Letter to the Editor

The asset exchange of land from the City of Launceston to UTas should be an issue of great importance to ratepayers.

In this instance Alderman Gibson was correct for raising the matter and should not have been attacked by the Mayor and the Acting General Manager, as proper process had not applied by Council.

The fact is that this Agenda Item was premature and questions as to:

• Why the Agenda Item was “silent” as to the impact on the future of the QVMAG at Inveresk
• Why Council management were instructed not to speak to anyone who had an interest in the city’s significant cultural asset.
• Why our Mayor appears not to support robust and honest debate at the Council table.
• Why the former General Manager, now employed by the Colac-Otway Shire, was the author of this report.
• Why have the ratepayers been treated with such obvious distain by both the Council and UTas over the past few years.

Former Alderman Basil Fitch is quite correct in saying that this matter should be referred to the Integrity Commission and other State regularity bodies to investigate the gifting of public assets and as to the process undertaken.

It has been proven that the process has been incomplete, as to sewerage and stormwater capacity of the Inveresk suburb, together with no traffic management or car parking plan to ensure a Master Plan is published for community consultation and input.

The consequences of this failure by the Council should be of real concern.

Ian J. N. Routley, West Launceston