THE EXAMINER AND SMOOTHED OVER VANDALISM

Popular sculpture the Tasmanian tableau will be reassembled in Civic Square before redevelopment is completed in the square. ..... The tableau was created by prominent Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker and is an attraction for both children and adults.  ..... RELATED STORY: Stephen Walker’s lasting mark on Civic Square  ..... Walker’s tableau was moved to make way for the redevelopment of Civic Square.  ..... Its elements, a family of Tasmanian tigers, a wedge-tailed eagle and some cassowaries ...

[Black Currawong, Strepera fuliginosa! AKA canaries]...were separated as part of its removal.  ..... However, City of Launceston general manager Michael Stretton said the art installation would be reinstated “in a prominent position” in the north-east part of the square.  ..... “The sculpture will be located at the entrance to the square and, combined with the large new play space in the square, we think it will continue to be popular with children,” Mr Stretton said.  ..... “We're also taking the opportunity to restore and replace some elements of the sculpture that have been damaged over the years.”  ..... Stephen Walker was one of Tasmania’s most prolific sculptors.  ..... His artwork is dotted around the state and the country.  ..... “The City of Launceston has had a collaborative and productive relationship with Mr Walker's estate, and we've been working with them on the final placement of the sculpture,” Mr Stretton said.  ..... Walker died in 2014.

EDITOR"S NOTE:  If it's in THE EXAMINER you know that it is dead right and the absolute last word on the subject – and very often it is the truth too! This missive sets out to let everyone know what's going on but what it is not saying is quite a bit more than interesting. 

The GM is attempting to smooth over a stuff-up in the planning process – albeit one that he inherited from his predecessor and/or the alderpeople collectively. Quite simply, it is clear that the current arrangement – this week's arrangement – of the sculptures is what was planned for in the redevelopment. Trouble is you cannot change an artist's work without consultation and approval. Once the artist's family found out about how the work was installed the council started 'working with them on the final placement of the sculpture"and here we are sweeping the dust under the carpet.

That'd all be OK unless Alderman Finlay – mayoral candidate – hadn't surreptitiously confirmed that there are indeed costs involved in all this despite councils vehement denial. It seems that she holds the deluded belief that if something – almost anything it seems – is costing more than you originally imagined, and if you have to spend that money on something that you hadn't planned for, that something costs 'nothing' – well sort of. 

Worryingly it seems that all the alderpeople bought that bit of silly spin. Ratepayers are smarter than that!

Now that the spin is out and it is being thoroughly debunked, the rumour mill around council is speculating about where their $20K/$30K/$40K for this or that went to at the end of the financial year. Just possibly from out of the proverbial 'hollow log' and to this cause given that there might be some cause for 'electoral embarrassment'. 

The  alderpeople who spruiked their business acumen should be hanging their heads in shame or in hiding somewhere. Instead of making good a stuff up, Ald. Finlay's savings might have been better spent on something like solar panels thus ultimately saving ratepayers money. 

As Kev Carmody says "from little things big things grow'" Here we can see how if you let little 'porkies' go they can grow and grow and grow! Anyway it seems that there is a hollow log in Civic Square with less in it – possibly nothing at all!

BRING ON THE ELECTION AND KEEP ON KEEPING THEM ACCOUNTABLE