THE UKRAINE FLAG FLIES IN HOBART BUT NOT IN LAUNCESTON

Flying the Ukraine flag was on Launceston's GUNNAdo list but apparently someone deemed that the UKRAINE EMBASSY needed to approve. It seems that approval was either not sought or at the embassy they were too busy repelling the Russians to deal with such bureaucratic minutiae. As it so often is at Launceston's Town Hall community aspirations drop off the  GUNNAdo list just like First Nations reconciliation aspirations do and have.

 

1000 MORE SEATS FOR UTAS STADIUM

AS GOOD AS ALL THIS LOOKS the questions hanging in the are those to do with the State's faltering health system, the crisis in education, not to mention the economic sustainability of the Tasmanian economy let alone the State's housing crisis.

There will be a cohort at Launceston's Town Hall sucking this news in like it might provide yet more enriching oxygen for the fiscal follies they entertain in pursuit of a glorified status quo. 

UTAS Stadium will soon be home to a new entertainment precinct and a fresh Eastern Stand with more than 1000 extra seats.

The state government will today announce plans to get the ball rolling on a $200 million upgrade of the North's premier venue.

The redevelopment - initially laid out in two stages - has been split into three as the state government awaits word on whether the federal government will match a $65 million commitment to the venue.

The $65 million first stage - set to begin later this year and be completed by early 2025 - will boost the stadium's seated capacity to 14,000, and its overall capacity to 20,500.

It also includes:

• A new entertainment precinct, designed to cater for a range of sports, concerts and arts events
• Redeveloped players' and umpires' changerooms, and new interchange benches
• Improved food and beverage facilities

The second stage, which is subject to federal funding, will consist of upgrades to the western side of the ground.

The third stage is estimated to cost about $70 million and features a new indoor multi-sport facility, which will be designed at the conclusion of the first two stages.

The redevelopment is largely in line with the $208 million redevelopment set out by City of Launceston Council at the start of 2021.

However, plans for retractable seating, enabling the rectangular configuration needed to host top-flight soccer on a more regular basis, are no longer part of the project.

The upgrade plans come as Tasmanians wait to see whether the federal government will cover the $240 million needed to build a new stadium at Macquarie Point and secure a Tasmanian AFL team.

Entertainment precinct, 1000 extra seats for UTAS Stadium Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the project would help ready the North for a Tasmanian team.

"The UTAS Stadium upgrade plans we're releasing today will provide an increase of more than 1000 seats, while significantly improving facilities for players, coaches and fans alike," Mr Rockliff said.

"An upgraded UTAS Stadium will not only see more elite sports being played in the north of the state, including supporting a future Tasmanian AFL team, it will also generate immense economic benefits to the region."

Construction Minister Guy Barnett said planning for stage one was "well under way" and would kick off once planning and development approvals were received.

NEWISH THINKING ... WHO IS UP TO IT OR FOR IT?

 

FOOD SECURITY POSSIBLY?

BUT WILL COLES & WOOLIES LIKE IT?

“To improve is to change; 

to be perfect is to change often.” 

Winston Churchill

REAL LOCAL GOVERNANCE NEWS

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWSLETTER

Stadium at Mac Point – the new hot topic
Just as the ink dried on the Planning Tribunal’s rejection of a cable car, another controversial development proposal has emerged to get Hobartians talking............


Q.1 Where did the drive for a stadium come from?
The first mention of a stadium was in Premier Gutwein’s ‘State of the State’ speech in November 2021, as part of his pitch to get a team for the AFL. ........

Q.2 Is a new stadium the best public investment in Hobart infrastructure?
A ‘Strategic Business Case’ has been published to try to secure federal government funding. Unsurprisingly, it finds there will be jobs created and economic value derived from public investment in this project.........

Q.3 Have all the options for and alternatives to a new stadium been properly assessed?
A thorough and dispassionate analysis should closely examine the benefit of a $700 million-plus public investment in a new stadium against the other options. ......

Q.4 Is a stadium the best way to activate Mac Point?
Everyone in Hobart has been disappointed by how long it's taken to redevelop Macquarie Point. Until the stadium proposal, the state government hadn’t made any significant investments in new public projects at the site.......

Q.5 Can a stadium also be a suitable arts venue?
The Hobart community loves arts and cultural activities and the arts sector employs double those in the sports and recreational sector. The $30 million state government investment in the Hedberg Centre / Theatre Royal development was the last major investment in arts infrastructure in the city. ............

Q.6. What infrastructure do the people of Hobart want the state government to invest in?
There has been no consultation with the community about this proposal and if people consider this to be a top priority investment in central Hobart infrastructure. .......

