LAUNCESTONIANS PLEASE BE CAREFUL HOW YOU GO!

Launcestonians are faced with making an important decision in the next weeks. They have choices to make in regard to how they wish to be 'represented' relative to HOW they have been. They have 33 candidates to choose from, so 'The INCUMBENCY' can be replaced.

At the election Launcestonians DO NOT have an opportunity to do anything about the city's self-serving, self assessing management BUT by displacing 'The INCUMBENCY' they can elect representatives who WILL hold 'management' accountable.

The fact is, some incumbents have abdicated and are out of the race, some possibly on the prospect of being judged harshly by their constituents, and others because they passed their use-by-date. Please consider who is left and WHAT they have and have not done!

As for 'the residue' for the most part they deserve to be judged harshly for what has transpired in THEIR INCUMBENCY under THEIR WATCH! Consider the city's debt, its budget overruns, its bureaucratic follies and the fiscal management of ratepayers' resources – and very carefully.

'Representing' a community in the role of 'placemakers' should not be a 'side-gig' with fringe benefits. If we must have Indirect Representational Democracy for now, lets have 'representatives' who actually represent the aspirations of their constituency rather than their aspirations and idealogical positions – they must be accountable for their successes, inadequacies and misdeeds.

The simplest definition of 'placemaking' is the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, play, and learn in. Placemaking is a process. It is a means to an end: it is to do with the creation of 'Quality Places'. Ultimately, that is why Councillors are there, it is their job, no ifs, no buts!

"It is now widely accepted that well-designed, well-managed places deliver economic, social and environmental benefits and that placemaking goes far beyond good quality pavements or street furniture."

LONDON FIRST

TEAM GUNNADO AT TOWN HALL PLOTS A WAY FORWARD

SOMETHING YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING REALLY

City of Launceston council's Homeless Advisory Committee meets for the first time.  Alison Foletta By Alison Foletta September 26 2022 - 4:00am

Launceston council continue efforts for homeless crisis  ????

City of Launceston's Homeless Advisory Committee met for the first time on September 1. The group was devised after an emotional meeting in April saw dozens of people living homeless in the city plea for support from council.

In response, council were able to set up portable toilets around the city as well as keep some toilet blocks open 24 hours. [Where are they and when were they installed?]

Another response was the formation of the committee which would take over from the previous Homelessness Response Committee and would bring together community and service provider representatives. [What did the Homelessness Response Committee do? Anything?]

Councillors Andrea Dawkins and Krista Preece were elected to be the council representatives on the committee. Council's response was not without criticism. Earlier in the meeting during public questions, two members of the public raised concerns about council's efforts. [And rightly so!]

Strike It Out founder Kirsten Ritchie asked about the use of halls in Launceston and green spaces that were secure for people to set up tents. Community and place general manager Dan Ryan answered her questions. He firstly said there were no available halls in Launceston. [Is that actually the case or is it a 'deemed decision'?]

"While a thorough review [?] of potential locations for such sites have been undertaken with the above criteria in mind, the suggested approach is actually not one that is generally supported by others working within our homeless advisory committee and engaged in that sector," Mr Ryan said. [OH DEAR we cannot make these people seem to be inadequate and missing opportunities as that might just be the case]

Ms Ritchie also asked "Whose responsibility is it to ensure the wellbeing of our community members are met with having provisions of basic amenities provided while sleeping rough available 24/7?" [Pertinent question!]

Mr Ryan said it was a "complex issue first and foremost". [OH MY GOODNESS ... after all the time that this matter has been on Council's agenda its complexity has not been able to be articulated and accountabilities identified, well there is a story there!]

"Responsibility for the provision of public housing and mental services rests with the state government, the City of Launceston does acknowledge it also has a role to play in the facilitation with positive outcomes for the community ," he said.[Inside-the-box thinking in isolation from the real world]

In late April when the amenities were announced, City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said council had commenced an audit of council-owned infrastructure to identify potential spaces for service providers to utilise in the provision of support initiatives.[With what options in mind and in reference to who in regard to expertise?]

At the time, council had also planned to roll out shower facilities for people living homeless.

Andrew Cassidy also from Strike It Out brought up the question of the showers. He asked council "how far away are the showers to be utilised and where they would be situated?"[SO, actually there are no showers just the possibility of some!]

Mr Ryan said council had investigated "many options" for suitable shower facilities but were unable to progress. He said council had partnered with service facilities to open showers at the former YMCA building in Kings Meadows, and extended opening hours for the showers at the Gorge.[Quite inadequate and inappropriate]

"There are also existing shower facilities available at Morton's place and Shop for Hope in the CBD," Mr Ryan said. [So, why aren't people using them?]

The Royal Park toilet block will also be redeveloped to include showers. The development is expected to kick off in the new year. [Yet another gunnado promise]

Council have frequently called the issue of homelessness a complex issue and that as a council they would work as advocates. [YEP, deemed not to be a COUNCIL responsibility along with many other things]

"The City of Launceston is committed to playing a constructive role [??] in the provision of short, medium and long-term solutions for the homeless community, in collaboration with other tiers of government and key stakeholders," Cr van Zetten said in April. [YEP, that was April but not ac lot of progress and excuses a plenty!!]

Recently, Cr van Zetten said due to well publicised supply issues and the level of infrastructure required for fit-for-purpose facilities such as these, council have unfortunately not been able to progress these plans for shower units as quickly as hoped. [YET more gunna do talk]

"We will continue to work with the recently established Homelessness Advisory Committee and other stakeholders to identify the best solutions for those sleeping rough in Launceston," he said.[ A cynical ruse to appear as if Council is doing something WHEN the real issue is HOUSING and the committee destined to report Council lacked the resources etc. etc.]

Councillor Andrea Dawkins said during the first meeting, the committee identified shared goals and "looked at what we can do in the short, medium and long term". [GOLD PLATTED KLAP TRAP and empty rhetoric]

"What was decided is that we would meet more regularly while we could because we want to keep the momentum going with this group," she said. [MORE OF THE ABOVE!]

Cr Dawkins said people with lived experience were "exceptional", and had people "hanging on every word." [ How much more of this hollow rhetoric is there to be dealt out in a crisis?]

POSTSCRIPT: It needs to be remembered that for ALL City of Launceston SUB committees:

•  They are required to meet in camera;
•  Their agendas are confidential;
•  Their deliberations are confidential;
•  They essentially only report to Councillors in confidence; and
•  Members are required to maintain confidentiality in regard to their proceedings.

Also, they are essentially 'community advisory groups' set up to advise Council on community perceptions, yet 'the community' cannot be trusted to know how they, and their values, have been presented to Council.

Given SECTION 62/2 under the Act a General Manager can deem 'community advice' irrelevant if she/he is in conflict with it. Consequently community advice may never get to be deliberated upon in OPEN COUNCIL.

Against this background it is little wonder that Council SUBcommittees are thought of as 'gunnado talkfests'.

LET US CONSIDER REAL CHANGE GIVEN THE BLIGHT OF THE INCUMBENCY

Please click on an image to enlarge

To listen to this blighted incumbency GO TO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R66SIhb9XM and you'll hear the strut their stuff while trying to rescue a modicum of their presumed reputation. It is more than edifying and the apparent lack of awareness in regard to their lack of credibility and social licence is palpable. 

Councillors 

• Councillor Karina Stojansek
• Councillor Krista Preece
• Councillor Rob Soward ... Correction Cr. Soward was present
• Councillor Jim Cox ... Retired
• Councillor Alan Harris

were not present presumably to insulate themselves from the dastardly.

 act that was about to be performed.

The transcript of this City of Launceston Council meeting is likely to go down in history as an exemplar of intransigent status quoism at the last gasp of an incumbency well past its use-by-date. The notion that as 'elected representatives' they, the Councillors & officers, are smarter, best informed 'in town' and 'trusted' to predict things would be laughable if it were not for the evidence that it is so.

