From: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@bigpond.com>
Date: Friday, 10 July 2020 at 1:03 pm
To: Mayor <mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Cc: Michael Stretton <Michael.Stretton@launceston.tas.gov.au>, "Shelton, Minister (DPaC)" <Minister.Shelton@dpac.tas.gov.au>, Premier Gutwein <peter.gutwein@parliament.tas.gov.au>, "Bridget Archer MP, Federal Member for Bass" <Bridget.Archer.MP@aph.gov.au>
Subject: Community Outrage
Dear Albert,
I have received a number of calls from people who are absolutely outraged that the city is taking this money that the city is not actually entitled to. That Council even considered seeking this money from this fund, dedicated as it is to the extremely worthy cause of drought relief, and required by people and places in deep distress, well it is beyond comprehension.
Launceston is not and has not been in DROUGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. It is humiliating in the extreme to be living in a city that will pull this kind of unconscionable bureaucratic stunt, and indeed one such as this, well it is breathtaking.
It seems that the elected Councillors, except for perhaps your good self, now blighted, were apparently unaware of the application going forward – and from a drought fund. This whole thing has all the hallmarks of a bureaucracy finding itself in financial bother looking to dig itself out of a hole by any means.
Albert, that you apparently believe that this is kosher beggars belief. That the application went forward to this fund set up for the purpose, well it is mind blowing. That you must have known about it and that we, residents and ratepayers, get to read about it after the fact in the press, that shames the city. It is all way too clever by half!
From a disenchanted client, “The only drought Launceston has suffered is a drought of common sense. A Creative precinct seems to be certainly creative in wangling money from the gullible. It's the way of the world, alas” – and especially so in Launceston it appears.
That we, indeed you, need not go any further than Leviticus 19:11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another” for guidance speaks volumes in regard to the place the city finds itself in. Taking this money under these circumstances diminishes us all and in ways we may not be able to redeem ourselves ... mere words fail me!
I beg that you examine your conscience,
Ray Norman
Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
eMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept” David Morrison
Rainfall and river flow data was used to prove Launceston was in drought in order for the council to receive a $10 million grant for the proposed redevelopment of Birchalls.
But questions remained as to whether the City of Launceston council was eligible for the grant, as it was not listed under the councils included in the Commonwealth's Drought Communities Programme - a key criteria for the grant.
The only Tasmanian councils included in that program were Devonport, Break O'Day and Glamorgan Spring Bay.
The council's chief executive officer Michael Stretton said rainfall and river flow data was used to help prove eligibility. I BEG YOUR PARDON
"The application for funding was made through a collaboration between the Coordinator General's Office and the City of Launceston last December, and was required to meet a range of eligibility criteria set by the federal government," he said.
"[It] demonstrated its eligibility against all of those criteria, including through the use of rainfall and river flow data to highlight severe rainfall deficiency in Northern Tasmania over an 18-month period." REALLY??
The council received the $10 million grant as part of the Building Better Regions fund for the Creative Precinct development. The project will have the Paterson Street car park transformed into a bus exchange and Birchalls site to host the creative industries education precinct.
The council fielded questions about the proposed redevelopment and the council's relationship with Creative Property Holdings at Thursday's council meeting.
To be eligible for a Building Better Regions grant the applicants must prove the project would be delivered in a drought-affected location. I BEG YOUR PARDON
Evidence to prove the location is drought affected can include Bureau of Meteorology data indicating an extended period without rainfall or a significant decline in rainfall, if the project is located in a drought-declared municipality, if the local government area is eligible for the government's Drought Communities Programme and if the applicant can demonstrate the impact of drought on the economy or employment in the area. BOVINE DUST
Break O'Day received $30,000 in funding through the scheme, while at a meeting in December Glamorgan Spring Bay chose to apply for funding. GSB council applied for $295,000 to upgrade the Triabunna Wharf, develop a business case for a new mountain bike trail and write an economic development plan.
GSB council did not receive a grant. WHY EVER NOT???
Labor Lyons MHR Brian Mitchell said the situation was a clear display of "pork barelling". TOO BLOODY RIGHT!!
"There are four specific eligibility criteria for this drought funding and Launceston doesn't meet any of them," he said.
"I think a Creative Precinct for Launceston stands on it's own two feet as a meritorious project but to say that it should have drought funding is just absolutely ridiculous.
"If there is a place in Tasmanian that doesn't qualify for drought funding it is the North - there are all sorts of places in Tasmania that are drier than Launceston that are not eligible for that funding ... if the government wanted to give $10 million to a marginal Liberal seat they should have just said so." SAD BUT TRUE
Mr Mitchell said the government should prove how Launceston met the eligibility criteria. YES, IT MUST!!
Data from the Bureau of Meteorology shows Launceston had below average rainfall in the 18 months up until December 2019, while the rest of the North had very much below average rainfall.
However the data also shows Launceston and the North did not have a serious or severe rainfall deficiency over that period of time.
BoM data also shows Hobart experienced very much below average rainfall in the 18 months to December 2018.
But a spokesperson for the City of Hobart council confirmed they were told not to apply because they wouldn't meet the eligibility criteria.
Liberal Bass MHR Bridget Archer said the project was supported because it would create jobs in the construction industry and help with education attainment rates. REALLY REALLY???
The Examiner requested a copy of the grant application today and in June. Commercial-in-confidence was previously cited as a reason not to provide it. GOOD OLD SECTION 62 TAS LOCAL GOVT ACT ... ALWAYS THERE WHEN YOU ARE IN A SPOT OF BOTHER
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