Q.7 What impact will this stadium have on surrounding heritage places (such as the Cenotaph)?
Great cities use special sites well and when the Macquarie Point masterplan was first approved by Council it was anticipated that development on the site would remain lower than the Cenotaph. .......

Q.9 Which projects might miss out on funding because of the focus on the stadium?
I’m concerned that the stadium will compromise the ability for state and federal government to invest in any other priority projects for the city (including community sporting facilities and other economic development priority projects)........

ALTERNATIVES
As part of my commitment to solutions-based leadership, I always aim to propose alternative ideas and win-win compromises when critiquing a project. .........

I propose a better way to spend $1 billion would be:

$240 million for urgent port upgrades and......................CLICK HERE

HAVE YOUR SAY

This is an exemplar all Councils might well emulate and advocate. If Hobart's Mayor can do this why not Launceston's? Mayors are resourced to do such things and sitting on their hands and allowing that euphemistic tail wagging the dog in a gilded frame and doing the SHOTcalling aught not be an option. 

Self-serving STATUS QUOISM all too frequently precludes elected representatives voicing strategic positions and policy aspirations. Also, SECTION 62/2 of the Local Govt Act is all too often invoked to shut down contentious and un-welcomed commentaries. It is time for meaningful change and a lot that needs to be done that can be done strategically around the table by a self-empowered cohort of COUNCILLORS. The GM's (AKA CEO's) approval is NOT required.

THE BURCHELLS CARPARK DEBACLE IN 2021

2021 LINK 

ADDITIONAL LINKS

http://tasratepayers.blogspot.com/2021/11/there-is-looming-cloud-over-integrity.html

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http://tasratepayers.blogspot.com/2021/10/millions-of-dollars-11-questions-and.html

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http://tasratepayers.blogspot.com/2021/10/an-ongoing-saga-about-purchase-of.html

Decision to turn car park into bus stop to benefit ratepayers Ryan Young

 POTENTIAL SITES: Locations the City of Launceston council considered. Picture: Supplied 

A decision to transform the Paterson Street Central car park into a bus interchange will save ratepayers money in the long run, City of Launceston council chief executive Michael Stretton believes. .................... Mr Stretton said council calculated it would cost about $5 million to $7 million to move the existing major bus stop on St John Street to other on-street locations in the central business district. .................... "My expectation is that we'll be able to deliver it [a new bus interchange on Paterson Street] in concert with the state government for less than what it would have been to have an on-street solution," he said. .................... Labor After 18 months of extensive research and planning, the council recently purchased a share of the Paterson Street Central car park and the old Birchalls building near it for a combined total cost of $14.4 million. .................... The council plans to turn the Birchalls building into an arcade that will house a mix of retail and food businesses. The arcade will double as a thoroughfare which connects the bus interchange and a mooted creative precinct to the Brisbane Street Mall. .................... The council assessed the suitability of 13 potential locations to move the existing bus stop to before it decided to purchase the car park and build the interchange, Mr Stretton said. IMAGE: TRANSFORMING CITY: City of Launceston council chief executive Michael Stretton is excited about taking the next step to give the city's CBD a facelift. Picture: Phillip Biggs .................... "That assessment looked at things like the roadway cross-section, the required operating space, accessibility, the impacts on the bus routing, the impacts on the dead running services and the circulation for the bus networks and impacts on the network operation, other operators, parking and road safety," he explained. .................... The list of potential locations was narrowed down to three sites on Patterson Street, Mr Stretton said. .................... "One was on the street in front of the government offices, one was on the street in front of the church and childcare centre and the other was an actual off-street solution using the Dechaineux Way and the Paterson Street Central car park," he said. .................... "Each of the two on-street options required a lot of modification and design, we costed it at about $5 million to $7 million for either of those spaces. Upon assessment, those sites had too many issues and impacts on the properties that would be immediately behind them." .................... Mr Stretton said the council would now work with the state government to design the interchange. Construction could commence next year.

JULY 29 2021 

Launceston council's Creative Precinct development caught up in legal battle ... Nick Clark .... VISION: An artist's impression of the Launceston Creative Precinct. Picture: Supplied 

The proposed $90 million Creative Precinct development in Launceston is under a cloud as a legal battle over the sale of the Paterson Street Central car park drags on. Owner of the site, Car Parks Super, and a proposed developer of the precinct, Creative Property Holdings (CPH), have been in a legal battle in the Federal Court of Australia since February about a $12 million contract for the sale of the so-called Birchalls car park site. ........................ The vision to put Launceston on the world stage for the best artistic, cultural and creative thinkers was launched more than a year ago. The Creative Precinct was touted as the home to a new creative hub which would include learning spaces, commercial tenancies and retail spaces to link to other parts of the hub, such as the bus mall and Birchalls' retail space being developed by the City of Launceston council. ........................ The proponents, New Creative Group is a consortium of designers, strategists and educators who have banded together to develop the vision for the precinct. ........................ In the Federal Court proceedings Creative Property Holdings, whose director is Chris Billing, has alleged Car Parks Super breached a November 23, 2020 contract. It has sought that the owner be required to transfer the property and is also seeking damages and costs. ........................ Car Parks Super, represented by barrister Shaun McElwaine SC, says that the firm did not make an offer to sell the property that was "capable of acceptance by the purchaser (CPH) and the Launceston City Council and in any event was expressly made subject to the exchange of contracts". ........................ Documents filed in the Federal Court reveal attempts to agree a contract between the two parties in June 2020, September 2020 and November 2020. ........................ A hearing in the Federal Court was due in May this year, but did not go ahead. ........................ Since June 8 Justice David O' Callaghan has made six orders that CPH as the applicant file and serve its written submission, but nothing further has been filed. ........................ If it went ahead the development would have been scheduled to use federal and state government funding of more than $20 million. ........................ The Federal Court documents suggest the City of Launceston council was a guarantor for CPH in two of the proposed car park purchase contracts. ........................ In the proposed June contract the City of Launceston would "guarantee the obligations of the applicant (CPH) and undertook to complete the contract in the event that the applicant breached its obligations to do so". ........................ The council paid a $1.2 million bank cheque, or 10 per cent deposit for the car park on July 9 2020, but the contract was not finalised. ........................ After further negotiations a September 2020 contract was proposed which excluded the council as guarantor. ........................ However, Car Parks Super terminated the contract on October 14 with the company saying CPH had failed to complete by the required date. It claimed the failure meant the deposit was forfeited. ........................ The deposit became a vexed issue between Car Parks Super, CPH and the council and it was not until March 8 2021 that a bank cheque was sent from Car Parks Super lawyers Archer Bushby to Launceston firm Sproal and Associates on behalf of CPH. ........................ Counsel on behalf of CPH, Viridian Lawyers, demanded that the deposit be returned to it or Sproal and Associates on November 13 . ........................ The court filings reveal the council was named as the guarantor for CPH in a proposed third contract dated November 20, 2020 which "provided that the second respondent [council] would complete the contract in the event of default by the applicant". ........................ Email correspondence from council lawyers Simmons Wolfhagen stated that the purported November 2020 offer was "signed by the second respondent (council) in its capacity as guarantor". However, it was not signed by Car Parks Super. ........................ Simmons Wolfhagen wrote to Car Parks Super counsel in December 2020 saying "if exchange does not occur within this time frame then my client's contract will be withdrawn and my client will cease to be guarantor". ........................ The City of Launceston denied to The Examiner that it was ever guarantor for CPH for the car park purchase. The Examiner asked whether the council was ever in a position where it "would as guarantor complete the contract (for the car park) in the event that the purchaser (CPH) defaulted in its obligations"? ........................ "No, the council was never in that position," a spokesman said. IMAGE Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten. Picture: Paul Scambler ........................ Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said "The council has a legal agreement to purchase the site should the CPH development not proceed." https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7341169/citys-90m-plan-caught-up-in-legal-battle/

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD IN CIVICS

TWO QUESTIONS: As therapists, counsellors, – Civic Councillors and Council service providers? – social workers, and other members of helping/caring professions, how can the best help be given clients to enable them to help themselves?

As parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, how can children or indeed a constituency(?) be encourage  to grow into healthy and happy people with a positive sense of self-worth?

 

What is Unconditional Positive Regard? A Definition

So, what is unconditional positive regard? .... A general definition is the attitude of complete acceptance and love, whether for yourself or for someone else. When you have unconditional positive regard (UPR) for someone, nothing they can do could give you a reason to stop seeing them as inherently human and inherently lovable. It does not mean that you accept each and every action taken by the person, but that you accept who they are at a level much deeper than surface behavior (Rogers, 1951).

In therapy, the idea is much the same, although with a more specific purpose: to build a positive, trusting relationship between the therapist and the client.

It is a defining feature of client-centered therapy  – and an important feature in many other forms of therapy – in which the client is accepted and supported by the therapist no matter what they say or do (Rogers, 2001).

The Psychology Behind Unconditional Positive Regard

“The kind of caring that the client-centered therapist desires to achieve is a gullible caring, in which clients are accepted as they say they are, not with a lurking suspicion in the therapist’s mind that they may, in fact, be otherwise. This attitude is not stupidity on the therapist’s part; it is the kind of attitude that is most likely to lead to trust…”

Carl R. Rogers

In the caring professions all this makes perfect sense and when the notion of UPR is applied to 'civic administration' it also makes sense. What sense is there in treating those who provide 'civil servants' with a living as some kind of villain, dysfunctional persona, undeserving person, whatever? 

When 'rankism' finds its way into the world of 'public administration' it is typically closely followed by increasing dysfunction. Rankism is abusive, discriminatory, and/or exploitative behaviour.  People who 'pull rank' in a particular hierarchy typically meter-out abuse such as bullying, racism, ageism, sexism, ableism, mentalism, anti-semitism, homophobia and transphobia. 

In the 21st C rankism should not be tolerated anywhere, in any way or at any time.

CIVIC TRANSPARENCY A GOOD THING NOT A NEW THING!

 

LINK TO SOURCE

LAUNCESTON'S COUNCIL SAYS THAT THEY WANT YOUR ADVICE

 

HAVE YOUR SAY | We want to create a well-designed city for our community, residents, businesses and visitors, and to do this we need your feedback on specific projects including:

• Launceston Place Brand

• Tourism Plan

• Events Strategy

• Transport Strategy

• E-scooters

• Sustainability Action Plan

• Emergency Management

• Corporate Strategic Plan

• Open data

Complete our online survey to go in the draw for some fantastic prizes including AFL & theatre tickets: https://bit.ly/3jcQ5cC

For more information about this project, visit https://bit.ly/3FLsfwg or register for an online conversation here: https://bit.ly/3WdnB14

This consultation closes on February 26.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

At today’s Council meeting it was revealed in public that at Town Hall there are “special protocols”that apply to all my correspondence to Councillors and Council more generally.

 

I have been aware of what a reasonable person would regard as discriminatory behaviour for some time and that it now revealed to be knowingly invoked by Council management and endorsed by Councillors is extraordinary.

 

What is also extraordinary is that the Director of Local Government appears to sanction all this and apparently against the backgrounding of SECTION 62/2 of the Local Government Act 1993.

 

Interestingly ex-Premier Gutwein reportedly was disinclined to read the Examiner and now Launceston Councillors have formally determined that a ratepayer cannot openly communicate with them.

 

It seems that sadly the sharing of information and the critical assessment of an issue is beyond ‘the pale’ .

 

It was Voltaire who told us that you do not need be a part of the majority to be right … or to have rights perhaps.

 

However, Oscar Wilde put it all very well in saying  “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.”

 

Ray Norman

Launceston

HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR TASMANIA POSSIBLY

INTRODUCTION:    As housing stress in Australia increases it is time to seriously reconsider how housing strategies might look in future given that status quo family house on the 'dream quarter acre block' is well past its 21st C Cultural relevance.

More to point there is a need to for a reimagining of what the Australian cultural landscape might look like. In fact the need do this is urgent and local governance has a very important part play. Indeed, local governance should be proactively leading the way in marketing different housing options that fit increasingly diverse cultural realities.

It is no longer appropriate to continue to plan to provide housing stock that possibly fitted the circumstance post WW2 into say year 2000. Australia's cultural diversity is currently becoming increasingly diverse.  Additionally, peri-colonial sensibilities no longer serve contemporary cultural realities in Australia at all well.

The CONVERSATION's contribution is timely.  It is not outrageous to remind Australians that post WW2 and its consequences, 'xenophobia' tended to colour prevailing Australian sensibilities and sensitivities. That was what it was and hopefully planning strategies have changed and to the extent that alternative approaches to planning and cultural landscaping.

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IN THE CONVERSATION:   Australia urgently needs housing types that meet the needs of older women facing homelessness. One such model is Chinese siheyuan courtyard housing, which provides safe, affordable and private living spaces while maintaining a sense of community. It has potential for adapting existing buildings for re-use in Australia in a way that makes financial, social and environmental sense. 

LINK TO CONVERSATION ARTICLE 

Women over 45 are one of the fastest-growing groups of people who are homeless in Australia. In 2020, an estimated 405,000 women over 45 were at risk of housing affordability stress and hence becoming homeless. Considering the shortage of affordable housing, an ageing population and the lifelong economic disadvantage that women experience, this problem requires a speedy solution. 

Read more: 400,000 women over 45 are at risk of homelessness in Australia 

A simple (and obvious) solution for older women facing homelessness is to provide them with access to appropriate, safe and affordable homes for the long term. So why is this problem so difficult to solve? 

Recent attempts to meet this need for older women’s housing include “pop-up” or “meanwhile use” accommodation in vacant aged-care facilities and tiny houses. While both types provide good short-term options, they do not create long-term housing that meets older women’s needs to age in place and have secure tenure and a sense of belonging. All these aspects are important for their well-being. 

