our actions;
  • We live our values;
  • We set clear goals, measure results and seek to improve; and
  • We build and protect the Launceston brand and reputation.

SOMETHING TO PONDER: That thought expressed so well by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) "I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs."