The Examiner on The Uni Sales Pitch

Launceston's ratepayers are probably Australia's largest donors per capita to charities given that such a large portion of their rates go to things they themselves get minimal benefits from. You know the non core services.

When the university rocks up looking for a handout from ratepayers they do not exhibit the intelligence they say the Tasmanian population does not have.

Now the Examiner is backing the uni all the way in its attempt to lighten Launcestonians' piggy banks in order to fill their own. Then they want to have a go at the taxpayers next. Anyone would think that its Christmas and its all our money.

But the hardest pill to swallow is the mayor and aldermen being so very very willing to buy a proposition without any evidence that it has as they say ...  "got legs". They have all got egg on their faces right about now but its all their own work.

As a lesson in reality they all need to go on a retreat with their laptops hooked up to Telstra or something and settle down to read the comments about them online. They could well thank their lucky stars that an election is a way off.

If they cannot get the time off this week to do that here are some links for them right now;

• City-based university a change for the better ... Click Here
• Uni plan aims to increase student numbers ... Click Here

But do make sure you read all the comments as they are very edifying.

Launceston's 2016-17 Budget

The Association's submission has been presented to Council and it is available via the link above. Also there is a commentary on the council's budgetary methodologies in LCC NEWS and ratepayers are encouraged to make their concerns known to council even though the supposed closing date for submissions has passed.

In fact ratepayer should be making their submissions to council on anything that concerns them at any time. 

There is no need at all, nor should not be, anything inhibiting them from doing so despite Council setting timetables that excuse them from considering constituent's submissions. Do not be deterred!

MAGIC NUMBERS

Is UTas Taking The Tasmanian Community For A Ride?

Click here for Prof Rathjen's Biography

In Leon Compton’s intro on Wednesday morning on ABC Mornings, he suggested that Prof Rathjen would be talking about their central Hobart and central Launceston developments. 

He spoke relatively briefly before the news, but only about the proposed Science development on a carpark site near their new accommodation facility which could occur within 5 years. He said that it was the only education project in Australia supported by Infrastructure Australia, which he said he believed was remarkable and gave great strength to the project.

The interview concluded by Prof saying how important that (parts of ?) the Sandy Bay facilities move to a more central location in Hobart because of the poor public transport systems in Hobart and the time it takes (more than an hour?) for some students to get to Sandy Bay. 

He made no reference to students studying on-line and how this would be an international opportunity in coming years.

Then the news and he didn’t return to talk about Launceston, so I rang ABC and was told he had to dash off, but that Leon would be asked if he could return sometime to talk about Launceston. Leon also indicated he had an interest because his partner works for the University.

I was interested in asking Prof Rathjen what Infrastructure Australia thought about developing educational infrastructure in Launceston on the flood plains and in context of substandard sewerage and drainage systems.

I intended putting to him that The Launceston Flood Risk Management Deed entered into by The Crown and Launceston City Council as the basis for the rebuilding of the Inveresk Levees, that LCC MUST (via its Planning Scheme) many restrictions and prohibitions in the 1:100 year flooding areas in Invermay, including:

• To prohibit new schools and other educational facilities;
• Aged care homes and any essential services premises or similar premises; 

This includes the Inveresk site in question (and I think, but will check, the Willis St Site too), which is subject to the same flooding inundation levels.

Furthermore I believe that there is a State Policy on development in flood risk areas, also contravened. 

Regards, 

Lionel Morrell 

President Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Inc. 

Launceston TAS 7250

FROM TANDRA: Now that was Wednesday and on Thursday  

Mayor Albert Van Zetten on 7LA said he was "shocked and disappointed" by plans for a UTAS science and technology precinct in Hobart CBD.

 Mayor Van Zetten said he was concerned the Hobart development would put potential funding approval for the planned Launceston university relocation in question.

Mayor Van Zetten was only informed of the development plans through a phone call yesterday, the same day the announcement was released in the media.

Since then Prof Rathjen has advised that any expansion or repositioning of the UTas Launceston campus would not be funded via the Federal Govt's Infrastructure Fund. Rather, any Federal funding needed for that would need to come directly from the Federal and State Govt. budgets.

Under the "austerity cloud" funding for UTas' Launceston proposal is beginning to look more tenuous.

At a Public Meeting attended over 100 concerned citizen of Launceston, and attended by only two Aldermen,  diverse range of views were presented and discussed. 

After considerable deliberation that meeting resolved to move just one main motion. 

It is as follows: 

“That this group of people identifying themselves as ratepayers and residents of the City of Launceston calls upon Council to rescind the Motion passed by full Council Meeting 9th November 2015 Item 20-20.1 To transfer land known as Willis Street Car Park and old Velodrome site at Inveresk to UTas for free gift.” 

Furthermore, it was requested that Council respond to the meeting via a media release within 30 days. Council has been informed by OPEN LETTER and as yet there has been no response to the letter.

Given unfolding events following the meeting, and given that Council meets next Monday, there has been no indication that Council is moving to protect ratepayers from exposure to burgeoning costs  and lost opportunities relative to future development at Inveresk.

Launceston and the Maritime College's Future

Although the Australian Maritime College is presently remaining the only part of UTAS to remain at Newnham, I feel I must issue a cautionary word because if the community thinks it is safe here in Launceston it is sadly mistaken. 

There are only three things that for the time being keep the AMC in Newnham and it is their three core research facilities 

1. The tow tank 
2. he Ocean Test Basin 
3. The Cavitation Tunnel 

AMC used to earn very good money carrying out research for the Navy and others with research using these three facilities. The tow tank is in the basement of the main building, by now it is not world best as it is probably too short. AMC wanted to lengthen it years ago, but it was a bit hard and expensive. So an upgrade would be in a new building.

The ocean test basin I believe is a 50*50 pool no more than 2 meters deep. I remember it cost about $5 million. The good ones can be 15 meters deep with a movable floor to give any depth you want. At the time, the construction here gazumped the WA government from building a bigger one in Kwinana. The Cavitation tunnel is the ugly tall building near where the new apartments were built. This is the second cavitation tunnel built on AMC campus, the first was not good enough. A lot of it is pumps and machinery that could be taken elsewhere

Sadly, my prediction is that AMC will be on the shores of Hobart within 7 years because when it becomes finally obsolete they will build new bigger and better facilities there, probably in Kingston. 

Wherever it is it will be nicer than the Launceston campus, which is a good 80 km from the sea.

D Bowen ... Taken from LCC:News

TARGETED LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW IN TASMANIA

LOCAL Government Minister Peter Gutwein has announced a targeted review of the Local Government Act, amid community concern about current council management. ............ He said local government processes and efficacy being ‘‘under the microscope’’ led to the review. ............ ‘‘Local government must be efficient and effective and deliver good value for ratepayers if we want to make Tasmania the best place in the country to live, work, invest and raise a family,’’Mr Gutwein said. ............ ‘‘This targeted review of the Local Government Act will ensure the legislative framework for local government is effective and efficient, with a focus on governance improvement.’’ ............ A steering committee will make recommendations regarding issues including: ............ the functions of mayors and council members; the appointment, functions and powers of the general manager; financial management and reporting; the functions and powers of council boards; and local government elections. Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said he welcomed the review.‘ ............ ‘I don’t have a problem with the review,’’ Alderman van Zetten said. ............ ‘‘Do I think there are major problems at the moment? No, I don’t.’’ ............ Earlier this month, Fairfax Media reported Alderman van Zetten said the Launceston City Council would be happy to pursue council amalgamations. ............ The City of Launceston has a population of about 64,000 and a council of 12 aldermen. ............ The Launceston council and its four closest councils contain a population of about 122,750. ............ Comparatively, Victorian regional city Ballarat has a population of about 100,000 and nine councillors. ............ Mr Gutwein said he anticipated necessary amendments to the act resulting from the review will be introduced to parliament by May 2017. ............ Meanwhile, the government has granted an extension to the Board of Inquiry report on Glenorchy City Council due to a high volume of public submissions. ............ The board were due to present their findings on February 15, but have been granted an extension to April 18. ............ ‘‘It is important that we get this right and that the report is as accurate and comprehensive as possible,’’ Mr Gutwein said. ............ GO TO: http://www.examiner.com.au/story/3726044/local-government-act-under-review/?cs=95

•••

Thank you Peter Gutwein.

There are systemic governance and management problems in Local Government the length and breadth of Tasmania and this targeted review has been needed for a long time.

When Local Government Aldermen and General Managers refuse to be confronted by their electors and refuse to answer valid questions from ratepayers and residents in their constituency, then the need for a review of their roles and responsibilities becomes very apparent. Only a few aldermen and General Managers and their senior staff are earnest and genuinely working for their communities.

There is a great deal of waste and poor management of local government resources throughout Local Government, and that is why rates are too high. Too many Aldermen see themselves as running mini-governments, handing out our money and favours for petty political gain and to enjoy their little Local Government world. Too many General Managers are creating fiefdoms - their power base, keeping information away from others in order to defend their power bases and ramping up their incomes to levels that are unjustified and unaffordable.

Rates cannot simply continue to be levied against the income levels that General Managers demand. Rates in Tasmania are way too high for the services provided and when fairly compared with similar communities interstate.

So, now it's over to you, ratepayers and residents of Tasmania, to make submissions and for once, have your say.

L Morrell, 

Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Inc.

LETTER TO THE EXAMINER FEB 13

"Uni

ON CHECKING Macquarie and World Book dictionaries I find it is an institute of higher learning, this includes its buildings, students, teachers, governing body.

Nowhere could I find any mention of helping to improve the bottom line in the city’s business sector by providing student shoppers.

Nor could I find a mention of a possible 15,000 students plus teachers wading through sewage in order to attend lectures.

Higher learning and the Newnham campus seems to be a match made in heaven as Newnham is considerably higher than Inveresk.

Conclusion - leave Newnham campus where it is.

My understanding is that the EPA is having a conversation with both Launceston City Council and TasWater.

— RON BAINES, Kings Meadows."

NOTE: It is becoming much clearer that the constraints of the Inveresk site – quite aside from the issue of 'gifting' public land anywhere to anyone – is where the folly in all this is to be found. IF this site was appropriate a collaborative cost effective way forward could be found once it was looked for. However, it's unlikely that the Federal Government can actually be persuaded to give public money to such a risky project on the current evidence before it – even in an election year.

Big questions for Tasmania are starting to float to the surface!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE MERCURY STORY

On the face of it this story talks about Hobart and Glenorchy city councils are getting together in some sort of shared step forward and shared vision for the disused rail corridor. BUT, the State Government recently said "light rail was off the table". 

Undeterred Hobart has joined up with Glenorchy and has signed off on ia $150,000 consult­ancy to: 

• Look at areas that would benefit from development within the catchments; and
• proposed stopping points for a public transit system.

After Infrastructure Tasmania's report into the viability of a light rail system, Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding, said that government would work with Hobart and Glenorchy councils to develop an understanding of "land-use planning and rezoning issues for commercial and residential opportunities adjacent to the rail corridor"

But this is Federal election year and there is the smell of Federal money in the air even when the PM seems to be say do not expect too much.... or in fact anything at all.

Clearly the "Tasmanian Cargo Cult" often talked about is firing up enthusiasms for all sorts of follies. This notion that Federal money, or even Sate money,  is "new money" or "different money" has to be called to account. The council functionaries promote this idea as it tends to help them build their empires, feed their council's salary accounts and build council superannuation liabilities.

These "consultancies" into almost anything at all are getting out of hand just like empire building in Local government has in Tasmania. Who is on these gravy trains and what are their dividends?