 Read more: 'Meanwhile' building use: another way to manage properties left vacant by the COVID-19 crisis 

What if we were to take the idea of adapting existing buildings and merge it with the idea of tiny homes? Chinese courtyard housing – siheyuan – has some important principles that could be culturally adapted to the Australian context. 

Finding new spaces in old stock Adaptive reuse involves the conversion of new spaces within old ones. An existing building is recycled by integrating a new set of functions into the existing skin to suit the needs of new inhabitants. 

This is not a new concept – think of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, variously a church, mosque and museum. Or Paddington Reservoir in Sydney, originally infrastructure, then petrol station, then ruin, now urban performance space. 

Adaptive reuse works on a triple-bottom-line approach: economic, environmental and socio-cultural. Recycling an existing building is cheaper, better for the environment and ensures the collective memory of a place is not erased. For buildings as for older women, respect for age, connection to place and care for the environment are important. 

Read more: Unused buildings will make good housing in the world 

of COVID-19 

Chinese wisdom in an Australian context The name “siheyuan” translates into quadrangle courtyard housing. This type of housing comes from traditional Confucian ideas of the extended family unit, arranged around a courtyard or series of courtyards with graduated levels of privacy. .

Hugo Chan, Author provided The interesting thing about the siheyuan arrangement is the highly ordered series of rooms with private units organised around open spaces and communal halls for gatherings. In Beijing today, an estimated 400,000 courtyard houses remain. About 500 have been preserved as historic sites. 

The hierarchical order of the siheyuan presents a great opportunity for adapting it to suit the needs of older women. It’s a type of co-housing arrangement: people live independently but together, sharing some facilities like open space and areas to come together for occasional meals. This model could form part of the rise in shared housing configurations. 

 Read more: Co-housing works well for older people, once they get past the image problem 

The courtyards meet the needs of older women to maintain a strong connection to a garden space, with potential for them to be active in maintaining this area. The courtyards promote social contact and exercise, as well as space for quiet contemplation. This interior-landscape connection is important to the well-being of older women. tradition Chinese siheyuan courtyard housing The connections between private living areas, courtyards and gardens promote well-being through social contact and exercise. ByLorena/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA The hall serves as a social connector. It’s a place for communal activities, connecting with family or friends, creative projects or listening. Women retain their sense of independence; they decide when they participate. 

Another important requirement for older women is to have the space to welcome family and friends, so they maintain their social connections to the world. The hall is an efficient way to share space that everyone needs, but only some of the time. 

The private units ensure the independence, safety and sense of belonging that older women need. Cultural and social needs are met easily within one’s personal domain. 

The small luxury of having a room of one’s own should not be underestimated. Many older women have rarely had this luxury. For them, it provides much-needed dignity. 

Read more: What do single, older women want? Their 'own little space' (and garden) to call home, for a start .

The adaptation mindset This sort of adaptive reuse is not just about what we do with existing buildings. It’s also about adapting cultural wisdom, and ideas from the past, to develop alternative ways of living together. Many currently underutilised or vacant buildings in Australia could be adapted to courtyard housing. 

It will need a radical shift in policy and developer-driven economics. But this opportunity would meet so many current needs of older women, be good environmental practice and provide social housing. As Confucius said, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” 

The financial burden on taxpayers and service providers is dramatically reduced by providing secure affordable housing in the first place. The solution to the problem of homelessness lies not in our obsession with new housing models or new development, but perhaps, if we look hard enough, in our existing urban fabric. Right under our noses, existing buildings offer opportunities ripe for adaptation.

RUMOUR & INUENDO REGARDING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CASE AGAINST ELTRIC VEHICLES

NOT SO! ... SINCE IT IS AN EX-COUNCILLOR WHO SOUNDED 

THE ALARM IN LAUNCESTON ONE IS LEFT WONDERING IF

SUCH MISREADINGS INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING

AT LAUNCESTON'S TOWN HALL

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/hundreds-of-electric-cars-left-unused-by-council-for-almost-two-years

Hundreds of electric cars left unused by council for almost two years ... Glasgow City Council splashed out on the e-vehicles before the pandemic happened. ... Hundreds of electric cars left unused by council for almost two years.    SWNS via SWNS

The local authority said it plans to create "a fleet of zero emissions vehicles"....By STV News
12th Oct 2021

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/hundreds-of-electric-cars-left-unused-by-council-for-almost-two-years

Glasgow City Council splashed out on the e-vehicles before the pandemic happened but has said a ban on driving lessons during lockdown meant training was delayed.

The local authority said it plans to create “a fleet of zero emissions vehicles and it could not be guaranteed such favourable terms would remain on offer”.

The discovery, in car parks in the city centre and East End, sparked outrage from opposition parties who questioned why the local authority spent more than £400,000 on leasing mini-vans for binmen to comply with social distancing measures.

