CITY OF LAUNCESTON'S OUTRAGEOUS DEVELOPMENT BLOCKING

This 'development' will no doubt bring this current Council to its knees if the facts relative to all the behind the scenes goings on in camera ever see the light of day. 

Ratepayers have been left out of the equation at every turn. The non answering of questions etc has earned the mayor and his supporters a place on the list of international high achievers in the field of duck shoving. On this and so many other things the City of Launceston's Council is, or rather was, so very much singing from the Scott Morrison hymn sheet and the organ has now lost its verve.

There is such a nasty smell about all this and anyone with a modicum of common sense must be able to smell it. With councils in the south being bought to account and two being dismissed it truly is a wondrous thing that the City of Launceston's Council stands. With compulsory voting, and the promise of more lower house members in the State Parliament there might well be a change ahead. 

However, depending on how the development blocking pans out Launceston's ratepayers might not have to wait for this year's election results to see change.

This council should be put under administration. If ratepayers have wait until after the outcome of this development application is known the wait might be worth it. Notwithstanding that something needs to change soon.

L Blissett

Kings Meadows

TAS Stadium redevelopment among projects that failed to get federal support ... Caitlin Jarvis ... By Caitlin Jarvis ... Updated May 28 2022 - 9:05am, first published 3:00am 

Despite being lauded as one of the most marginal seat in Australia a number of high-profile projects in the Bass electorate failed to secure federal funding during the recent federal election. 

Liberal MHR Bridget Archer bucked the trend of a nation that has elected a Labor government and held her seat against Labor's candidate and former member Ross Hart.

However, Ms Archer will have her work cut out for her in opposition and a number of crucial projects, identified by community leaders as important for the region, remain in the wind and without secure funding. 

UTAS STADIUM ................. Arguably one of the biggest question marks remains over the $208 million UTAS Stadium redevelopment. ........................ The redevelopment plan was presented by the City of Launceston as part of an ambitious bid to place the sporting infrastructure as an important part of Tasmania's bid for an AFL team. Arguably this project should not go ahead with other priorities needing funds.(LB) ....................... Both major parties ahead of and during the election was asked to commit $145 million towards the project, which will see UTAS Stadium increase capacity to 27,500 with the development of a second tier on the eastern and northern grandstands and a new southern stand. ........................ An indoor stadium that would have full size basketball courts, along with tiered seating to enable concerts to be held at the venue are also planned. Are more sports facilities actually required ahead with other priorities needing funds.(LB) ........................ The state government has pledged its support for the proposal, and will take over ownership of the stadium to progress the project and release it from the responsibility of the City of Launceston Council. After the Federal election priorities look like they are being adjusted.(LB) ........................ However, it requires federal funding to proceed, which at this point it has failed to obtain. ........................ City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the council had been successful in seeking support for a range of projects through a variety of ways, including election commitments, along with grants and other vehicles such as the Launceston City Deal. That may no longer be the case.(LB)........................ "Pleasingly, the newly elected Federal Government has indicated its support for the continuation of the City Deal model, which has been the Launchpad for a number of transformative projects in Northern Tasmania in recent years," Mr van Zetten said. Yes but within all this different projects might get support.(LB)(

 Rockliff backs the LGH to manage increasing demand amid growing pressure ).

The City of Launceston will continue to progress proposals like the UTAS Stadium upgrade, Northern suburbs recreation hub, and the second stage of the Launceston City Heart Project and we look forward to collaborating with the newly elected Federal Government on these and other exciting projects for Northern Tasmania." ........................ 

Mr Van Zetten said the council would continue to leverage its partnerships with all levels of government to achieve its strategic objectives and projects. Good luck if there is no acknowledgement of change.(LB)

CITY MISSION PRECINCT & City Mission chief executive Stephen Brown 

Despite health being touted as the number one issue for Northern Tasmania, a community health precinct that would help to address growing levels of homelessness and connect people with allied health professionals did not secure funding in the federal election. ........................ The project, which was spearheaded by City Mission, and chief executive Stephen Brown expressed disappointment regarding the outcome. ........................ "This project will significantly enlarge City Mission's capacity to provide care and accommodation for families and individuals experiencing homelessness and cost of living pressures," said Stephen Brown. ........................ "The vision for the precinct is to create a welcoming space that would offer housing units and access to various service providers and free health professionals. It would be a vital infrastructure for our city and benefit the community greatly." ........................ The precinct plan was to construct a multistorey building to provide emergency relief, free medical services, consultation rooms along with 35 single, double and family social housing units. ........................ Tasmanian projects in the balance after federal election . Arguably this project could go ahead even with other projects needing funding.(LB)

KANAMALUKA CENTRE ........................ Launceston developer Errol Stewart's grand vision to build a home for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra on the banks of the Tamar estuary is another project that failed to attract party support during the election. ........................ The centre, which would be built on land owned by Mr Stewart, has been described as Tasmania's response to the Sydney Opera House. ........................ Mr Stewart said he had discussions with the TSO to hold the land in the hope the project could get funding. However, he said there were a number of competing projects seeking funding in Launceston and said the project had failed to showcase its importance to both political parties. ........................ He said he was hopeful that ongoing discussions with Labor politicians would result in funding support, but nothing had been secured yet. ........................ Tasmanian projects in the balance after federal election. Arguably this project should not go ahead with other priorities needing funds.(LB)

QVMAG REDEVELOPMENT........................ Another project that failed to get funding was the QVMAG redevelopment. The upgrade, which was named as a priority project by the Northern Tasmanian Development Corporation would modernise the art gallery and add an extension for a new gallery space and a cafe area, along with off-street car parking. ........................ Mr van Zetten said Launceston had been successful in seeking funding from other tiers of government for projects such as Riverbend Park, Launceston City Heart, the redevelopment of Macquarie House and Albert Hall. ........................ Tasmanian Government to introduce legislation to restore House of Assembly numbers ........................ "These have been achieved through a mix of election commitments and other funding programs, including the Launceston City Deal," he said. ........................ "The City of Launceston will continue to progress proposals like the UTAS Stadium upgrade, Northern suburbs recreation hub, and the second stage of the Launceston City Heart Project and we look forward to collaborating with the newly elected federal government on these and other exciting projects for Northern Tasmania." This project should not go anywhere until this institution becomes relevant to current needs in its current location.(LB)