Footy ground not for sale!

WELL it is official, the footy ground is not for sale. Get it, it is not for sale! Mainly that would be because if you tried to sell it yet again you might find a horse's head on your bed or something.

Unless you're trying to sell the Harbour Bridge to an Eskimo, its just not on to be selling something that others think they own already ... and twice.

But what does any of this have to do with the 'tender process at Town Hall'? You might well ask. Up  to now what happens at 'the footy ground' (no matter what else it is called) has been decided somewhere off to one side. 

Money ... well who knows about that murky stuff that in the end only buys stuff. 

We might remember that UTas got 'naming rights' before Council got to hear about it and apparently money wasn't an issue. Then there is a 'footy club' from elsewhere calling lots of shots it appears So, the ratepayers should be thankful for all the goodies. 

What economic sense does all this make? Yesterday there were 'lots of options" but today one has melted away in the mind of the Mayor. All this has been brought on not by a Councillor doing anything about selling 'the footy ground' but by him having a brave new vision for Council's 'tender process' – a vision to save ratepayers' money, a vision to help stop Launcestonians' rates climb by up to 50% over and above the rates paid now.

Apart from $3 to 4 Million for new grass on the footy field, new grass that many are saying is not required, new grass that some are saying is coming from Australia, when the old grass, as footy players have said, is pretty good etc. etc. New grass you wouldn't need to buy if you were flogging the joint ... then again you just might need to.

Mayor Albert, fresh from his high level course in 'footy ground curation', says the drainage under the grass is bad etc. and now deems that new grass is absolutely required for whatever reason and hang the cost ... or so it seems. Well there are other ways than throwing heaps of ratepayers' money at an area of grass. 

If via Council's old 'tender process' the right people will deliver the right grass to fix this problem that may or may not be a problem ... so be it. So, for whatever reason we need to hang on to this 'process' – even if it fails some test or other. The vision must be realised!

Remember, this is the process that delivered expensive tiles from Western Australia to Launceston's Mall, Civic Square and Quadrant Mall. Has anyone notice how much better they are than the 'local product' ?

From the Examiner

No plans to sell University of Tasmania Stadium,  NO SALE PLANS: The City of Launceston has disputed media reports stating the council is potentially considering selling University of Tasmania Stadium to ease the financial pressure on its ratepayers. UTAS Stadium, situated at Invermay, hosts a number of AFL games during the home-and-away season, with four Hawthorn matches being played there this year alone. Council said the games bring significant economic activity to Launceston - about $30 million worth every year. Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the City of Launceston had no plans to sell the stadium. He said work on council's long-term financial plan involved the exchange of "a number of ideas and proposals ... with a view to maximising value for ratepayers". "As a council, we manage assets valued at in excess of $2 billion on behalf of our community, so it's extremely important we manage them in a sustainable, responsible way," Cr van Zetten said. "In respect of the stadium, we are interested in examining how other stadiums around Australia are managed. There are many different models of management and operating structures, and different revenue streams in similar facilities across Australia. UTAS Stadium during a 2017 match between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions. UTAS Stadium during a 2017 match between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions. "It's about understanding those models and seeing if we can do things better with our own stadium. Our focus is on how to ensure we're maximising efficiencies at the stadium to ensure it is sustainable into the future." Cr van Zetten said council intended to ensure the "first class" stadium maintained its high standard, while also "maximising efficiencies where we can". ...