The fleet of 322 vehicles could be seen with layers of dust settled on the windscreens, and Glasgow City Council confirmed 130 are now in service – meaning 202 are not.

The contract for the fleet of eco-cars has been in place since before the pandemic and were delivered after lockdown restrictions were imposed.

During that time, GCC spent £403,586 on extra vehicles to carry cleansing staff as refuse teams were unable to travel together in the close quarters of bin lorries, with another crew following their colleagues in a rented Arnold Clark van.

Before a deal was struck with Arnold Clark, the council had been using its existing fleet of extra school buses – including those used to transport children with additional support needs (ASN) to and from school.

Glasgow City Council electric cars funded by the taxpayer have been found unused in car parks weeks before Glasgow hosts COP26. SWNS via SWNS
Glasgow City Council electric cars funded by the taxpayer have been found unused in car parks weeks before Glasgow hosts COP26.

It is thought the contract has now ended given the majority of the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

The fleet of 322 vehicles could be seen with layers of dust settled on the windscreens, and Glasgow City Council confirmed 130 are now in service – meaning 202 are not.

Opposition councillors slammed the lack of use as “embarrassing” given the upcoming UN environmental summit which begins on October 31 in Glasgow.

Councillor Paul Carey, a Labour representative for Drumchapel/Anniesland, said: “It is incredible that in the run up to COP26, Glasgow is to lead the way in fighting the climate emergency and yet there are hundreds of electric cars lying for nearly two years collecting dust hidden in a car park.

Glasgow City Council splashed out on the e-vehicles before the pandemic happened but has said a ban on driving lessons during lockdown meant training was delayed. SWNS via SWNS
Glasgow City Council splashed out on the e-vehicles before the pandemic happened but has said a ban on driving lessons during lockdown meant training was delayed.
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“Is this the message we are sending out to the world on tackling the climate emergency?

“It brings the wrong kind of attention as the world’s spotlight shines on Glasgow.”

Councillor Thomas Kerr, the leader of Glasgow’s Conservative group said: “Enhancing the number of electric cars among the council’s fleet is vital to achieve net zero targets in the coming years.

“Glasgow taxpayers will be astonished that the council are wasting money on these cars which are gathering dust in a car park.

“That is a ridiculous situation as the city prepares to host COP26 in a matter of weeks.

“Worse still, they have wasted even more money renting out polluting transport from a commercial provider.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council insisted the delay in getting the cars out on the streets was due to coronavirus and training was already in place to ensure local authority staff were qualified to drive the electric fleet.

The spokesman said: “Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic agreements were struck which ensured the council could take possession of new electric vehicles on very competitive terms with grant support.

“These agreements supported the council’s plan to create a fleet of zero emissions vehicles and it could not be guaranteed such favourable terms would remain on offer.

“We took delivery of the vehicles during lockdown and if it were not for the impact of lockdown then we are confident that most, if not all, of these electric vehicles would already be in use by this time.

“Unfortunately, the vehicles arrived at a time when national restrictions on in-driver training meant staff were unable to undertake the induction programme needed for them to be authorised to drive the vehicles.

“The training programme has now been back up and running and that has helped to bring more electric cars into service across the different service areas of the council.

“Despite the on-going impact of the pandemic, further detailed plans are also in place which will see more staff able to access an electric vehicle for their work with these cars being distributed to an increasing range of council premises.

“Using mini-buses to transport cleansing crews in support of refuse vehicles during the pandemic was the safest and most sensible option for ensuring bin collections ran as efficiently as possible during a very challenging time.”

A LINK 

A LINK 

COUNCILLORS CODE OF CONDUCT

City of Launceston councillors will consider the adoption of the Moral Code of Conduct at their first meeting for 2023.

The code will set out the standards of behaviour expected from councillors with respect to all aspects of their role.

The code contains several parts covering decision-making, conflict of interests that are not pecuniary, use of office, use of resources, use of information, gifts and benefits, relationships with community, councillors and council employees, and representation.

The Local Government Act 1993 (Tas) requires councils to review their code within three months after an election, which was held in October 2022. The new City of Launceston council was sworn in in November.

The aim of the code is to commit to good governance and for councillors to act in the best interests of the community they serve. The code applies to a councillor whenever they conduct council business, conduct office business or act as a council representative.

Complaints can be made to chief executive officer Michael Stretton, these must be in writing with a statutory declaration, with the code allegedly contravened and the Code of Conduct complaint fee of $85. The complaint must also be made within six months of the alleged misconduct.

Some of the key codes include the role of planning authority, that "a councillor must bring an open and unprejudiced mind to all matters being decided upon in the course of his or her duties, including when making planning decisions as part of the council's role as a planning authority".

