AGAINST ADVERSITY GEORGE TOWN IS A WINNER

Northern Tasmania does it again as George Town shows the way with its persistence. Not to be deterred by a noisy minority the Mayor and GM soldiered on to get the money spent. Right now that is what is important, getting the money spent and getting a hub. 

When history gets thrown at you, you need to inform the throwers that there really isn’t all that much that you can do about history right now but there are lots of things to be done right now. 

Launceston’s GM has used this as a mantra for a long time and it is good to see it being heeded down the river at George Town. Against adversity Cr. Broomhall is maintaining his focus on the future and putting the past behind him. That’s leadership for you! 

He has his hand on the tiller and he knows that things are looking very good for George Town into the future. It is time for the town’s detractors to get out of the way. If they cannot say something positive it would be greatly appreciated if they played a part in getting things going again even if it is against adversity. 

In the scheme of things $6.4 million is nothing to be sneezed at. George Town Council has known that for a very long time and has put its shoulder to the wheel to win the money even if it will be 2015 before the prize is on the shelf. Other councils in the region could very well learn from George Town.

LAUNCESTON COUNCIL WINS THE COUNCIL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Hands down Launceston, and the city’s Mayor and General Manager, take out the 2013 Social Architecture award for the most effective Council  operation in Tasmania. The Council has set a new expenditure benchmark for other Tasmanian Councils to attempt to match. Whichever Council it is that tries to do so has got a lot of ground to make up however.

Launceston City Council has managed, after a considerable and concentrated effort, to have pegged their property rates at the highest level in the state and considerably ahead of the CPI. That takes some doing.  It is interesting that our assessors have heard reports that there is even more to come as the Council Empire grows and flourishes. Soon Launceston will have no equal in the nation and Tasmania’s other Councils will be trying to play catch up for decades. It is no hollow boast that Launceston punches above its weight.

It is hard to estimate but it is likely when Launceston City Council increases its full cost recovery tip fees, they too will be the highest in Tasmania. Launceston has anticipated that with the Federal government withdrawing the carbon tax there is an opportunity to make more money on the back of that decision. People will realise that all the fuss about tips and methane emissions is total rubbish. They will take the hint that they can consign more of their refuse to landfill knowing it is the way to go. It is a system that has worked for decades, upon decades, centuries actually.

In addition, the Council has seized an opportunity to open a tip shop after several external consultancies. If there were an award for it, COUNCILS NOW would certainly nominate Launceston City Council for initiating the longest and most thorough external Council consultancy. It would be well deserved as no stone has been left unturned and all the reports and have been beautifully presented.

In fact Launceston’s Council staff have relieved themselves of an enormous workload by using consultants wherever that is possible. The Council is Tasmania’s exemplar in this regard. Again this Council sets the pace and demonstrates just what can be achieved by employing consultants. In fact this Council more than any other has supported the consultancy industry in Tasmania and the economic impact must be evident throughout the state and on the mainland as well.

To top things off for the  year, Launceston City Council has released its “Greater Launceston Plan” which is an enormous document with every prospect of it being used to grow the Launceston Empire exponentially and well into the future. On past records, Launceston’s ambitions will be met with a change of government in Tasmania and facilitated by the new Federal government. The seat of Bass’ marginal seat status will go a long way towards that. Good work Launceston, and he Mayor and General Manager’s efforts here have been exemplary and apparently great plans are afoot.

There is more to be reported but it is important to get the news of this award out before Christmas so that Launcestonians can revel in all the awards the city has won this year.

Congratulations Launceston!

An Exemplerary Mayor

Hobart's Lord Mayor Thomas may have won his mayoral robes by a whisker but he has put Hobart on a stable footing uncompromised by bleeding heart green agendas. Lord Mayor Thomas leads from the front and sets an example for the rest of Tasmania.

While his aspiration to amalgamate Glenorchy and Hobart Councils is yet to be achieved he is a man of vision. It took him to make the move to bury the hatchet with Launceston and get some perspective back in local government in Tasmania. We all knew Hobart was the premier local government in the state and it took Lord Mayor Thomas to reassert that. Watch this space.

Mayor Thomas has a clear vision for the city and a commitment to see Hobart evolve into a strong, vibrant and sustainable city. The council has also been engaged in an exciting process of planning and consultation to realise this vision and to ensure that Thomas's Hobart reaches its full potential as a vital and thriving capital city.

Lord Mayor Thomas set his roll in stone when he decided to take back the city's reins while he was on his summer break. In doing so he set a precedent that Tasmania's Mayors could all profitably follow.

Hobart's Inner City Development Plan is well within Mayor Thomas's hands. The community consultation process is now driven by his vision of Hobart as a people-focused city. The Inner City Development Plan (ICDP) is a key action in the Council's Economic Development Strategy 2009-2014 as a means of fulfilling Mayor Thomas's vision for Hobart.

Mayor Thomas is leading his council out of the faltering 'statewide council union' warrants the the support of Tasmanian ratepayers and residents. He is ensuring they get his kind of council driven by his aspirations and where he leads others might well follow.

KEEP OUR COUNCILS STRONG