Cr. Dawkins, for example, bleating that the architectural design wasn't to her taste, but voting YES, almost takes the biscuit for irrelevance in this context. Here we go let's walk both sides of the street.The 'design matters' at hand are much more complex and the city's planners have clearly missed the 'design point' once again. 

Actually, what is needed, and was needed, is meaningful community consultation BUT it turns out that Town Hall is quite, quite allergic to the transparency and accountability that comes with it. With 33 candidates eyeing off their chances the incumbents should be feeling the cool draft of irrelevance around their ankles. 

Some of the Councillors have abdicated already for whatever reason and the ball is now well and truly in the electorate's court. Those depending upon their stipend might be well advised to look elsewhere for another side-gig! Of course the incumbent 'officers' are somewhat secure in their incumbency and that'll be a matter for another day.

In the 21st C It is incumbent on us to facilitate the development of 'places' that best assures that change benefits the diversity of the cultural realities within them

"As leaders, it is incumbent on all of us to make sure we are building a world in which every individual has an opportunity to thrive. Understanding what Artificial Intelligence can do and how it fits into your strategy is the beginning, not the end, of that process."

Andrew Ng

IT IS PAST THE TIME FOR CHANGE

https://betterlauncestonnow.blogspot.com/p/the-incumbent-no-vote.html

In recent weeks, in fact years, Launceston’s elected representatives have behaved appallingly, and it is evidenced mostly by the hubris on display around the table at Town Hall. Councillors’ blatant disregard for their constituency has reached the point where the community must act if they are to bring about change. 

One Councillor reports that the incumbent Councillors are comfortable with their performance and hold a consensus view that says that if they wish to stand ‘on their record’ they will be re-elected – wish being the mother of the thought. 

Well yes, some have thought better of standing again and risking their accountability but most are either running for mayor or deputy mayor to boost their chances of ongoing incumbency. However, watch what they do in the dying thoes of this Council to see what incumbency and accountability actually means to this cohort of candidates.

The Mayor is standing down to spend more time with his family and his incumbency largely propped up those seeking to continues to do what they have done. Launcestonians know what these 'incumbents' have and have not done!

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND ... THE WORLD GO ROUND

 

This is in reference to a 'footy ground' that ratepayers have sunk millions into essentially at the whim of a bunch of 'footy tragics' on Council. All kinds of rhetoric has been trotted out when infrastructure has been enhanced for big bucks.

The metrics have always been a tad dodgy and as for ratepayer getting a return on their investment, that will be debated until the tragics and opportunist go blue in the face. 

What went on and why is ever likely to be the subject of rumour and innuendo. Money flying around is always there to think about.

The question hanging now is how much is being given away in this 'handover'? Sure ratepayers might be spared the costs involved in maintaining this place. BUT $millions are being handed over with apparently no compensation for the debt the city and ratepayers have worn – not to mention the opportunities lost along the way.

All the negotiations for all this have been basically going on in camera and well away the court of 'public opinion'. So when some consider all this in coming weeks they might well dwell on what is going on here, and why and what for? 

There is legacy here and once the PR shine is looked past there, it seems, there are a few things to consider.

IN THE EXAMINER

UTAS Stadium transfer expected this year, AFL D-day looms By Hamish Geale September 6 2022 - 4:00am