Other codes relating to decision-making require councillors to make decisions free from personal bias or prejudgement, and to give genuine and impartial consideration to all relevant information known to them, or information of which they should have reasonably been aware.

Finally, a councillor must make decisions solely on merit and must not take irrelevant matters or circumstances into account when making decisions.

In areas like relationships, a councillor must not cause any "reasonable person offence or embarrassment" or "bully or harass any person".

A councillor must treat all people fairly. When it comes to representation, one code is " a councillor must clearly indicate when he or she is putting forward his or her personal views", and personal conduct "must not be expressed publicly in such a way as to undermine the decisions of council or bring the council into disrepute".

TASMANIAN LOCAL GOVT ACT REFERENCES

MATHEW HEALEY DIRECTOR OF LOCAL GOVT

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EMAIL ... Office of Local Government  ... localgovernment@dpac.tas.gov.au

 

BIRCHALL'S CARPARK PRESS

  June 3 2022

Car Park Super continues to fight for Paterson Street development after council rejection ... By Alison Foletta

PROPOSAL: An artist's impression of the new creative precinct that is being funded by investor group New Creative, along with the state and federal governments. Picture: Supplied

The future of the old Birchalls car park on Paterson Street will soon be the subject of two separate legal fights as a developer looks set to take the City of Launceston to the planning appeals tribunal.

Car Park Super's refusal to sell the land to Creative Holdings as part of a $90 million creative precinct proposal ended up in the Federal Court, where a decision is being appealed on June 24.

In the meantime, Car Park Super's attempt to have a multi-storey car park built on the site was rejected by the council this week, and will likely be appealed in the planning tribunal.

The council has long backed plans for a creative precinct alongside the Birchall's site, and had plans to convert the car park into a bus mall.

The City of Launceston received a $10 million grant from the federal government for the creative precinct as part of Build Better Regions Round 4 ,and paid a $1.2 million bank cheque, or 10 per cent deposit, on the car park in July 2020.

Yet since then, the proposal has significantly dragged out, with the latest problem for the council being another looming legal challenge following its decision to reject a multi-storey car park on Thursday.

Landowner and Car Park Super developer Don Allen said the council had completely missed the point in rejecting the proposal for a multi-storey car park on the site.

The council on Thursday voted down a planning application for a multi-storey, multi-use development in Launceston's Paterson Street based on the fact it featured too many car park spaces.

Councillors mostly supported the recommendation to refuse the permit.

Councillors Tim Walker and Paul Spencer voted against the recommendation.

Car park or creative precinct? Birchalls site legal fight drags on

They argued that the council had to follow guidelines when sitting as a planning authority and agreed there were too many car parks in the designs and did not support the future of Launceston as a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly city that didn't have "cars circling the block for parks".

"It is not just a building for what we need now, it is a building that can be converted into what we need for the future," Mr Allan said.

This is in relation to the solution given by ARTAS to have higher floors for one of the car park stories so it could be converted in the future if no longer necessary.

Principal architect Scott Curran spoke for the permit at the council meeting and his words were reiterated in a statement from ARTAS Architects.

ARTAS was advised that this would result in a recommendation to refuse the application which Mr Curran said during the council meeting.

It is not just a building for what we need now, it is a building that can be converted into what we need for the future.

- Don Allan, Car Park Super
The solution they provided was to reduce the number of car parks to 124, however, ARTAS was advised the procedure would not allow the amendment and that ARTAS and Mr Allan would need to resubmit the plans with the new number of car parks.

During the council meeting, Councillor Rob Soward wanted to focus the debate on following the strict procedure they are adhered to when sitting as the city's planning authority.

"If we walked around and spoke to people about this and increased parking, there would be a perception that that's a good thing," he said.

"There is a bit of a Bermuda Triangle around that because when you drill down into the dark, it's a myth."

Cr Soward said emotion doesn't come into this and that council must follow the rules.

Mr Allan said they are considering appealing to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the state's newly renamed planning appeal authority, who they believe is likely to overturn the council's decision.

Previously Car Park Super was taken to Federal Court by Creative Holdings in 2021 over a sales contract for the car park on 41-43 Paterson Street, also known as the Birchalls car park.

A Federal Court found in favour of Car Park Super over the failed contract.

At the time, Federal Court of Australia Justice David said that "both the applicant and the respondent at various different times seemed to have lacked enthusiasm to complete the transaction".

Car Park Super stated it had never intended to sell the car park.

The Australian government had committed $7.5 million under the Community Development Grants Programme towards the precinct as well.

