CRAPPY DECISION MAKING AT LAUNCESTON COUNCIL

Jim Dickenson, architect, inveterate Examiner letter writer and father to Alderman Finlay has been on Launceston Council’s case for quite a while. Undoubtedly, he does know a thing or two civic planning. More to the point his opinions are informed which is much more than can be said for the aldermen. 

However, the aldermen, generally, are not afforded an ‘opinion’ under the Local Government Act given that the General Manager can do whatever she/he likes under Section 62. And that is after she/he has deemed that whatever advice they are offering is expert advice – and seemingly in the recent past expert advice beyond reproach. 

The installation of the Civic Square toilets has turned out to be an interesting example of the level of inexpertness that there for all to see in regard to decision making at Launceston’s Town Hall. 

Council is in the middle of spending $20Million that the good Aldermen have been conned into borrowing from the State Government and that Council is planning for on the run. The Civic Square toilets have all the characteristics of being an afterthought and consequently designed on the run. 

It seems pretty clear that the ‘planners’ at Town Hall hadn’t imagined that Civic Square was going to need a loo – with loo design not being particularly sexy project. But thank goodness for Jim Dickenson. Apparently, he’s shamed Council (The aldermen? The officers?) into reconsidering an appallingly inept decision. 

More concerning than the ineptitude of this ‘loo decision’ is the prevailing circumstances under which this bunch of aldermen make decisions or give decisions a tick and then there is their consequent disengagement with ratepayers. 

This bunch of aldermen show all the signs of being primarily concerned about the receipt of their allowances. That is except for Aldermen McKenzie and Finlay both of whom are posting on Facebook in their fatuous pre-election strategies for the position of Mayor – some are even speculating that they’ll even run for a State seat. 

Does a Council need to be shamed into reconsidering obviously shonky decisions via The Examiner? 

If their constituency is going to pin their hopes on that, The Examiner will need to lift its game but as for the Mayor and friends that’s quite a different thing. 

Jim Dickenson's Letters To The Editor

Civic Square Public Toilets JAN 1 2018 

IT BEGGARS belief that the City of Launceston council, rather than admit it has it wrong and maybe lose face, approved the proposed Civic Square toilets at its meeting on December 18. ................. The council debate was very flimsy with only one alderman speaking and his comments were disingenuous. A few points for brevity. ................. There is a substantial plane tree on the site and according to an arborist’s report, it has a lifespan of 10 to 20 years and is listed to remain. ................. However without qualification, the alderman glibbly said it had a life of one or two years and could be removed. ................. Comment was also made regarding the existing toilets in Macquarie House in that they do not meet current standards so should be demolished. Surely they could be renovated? ................. Council is not demolishing Civic Square and moving it to another site simply because it does not meet current standards. No. It is being renovated. ................. One could reasonably argue that, compared to the years of work and multi-millions of dollars already invested, the logical way forward would be to devote an hour or two of time, spend a dollar or two and rethink the project, to get the location right, to get the design right. ................. In the overall scheme of things, this re-assessment would have very little impact on the continuing roll-out of City Heart.................. Jim Dickenson, Launceston. 

Loo views DEC 18 2017 

IT’S BEEN kept so very quiet, so until the article “Loo Views To Be Heard” appeared (The Examiner, December 8) I bet no one knew that the City of Launceston is proposing to build a toilet block right on the doorstep of Launceston’s multi-million dollar Civic Square upgrade and right on the doorstep of the multi-million dollar upgrade to one our city’s more important heritage structures, Macquarie House. ................. I also bet there’s no other heritage city in the world that has a toilet block as the entry icon to its Civic Square. And what makes this one so appalling is the fact that, besides being absolutely in the wrong spot, the design is right in your face, garish and brazenly coloured. It also features a wrap-around blank wall of texture-coated blockwork, materials totally unrelated to the surroundings. ................. Surely there is within the Launceston City Council some aldermen with an understanding of civic planning, or just basic good design, and are able to encouragingly discuss these matters with their colleagues. ................. Our Civic Square, especially one in a city that is so universally acknowledged for its heritage values, should celebrate its entrance with some complimentary historic theme, in this case, relative to Macquarie House. A statue of Henry Reed would make a pretty obvious start, or one of the builder, John Sprunt. One hopes that now the project is being re-considered, a more appropriate location will be proposed. I would suggest the existing toilets in Macquarie House could be very effectively redeveloped. ................. Jim Dickenson, Launceston.