Taxpayers and ratepayers need to unite and call a stop to the nonsense. The money these consultants whisk away for little or no result is getting out of hand. It reflects upon the competence of Councils. That is both the elected representatives and the functionaries that seem to take a lot of oil to get their wheels turning.... and that's turning not spinning.

The gene-pool that local government has to draw upon is almost microscopic given the number of councils and the number functionaries sitting about watching a few of their underlings do something.

If we need consultants to provide the skills and expertise why are these functionaries employed at all when there are, it seems, people in consultancies with the skills we really need? Nobody seems to be game enough ask this kind of question.

Meanwhile in marginal Bass/Launceston council is out and about seeing what might bring "outside money" into their operation to grow the pie even if the city is about the same size it has been for a long time and arguably is shrinking.

The "City Heart" project in Launceston has all the sign posts that point to mismanagement and and some rather self serving and somewhat odd belief systems telling people strange things.

Yes the project is "fully funded" by the council, well actually the ratepayers, on the presumption that more will fly in from Canberra in an election year. Which consultant told what functionary that was the way to go?

This sort thinking is not the sort of thing council functionaries want to think about. It's probably not what people selling their skills as consultants want to hear either. However, anyone doing real work on real problems will always find a real place in the real world.

It is time to look for better and more effective ways to deal with community issues. Councils on the Cargo Cult drip-feed need a shake up, in fact a huge percentage of them need to be as they say "gotten rid of".... but that's another story for another day.

A Bouquet Of Roses For The Examiner ---- AND Social Media

GO2 .... http://www.examiner.com.au/story/3720566/campus-shift-defended/?cs=95

Today The Examiner published what appeared to be a pretty innocuous story at first glance. It’s that glance that newspapers expect you to take, and that you’re supposed to read briefly, take in superficially perhaps and move right along. 

Well that’s what many people probably did in their HARDcopy today but as sure a GOD made little apples the online readers dug in and read deeply. 

That is very good to see and with this ‘article’ it seems that the readers did start making connections and asking questions. That’s even better to see! 

A great many of the questions are incisive and not the sort of thing that those with by-lines are likely to put to readers – that is up to now perhaps? 

It seems that The Examiner is starting to build a stable of, and a following of, ‘Citizen Journalists’. This is a very good thing! 

If this continues The Tasmanian Times might well begin to worry about falling readerships and so on.  

By the way The Examiner is going, judging by this article, they might even be renewing themselves and gaining ‘New-Kid-On-The-Block’ status – not the dumb and inexperienced kind but the one with special tricks up their sleeves.

What is really interesting is the way the HARDcopy, Online editions and Social Media are beginning to interface and facilitate the testing of an interesting exchange of views. 

The Examiner has won, I think that’s the right word, 36 comments on this story today and they’re there forever as a reference. Well done you The Examiner, Trove (the online national digital library) and future researchers will love you. 

Ray Norman 

Launceston

NEWS STORY CHANGES ONLINE

Go to the story online: http://www.examiner.com.au/story/3711240/public-meeting-on-uni-land-deal/?cs=95

This is all rather interesting in that "news" is now ephemeral. 

The Examiner's attention was drawn to some unfortunate inaccuracies in the story as it went to press on Sunday and there was an indication that there would be correction tomorrow (Tues Feb 9).

It is interesting how we all have to get to understand the 21st C paradigm - 15 years in – with social media being able to respond instantly; and ordinary citizens purveying the news tainted by their very own prejudices; and organisations/networks not needing to be constituted thus needing to comply with hard and fast rules; and the reliability of 'the news' being questionable; and there being ways, new ways, to get information out; and politicians loosing their credibility, and authority, by the minute; and 'grammar', sometimes spelling too, not being what it used to be; and new forms of decision-making and consultation being possible; and journalists coming under increased scrutiny; and the internet having a very long memory; and.....

Importantly the comments have not disappeared and that will be a relief to historians and other 'researchers'.

