SAY NO to a State Planning Bureaucracy

The Tasmanian Ratepayers Executive is concerned that the changes proposed by the major projects bill have the potential to facilitate the spectre of corruption in determining planning matters as experienced in other States, and an unwinding of the highly-regarded planning system in Tasmania, leading to massive restrictions for the public to have a say, and too much power put into the hands of politicians.

All political donations need to be publicly announced and openly recorded in real time. Political donations from property developers should be disallowe.

TRA Inc opposes any suggestion of the potential removal of planning responsibilities from Local Government, should a new and all-powerful State Planning bureaucracy be created in its stead, and does not see the need for wholesale changes to the Tasmanian Planning Commission. The Tasmania community has confidence in the TPC’s structure, roles and functions, with its proven independence and impartial role being essential in protecting the public's interest. 

The best improvements to be implemented for the Tasmanian planning system should involve a better resourcing of TPC and Local Government, not just a 'status quo' outlook, but a strengthening and respect for ensuring community values and interests are properly and adequately upheld. .

Mr. Alvaro Ascui 
Public Officer Tasmanian Ratepayers Assoc Inc

Empty Shops, Car Parks and Funny Money in Launceston

On Tuesday, the owner of the Carpark at 41-45 Paterson St (Don Allen’s company) upped the previously-agreed purchase price by $1m, causing the collapse of the “deal” for City if Launceston Council in partnership with Sydney investment banking company Bricktop Group Pty Ltd to purchase the carpark property from Allen. 

Already, on 14 May, although not publicly disclosed, City of Launceston Council had settled the secret purchase of the two Birchalls shop properties fronting the Brisbane Street Mall at 118-122 Brisbane Street. 

The deal was brokered by the State Government’s Co-ordinator General John Perry, who, having failed to convince the then-State Treasurer, Peter Gutwein to have the State Government partner with CoL in the acquisition deal [Mr Gutwein earlier withdrew last year because Mr Allen’s asking price and that for the Birchalls’ property component was several $m above valuation] leaving Mr Perry to go seek a partnership for CoL with Bricktop. 

Although CoL Councillors had sanctioned the purchases at a secret CoL meeting, that motion was on the basis of partnering with the Tasmanian Government, not Bricktop at that stage. 

The Councillors, in sanctioning the “deal” had not been shown any development proposals or drawings, but are said to have been assured by GM Stretton and CG Perry, that a commercial return would eventuate from their development investment, and if not then this ought not bother Councillors, because being a local government authority, it did not have to generate a return for any shareholders, and if necessary, it could increase taxation on its Ratepayers through its municipal rating system. 

Councillors were further reassured that any level of return would be better than the virtual nil return it was presently earning on its investment funds.... A condition of the “deal” with Don Allen’s company, was that should Bricktop not come to the ‘party’ and partner with CoL in acquiring the carpark as a development site, then CoL would be able to purchase the property outright, as it had already done with the Birchalls properties a fortnight ago. 

So why the secrecy, and now with the Carpark portion hitting a “reef”, and the deal not having been made Don Allen’s company, will this acquisition and secret development be proceeding and at what additional cost and for whom (the further deal with Foundry’s sister entity Creative Holdings in alleged partnership with Swinburne University to develop/occupy a multilevel training school atop the carpark) also looks scuttled by the embarrassing stories last week about Foundry not having been paying its staff wages and entitlements.

We are keeping our eyes and ears open. 

 Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Incorporated

TOWN HALL DREAMING IN RECONCILIATION WEEK

'The word' is that there was an announcement scheduled for Wednesday (yesterday) regarding 'the Birchall's purchase' but as it included the carpark from Don Allen ....... well he increased the price ...!!!

What a surprise. CoL are rank amateurs when it comes to real estate negotiations. It was always curious that they hadn’t registered a Priority Notice on the Carpark deal as well as Birchalls. 

That is what it is for.... to stop being done over by vendors changing their minds .... last minute increases just before the deal is finalised....

The total deal on both property parcels probably exceeds $20,000,000 .... yes Launceston Ratepayers’ money (or is it debt !)

WATCH THIS SPACE

LETTER TO CITY OF LAUNCESTON'S GM/CEO REGARDING PURCHASE OF BIRCHALLS BUILDING

From: Lionel Morrell
Date: 28 May 2020 at 10:45:31 am AEST
To: contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au
Subject: City of Launceston Council Meeting 28 May 2020 Questions



Mr Michael Stretton
General Manager
City of Launceston Council
Dear Michael,
Ref. Your file SF6381

On behalf of Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Incorporated, I asked 3 questions at the Meeting held on 14 May 2020, regarding properties at 118- 122 Brisbane Street (formerly Birchalls and adjacent retail shop) and 41 - 45 Paterson Street (Paterson St Carpark). You responded “A public announcement will be made in respect to these questions prior to the next council meeting”, and accordingly Anthea Rooney, Committee Clerk wrote to me on 21 May, providing the information from the May 14 meeting.

Public records disclose that on the day of the Council Meeting, 14 May, in fact City of Launceston Council settled the purchase of the properties at 118- 122 Brisbane Street Launceston.

As this had occurred on the day of the Meeting, why was this truthful fact not disclosed to me and the Ratepayers of Launceston?

There has been no public announcement made as you said there would be, and today is “the next Council Meeting”.

There is nothing noted in the Agenda concerning these matters.

Can you explain why that you, as General Manager has not been open, honest and transparent in your communications with your ratepayers.

Regards,
Lionel Morrell, President and on behalf of Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Incorporated.
Tel. 0428137050.