Launceston's UTAS Stadium is one of five venues set to come under Stadiums Tasmania ownership in coming months. Picture by Paul Scambler Launceston's UTAS Stadium is one of five venues set to come under Stadiums Tasmania ownership in coming months. Picture by Paul Scambler The transfer of Tasmania's major stadiums to a new state body is edging closer as D-day looms for the state's AFL bid. ....................................... Stadiums Tasmania was set up earlier this year to centralise the ownership, management, and future development of the state's leading venues. ....................................... The authority will take responsibility for up to five venues across Tasmania, including the state government-owned Silverdome and MyState Bank Arena. ....................................... Transfer negotiations for Bellerive Oval, Dial Park and UTAS Stadium are ongoing, however, Hospitality and Events Minister Nic Street said talks with City of Launceston regarding the latter were "well-advanced". ....................................... City of Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said he expected the transfer would occur before 2023. ....................................... "Council will continue to operate and manage UTAS Stadium until such time as both parties mutually agree to an official transfer, which we expect to happen later this year," Cr Van Zetten said. ....................................... "All council staff currently employed at UTAS Stadium will have the opportunity to transfer to the new entity." ....................................... Several "minor amendments" to the Stadiums Tasmania Act 2022 are required before any transfer can take place. ....................................... Minister Street said the amendments were in their final stages of development and would be put to parliament shortly. ....................................... Behind the scenes, a recruitment firm is putting together the inaugural Stadiums Tasmania board. ....................................... Recruitment for board members begins on Tuesday, while the search for a chief executive is likely to begin in October. ....................................... Minister Street said there has been strong interest in the chairperson role, for which applications have closed. ....................................... "At the present time we are awaiting recommendations from our executive recruitment firm on the applications and shortlisting," Minister Street said. ......................................... "However I can confirm a number of high-quality candidates have expressed an interest in the position." ....................................... Meanwhile, news regarding Tasmania's bid for an AFL team is expected in the coming days. ....................................... AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said last week that the league would meet with club presidents about Tasmania's bid by Tuesday at the latest. ....................................... Mr McLachlan has maintained that a new purpose-built stadium would be required in the state should a 19th licence be issued. ....................................... It is understood such a stadium won't be part of the plans submitted to AFL club presidents, however, the state government has committed to a $1.25 million feasibility study into a new stadium.

CIVIC TOXICITY ... Why is it tolerated?

This Launceston Council has evolved into a GUNNAdo OUTFIT, with no doubt about it. The first GUNNAdo   that was spruiked was delivering 'on time and on budget' thing. Well that was always a furphy because the managerial mindset is, it seems is 'it is what is, and it'll take as much as it takes, budgets are budgets and elastic'. 

Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that every 'actual estimate budget over run' of say $1Million it is equal to one  GM/CEOsalary and a couple of annual GMsalies. So when 'crap happens' that's a yardstick to measure it with.

Moving on, for every $Million overrun the city's ratepayers' bear the cost and mostly in 'lost opportunities'. When their elected representatives look away saying "dear, dear dear" they may well be representing another interest other than those of the ratepayers. Heaven forbid that ratepayers might think so!

Taking a look at some of the GUNNAdos, we might look at Riverbend Park and yes it has been done. Trouble is ratepayers are GUNNAbe wearing the opportunity loss well into the CLIMATE EMERGENCY that has been identified and put on the GUNNAdo something, soonish, maybe list.

Then we might look at the  Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery that ratepayers have been investing in for over 130 years. Decades ago it was acknowledged that operating the institution as a 'Council Cost Centre' was not sustainable, and within Mayor van Zetten's tenure the GUNNAdo 'fix the institution's governance and operational paradigm' has been on the agenda but rusted on to its status quo operational ineptitude – cost centre driven as it is.  

The fact the 'elected 12' are essentially dilettante with no real 'expertise' in museology and who stood for office careless of the need to have any. Likewise, the 'executive officers' are in much the same position. The 'Peter Principle' is alive and well at Launceston's Town Hall and the ill informed museology paradigm place $230Millions worth of cultural treasure at risk. Well, more that that, serious jeopardy let's say. Moreover, within some kind of weird and surreal time warp that might find some kind of vague social relevance in 'Stasiland' or some kind of 'bat ridden Gothic castle'.

The 'tail wageth the dog' and the waged subjects are milked relentlessly to support a self serving, self appreciative fiefdom populated by yesterday personnel by and large. And, all on the arrogant assumption that 'they' are the smartest act in town.