As they used to say in the movies, "watch this space".

TROUBLE AT INVERESK: The Flooding Issues

FROM

FOREWORD NOTE 

The Tasmanian Ratepayers Association is NOT the organiser of the

 Public Meeting to be held at the Tramsheds Function Centre Inveresk at

7pm Tuesday February 9 

Nonetheless Lionel Morrell has agreed to speak at the meeting.

IT is confronting to experience Third World conditions in a First World country, but we did with water and sewage overflows at Invermay a few days ago....... Having just spent up to $60 million on flood levees and another lot of money on the Margaret Street pump station the city still can't stop sewage spilling on to our street in times of heavy rainfall, because it is a combined stormwater sewerage treatment process....... This peculiar system combines sewage and stormwater when the treatment outfalls are overwhelmed. Swell....... The combined system is supposed to prevent sewage spilling on to our streets but it failed at the weekend....... This is a health nightmare....... Taswater and the Launceston City Council can explain this any way they like, but the bottom line is, when it pours we are at risk of sewage contamination because we have a system that is either too expensive or too complex to fix....... It's like the good old days of the night cart....... If this happens during summer, the health ramifications are alarming....... What does a business do when the damage is more than excess stormwater, soiling the carpets and structure?...... It is up to the councils to ensure that TasWater has the capacity to at least improve basic hygiene.......Councils were relieved of quite a financial burden when they devolved water and sewerage functions to TasWater....... They collectively own TasWater and plunder its profits each year for dividends - $30 million in the past year, even after revenue from rates, fees and federal grants. Then they sit back, while the population suffers either poor boiled-water quality in regional councils or raw sewage overflows in 21st century cities....... If you were one of those wealthy Chinese tourists trying to admire the cascading Gorge from King Street Bridge, the local stories of raw sewage would tend to spoil and soil the clean-green image somewhat....... READ THIS AT THE EXAMINER ... Read the readers' comments

Apparently the recent rain in Launceston on one day amounted to the largest recorded rain event for the city. So down where the 'Swampies' live every drop of that rain falling on the inside of the city's new levies has to be pumped out and sometimes in to the convergence of two flooding rivers.

Its a somewhat arrogant assumption that there will always be room for it and all the more so given Launceston's paranoia about the spectre of inevitable 100 year flood. In fact that is so much the case that 'the council' made a video alerting everyone to this risk. SEE THE COUNCIL VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhpDFekiMM

Click on the map to enlarge it

However as The Examiner Editorial tells us about the health risks and they are substantial. The 'Swampies' have never been front of mind at the council it seems. But they're a proud lot and they're the very best even if a pretty ordinary lot with a great deal to deal with.

You only have to get off the main roadway through 'the swamp' to see that when a dollar is spent at council it usually isn't spent in 'the swamp'  – at least not on the kind of infrastructure provided other places.

The fact that on 'the swamp' the sewerage and storm water share the same pipes, and rest on or below sea level, and very often on or below the 'water table', says a great deal about the mind space the 'the swamp' holds at Town Hall. 

Except that is until there's a 'football deal' to be done ... or a business imagines it can turn a buck if the place is prettied up a bit etc. etc.

Whilst 'the swamp' flood risk is real "we don't live there", in fact "its not a place to live" and a bit of "collateral damage here and there" is to be expected 'in business'.

If there was actually a land shortage 'the swamp' might have seen some engineering brainpower put to work to 'tame the geography' . However, the population is relatively stable and there is ample land, so why invest in infrastructure in 'the swamp' when it might be better spent somewhere else?Well that's how it seems to go.

It has been a long time this way. If anyone is imagining that, so far as Launceston Council is concerned, that anything is is going to change all that much they are likely to be disappointed. This whole thing is like an unravelling tangle of who knows what.

As they say in the movies, "watch this space!"