Under the BBRF Round 4 grant opportunity guidelines, funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2022, with all funding expended before June 2023. Extensions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Launceston creative precinct: $90m project unveiled
Updated July 2 2021 - 2:56am, first published June 6 2020 - 4:30am

PROPOSAL: An artist's impression of the new creative precinct that is being funded by investor group New Creative, along with the state and federal governments. Picture: supplied

A vision to put Launceston on the world stage for the best artistic, cultural and creative thinkers will result in a unique development.

New Creative Group is a consortium of designers, strategists and educators who have banded together to develop the vision for a $90 million Launceston Creative Precinct, unveiled today.

The consortium was founded and is headed up by Chris Billing, who also is the founder of education institution Foundry.

The Creative Precinct will be home to a new creative hub, situated on the existing Paterson Street Central car park. Negotiations on the sale of the car park are ongoing between New Creative, the City of Launceston council and the owner. Care Park leases the land.

Foundry will be the cornerstone of the new creative precinct. It will take up residence in a new purpose-built campus, which will allow the organisation to expand its enrolment places.

Other elements of the hub will include learning spaces, commercial tenancies and retail spaces to link to the other parts of the hub, such as the bus mall and Birchalls' retail space. The bus mall and Birchalls are being developed in conjunction with the creative industries hub but will be developed by the City of Launceston council.

New Creative director Mr Billing said the creative hub was a project driven by private investment and would position Launceston at the forefront of the nation but also the world in innovative education.

"It is an exciting time for Launceston, as we work towards a creative vision that will drive an influx of fresh space and new thinking helping us build our local economy and foster internationally recognised education," Mr Billing said.


"We are seeking to put Launceston on the map as a new creative and cultural hub ... a hub that people around Australia will know as a hot spot for emerging design and creative activities."

In Tasmania, there are more than 9000 people directly employed in the cultural and creative industries, and the sector contributes more than $30 billion annually in Australia.

A vital part of the hub will be the purpose-built campus for Foundry, which Mr Billing said would open up new streams of student cohorts for its course offerings.

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Questions raised over viability of proposed Launceston educational precinct
By Jackson Worthington Updated April 15 2021 - 12:44am, first published June 6 2020 - 5:00pm

PROPOSAL: An artist's impression of the new creative precinct. Picture: supplied

Private investors who are partnering with City of Launceston council for a $90 million development in the CBD dodged questions about where their funding is coming from at the project's launch.

The project which will see an educational precinct and bus exchange built on Paterson Street, in the old Birchalls building, is a partnership between the council and New Creative Group.

The council will be responsible for developing the bus exchange and an arcade walkway between the exchange and Brisbane Street Mall.

New Creative Group, which is a consortium of investors made up of Foundry, For the People and Creative Property Limited, will be responsible for the educational precinct, which will be entirely funded by private investment.

Launceston creative precinct: $90m project unveiled
Birchalls site to be revamped for food court, bus mall planned by City of Launceston

Managing director Christopher Billing, who is also the founding director of Foundry, described Creative Property Limited as a project company backed by a leading private investment firm and other private backers.

However, he declined to name who that investment firm is or who the other investors are.

In May, Foundry came under fire for underpaying some staff entitlements on and off since 2017.

Mr Billing said the company had since received new investment and all staff had been paid their proper entitlements.

But he again declined to comment on who the new investment came from or how much was invested.

He said the delay in payment was COVID-19-related.

"It has been very challenging with COVID, we had some challenging times pre-COVID but we are absolutely exasperated by the COVID situation," Mr Billing said.

"With that [new] investment we are excited about looking for Foundry to further develop its offerings, further develop its partnerships and looking to grow into the Launceston Creative Precinct."

The Australian Education Union's TAFE division president in Tasmania, Simon Bailey, questioned the long-term viability of the precinct proposal given recent revelations about Foundry.

"This is a huge investment that Foundry claims they are going to do, so one questions the viability and their ability to be able to manage their own business," he said.

He said investments from the state and federal governments could have been better used to support infrastructure for the TAFE campus in Launceston.

"TasTAFE has moved and shut down their Launceston CBD campus due to the viability and not having the money to upkeep it and they have moved their delivery out to Alanvale," he said.

"We know students are already complaining that it is too hard to get to and the transport that is provided doesn't meet the program's requirements."

"At the end of the day they are for profit, TAFE is there for education and student outcomes ... it is disappointing again to see taxpayers' money could be funnelled into the TAFE system ... yet it is going to a private provider."

When asked if the council had any concerns about partnering with Foundry, Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said some sections of the media had reported inaccurately but admitted he had not contacted Foundry staff about the underpayments.

Launceston Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Neil Grose downplayed concerns.

"I think you are conflating a small issue with a big issue," he said.

"What this does is actually give an organisation like Foundry a really strong future. This is their expansion, this is their growth."

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