If it is done often and it is not by mistake, it is how it is. If one were to walk away from a toxic, one sided low relationship one might win but can that be done?

WHAT ARE LAUNCESTON'S CHANCES FOR A INDEPENDENT TEAM TEAL

THE MERCURY Team teal: Independents join forces for election

The trend of teal has spread to Tasmania, as a group of independents joins forces to campaign for local government elections. WHO’S TURNED TEAL... Judy Augustine September 3, 2022 - 6:00AM ..................... The wave of teal has spread to Tasmania, with eight like-minded Hobart candidates joining forces in the lead up to council elections ..................... Sitting members Anna Reynolds, Zelinda Sherlock and Mike Dutta, along with newcomers Kate Kelly, Raj Chopra, Juniper Shaw, Brian Corr and Matt Etherington make up the group called Your Hobart Independents. .....................The group are campaigning on a number of shared views, including better transport, affordable housing, climate change action. ..................... They are also all anti cable car. ..................... “Elections are challenging processes to go through and there’s great benefits in sharing support, sharing resources, particularly for young candidates,” Ms Reynolds said. ..................... Ms Reynolds said the group were not a party and though they might have similar views, there was no guarantee they’d vote together if elected. ..................... “We don’t all agree on every single thing, there’s a diversity of priorities,” Mr Reynolds said. ..................... “We’re all running our campaigns but we’ve decided there’s value in co-operating, sharing resources, supporting each other. ..................... “We’re all keen to have a collaborative approach to politics rather than conflict. ..................... A group of "community independents" campaigning for Hobart City Council elections, (L-R) Matt Etherington, Brian Corr, Mike Dutta, Anna Reynolds, Juniper Shaw, Dr Zelinda Sherlock, Kate Kelly, Raj Chopra. Picture: Chris Kidd ..................... Ms Reynolds said the formation of the group wasn’t solely influenced by the wave of teal independents on the mainland. ..................... “Independents feel we’ve got more of a place in politics in a way that wasn’t as apparent before the federal election,” Ms Reynolds said. .....................“Teal definitely represents progressive politics and politics that cares about the environment and equality, that’s something we all share as well.”.....................On the candidate’s social media campaign pages, four out of eight featured the colour in some way. ..................... On Friday, Ms Reynolds sported a teal scarf and teal earrings and Ms Kelly donned a teal blazer. ..................... Ms Reynolds featured the colour in her council campaign back in 2018. ..................... I was one of the first teal users,” she said. ..................... Mr Etherington who was Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year in 2019 said he’s been supported in his campaign by sitting councillors......................“Mike said ‘you should do it’,” Mr Etherington said. ..................... “It took a lot of trust in especially Mike and Anna...................... “They feel like an extended family, we just all are really supportive of each other and want to see each other succeed.”.....................Mr Etherington said independence and listening to the community were important to him. ..................... “When you’re with parties or you’re influenced by a vested interest, you compromise your positions and put those in front of the public interest,” he said. ..................... “The federal election and state election have made it pretty clear people are sick of that lack of conscious.”.....................Mr Etherington, who has lived with chronic fatigue syndrome, said he personally wanted to make Hobart more disability friendly and he wanted to see better regulations around council expenditure.

THE INCUMBENCY ISSUE SEEMS AS IF IT IS AN ISSUE?

 

LINK TO SOURCE

City of Launceston councillor Tim Walker will run for mayor and council in the upcoming council elections, saying he is "keen and ready to take the top job".

