DEVASTATION ON BALD HILL

This work (vandalism rather) proceeded without a Development Application going council. It does make wonder about Launceston Council commitment to the Minister's GOOD GOVERNANCE GUIDE.

Somewhat intriguingly West Tamar Council had not been contacted by Launceston regarding the available options in regard this matter even though at this point West Tamar Council had formed no opinion. However, they did say IF contacted they would be prepared to work with the City council in looking at options/alternatives. This was encouraging but in quick smart time the City of Launceston's worker turned up with chain saws at the ready.

It’s especially encouraging that there is a local government jurisdiction that is indeed committed to working with communities towards win-win. More so, given that there was advice at a site meeting that your West Tamar Council isn’t (or wouldn’t be) interested in being involved albeit that many West Launceston residents and ratepayers will/would regard the loss of these trees as a loss of their amenity – and for many different reasons.

Whilst This project is a Launceston Council ‘operational matter’ it comes with the impediment of non-engagement with ‘the community’ and the largely untested assertion that they, the community, are “not really interested”. Given that no DA Notice has ever been posted on the site such assertions can only be hollow and they, on the evidence, seem to carry with it the risk of it being a convenient self-serving assertion(?).

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Stormwater management in Tasmania is increasingly gaining the attention it needs and even in Launceston Council’s jurisdiction significant gains are being made. It is just the case that in this instance the imperative is, it seems, on  the evidence, to move this water through the landscape as fast possible. 

This is contrary to what is regarded overwhelmingly as “best practice” in most ‘water-wise’ jurisdictions – albeit that there is sluggishness on the uptake in many instances.

By way of example, Launceston's council expended, and needlessly, a large amount of ratepayers’ money excluding stormwater from the landscape and speeding it on its merry way ultimately to add to the pollution of the river. Thankfully that approach is changing but not yet on Bald Hill Rd it would seem.

Given that you West Tamar Council has now demonstrated that, as a council, it's prepared to talk to Launceston Council one can only hope that in the best of all worlds a win-win for constituents will be found at some time but sadly not now.

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