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!