Cr Walker, who has been a councillor since 2018, said he intended to run for mayor in order to represent the community "without prejudice, so that people can feel confident they have a voice". ........................ He joins fellow councillors Cr Danny Gibson and Cr Alan Harris, and Jaqcui Lambie Network Bass candidate Bob Salt as candidates, after long-serving mayor Albert van Zetten announced his intention not to run last month. ........................ The former ABC journalist and former Tasmanian Greens advisor said the establishment of the homelessness advisory committee to address Launceston's housing availability was among his key achievements, but said the housing crisis remained the most pressing issue for the city. ........................ Cr Walker said investment in "significant parcels of land" in Launceston's north and eastern suburbs was needed to address housing availability. ........................ However, the councillor said a one-size fits all approach for housing would not fix the issue, and, if elected mayor, would advocate for different models and types of housing "that respond to the diverse needs of the community". ........................ "If we want to grow and be a prosperous city, we have to be able to accommodate people who want to come here to work, and to address the crisis we have to be creative," Cr Walker said. ........................ The councillor said the region's agricultural and tourism sector presented many opportunities, but wanted more action in creating sustainable ways of retaining the city's workforce. ........................ Cr Walker also flagged CBD accessibility as an issue, and said as mayor he would push for more accessible and affordable options, as well as better public transport. ........................ As a strong advocate for social causes and decolonising place names, he said he wanted to help create a more "progressive Launceston". ........................ "We need to be competitive economically, but we also need to be progressive socially, and that means embracing the many different aspects of our community," Cr Walker said. ........................ "It means providing opportunities and equity for people, and bringing that forward in a way that involves everyone". ........................ He has been a vocal proponent for renaming the controversial Batman Bridge, which he said was named after a "colonial murderer". ........................ He said he acknowledged more could be done for the "mismanaged" health of the kanamaluka/Tamar River, and supported the creation of a greater tidal prism to reintroduce wetlands.

REPAIR OR NOT TO REPAIR THAT IS QUESTION

Around the world the phenomenon of the REPAIR CAFE is becoming more evident as increasingly the notion of 'inbuilt obsolescence' is being rejected by consumers. Large retail outlets depend on much of what they sell to 'wear out' and for it to be cheaper to buy new products than to repair and maintain older models albeit that they are still serviceable if they are repairable.

Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things – together. In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. 

That is repairs on say clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, et cetera. You’ll also find expert volunteers, and others with repair skills in all kinds of fields. 

Visitors bring their broken stuff from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. 

Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY. .

There are over 2,200 Repair Cafés worldwide. Visit one in your area or start one! 

AS FOR REPAIRS ... the repair most in need of being carried out is Launceston's Local Govt model. Talk to a Councillor – an officer even – on this issue, say that there is support for this kind of social enterprise in Launceston and you are unlikely to get any support. 

Why? Well there is no PROFIT in it and "business just does not need this, business needs people to buy new stuff and we need to support business and anyway there are not the numbers ..... we must support business's ability to make a profit .... " Well yes, but what about the CLIMATE EMERGENCY?

So the biggest 'repair job in hand', well it is attitudinal with a side issue to do with status quo mindsets.

READING THE CORFLUTES

 

It is bonanza time in Tasmania's sign writers' workshops and they are handing out the wisdom in regard to who is set to win, how many 'signs' you'll need to match so and so, what works and what does not. 

Then they'll even claim expertise about 'visual language' and yes, generally they have been here before. 

However, 'the corflutes' are becoming ubiquitous and as such, given that they are by and large PLASTIC, their social acceptability is becoming an issue and diminishing. 

Can the claim that they will be recycled cut it? 

Looking away in Local Govt. is not a good look. As well the burgeoning numbers of such signs is also starting to look like VISUAL POLLUTION.

Looking away from this 'because its election time' is not a really good look and especially so if you are a Councillor in Council that still engages in landfill, is unwilling to change the name of 'waste centre' to resource recovery centre for a Council that has declares a CLIMATE EMERGENCY and pays lip service to 'resource recovery'. 

Then look at the properties that allow these signs to go up. Quite apart from the 'visual language' there is much to be read in a corflute. 

• The first step toward meaningful change is the awareness of its need. 
• The second step is to accept that there is indeed a need to change.

So, what is the thinking person's 

PUBLIC RELATIONS DEVICE?