T Vale

HEAR YE, HEAR YE. A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF HOBART AND GLENORCHY

Hear Ye, Hear Ye. In the name of Queen Hickey I, Sir Heath hereby declare an expansion of the empire and declare war to achieve a hostile takeover of Glenorchy City Council Shire ....... All able-bodied men of the Hobart Town Empire are summoned immediately to the castle in preparation for war. The cavalry have amassed on Creek Road ready to storm the area. Archers surround the Council Chambers from the rooftops of Shiploads, Northgate, Hungry Jacks and Service Tasmania (we tried Centrelink but they got their heads kicked in when customers thought they were jumping the queue)....... There is no escape........ Our message to the people of Glenorchy is this: Do not panic and do not resist. We are here to help and once your leaders are overthrown you WILL learn to love, respect and pay us (Kim Jong Un style)....... Many will die and the battle may be long but in the name of our queen we will expand the empire. We will provide the knights of the oblong table resources, rates, land and parking fees in order to strengthen our position and increase our wealth. We will take their gold and make their subjects subservient to us........ Parking meters have been deployed in Moonah, Glenorchy and Claremont townships and all available car parks have been secured with boom gates and self serve paying stations installed........ Northgate has been fortified and will serve as our base for the duration of the war (Ron is trying on a suit in Man to Man at this moment. Was $999 now $199. (Incredible bargain)........This will also be the permanent home of the Taste of Tasmania when the food court is extended at the end of the war........ KGV will be converted to pay and display parking........ The Derwent Entertainment Centre will be repurposed as the new Slick Promotions head office. I, Sir Heath have been gifted the GCC building and staff and my salary tripled as the spoils of war start to flow. Sir Christie has been gifted Elwick Racecourse in thanks for his public grovelling to the Queen. Marti gets Chigwell........ From there Ron can also watch over our soon to be acquired “Centre for Arty Farty and Event stuff”.........   That’s right Walshy! WE OWN MONA NOW........ We were keen to plunder the suburbs but that seems to have been already done by the locals. Oh and to the lads doing donuts near our cavalry. You might think it’s funny boys but you won’t be laughing if we put an arrow through your Pirelli’s so piss off you are scaring the horses........ To Mayor Kristie Johnston. Your demise is imminent......... If you surrender peacefully you will be gifted your GM Peter Brooks for a butler and Tolosa Park for your residence........ P.S. Queen Hickey, who speaks on behalf of all the knights of the oblong table would also like to say “We are better and richer than you so nah nah na boogy. YOU WILL BOW BEFORE ME”........ Not even Captain Glenorchy can save you.

CLICK HERE

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE: LCC CITIZENS MEETING FEB 9 AT 7PM

PLEASE CIRCULATE




For more information eMAIL: [ LCC C/- LP ] LAUNCESTONprojects@bigpond.com
•
AGENDA POSTED HERE: http://lcc63.blogspot.com.au/

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”  Thomas Paine

CITIZENS SURVEY
http://lcc63.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/concerned-citizens-survey.html

DOES LAUNCESTON NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THIS STORY?

FROM

Click here to read this story & watch the video

The answer is quite probably!  .....  "NSW minister slams federal government on education policy ..... The federal government would take over TAFE funding from the states under a radical plan to be presented to the states and territories at a high-level meeting in March. Under the Turnbull government proposal, obtained by Fairfax Media, TAFE fees would be deregulated and TAFEs would receive the same levels of funding as private colleges in a bid to increase competition in the sector. ..... States could provide some top-up funding for TAFE, but only enough to ensure "competitive neutrality" with private providers under the shake-up, which would transform the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Advertisement ..... The paper, marked "in confidence", has been circulated to state governments for discussion ahead of a planned Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in March. It is likely to meet strong resistance, given the scandals that have plagued the federal government's vocational loans scheme in recent months ..... Former TAFE Directors Australia chairman Bruce Mackenzie, who recently completed a major review of TAFE for the Victorian government, said the ideas contained in the paper were "clumsy" and "outdated"........... "

Perhaps this is worth taking note of given all that's going down.

D Bowen