ALARM BELLS RINING AROUND THE TABLE

click on the image to enlarge

THE MESSAGE SEEMS TO BE: BE ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO BE ALARMED

Increasingly as the local government elections bear down upon Tasmanians, Launcestonians in particular,  there is much to think about and quite a bit to worry about. Reports coming in from around the traps is clearly suggesting the incumbent alderpeople need not to be taking their continued tenure for granted.

Three LCCnews 'operatives' have been out and about today and they've reported in that the "the punters out there are right pissed off with the Council" – in a nutshell.

The reasons why are hard to get a handle on as "they are all over the place". However, the incumbents and/or their supporters seem to be invisible 'out on the streets' but they may be resting on their laurels – such as they are.

Mostly however home owners are concerned about their rising rates demands and well might they be. Launceston's rates are at least $300 per annum above rates elsewhere. A Western Australian homeowner who recently moved to Launceston said "I just cannot believe just how high Lonnies rates actually are". At a recent Council meeting the Mayor responded to a question about the level of city's rates saying something like 'well Launceston has things like the museum, stadium and the aquatic centre' that people outside the city use and pay nothing towards'. Hello!

Well in the last 7 years Launceston's rates have increased by 24% an average of 3.5% a year. Out there in voter land "the punters are hurting and some really feeling the pinch". The big question hanging in the air is all about "what might have been the driver for all this". On top of all this the city's debt – rather the ratepayers' – has grown extraordinarily to something in the order of $20million.

A number of the city's older residents looking ahead have been suggesting it is to do with the city "maxing out on the city's presumed borrowing capacity", Many are saying that the city's General Manager in cahoots the with the State's Treasurer selling the alderpeople the proposition that "Launceston must develop at all costs and whatever it is". So, these ratepayers are in a pickle with the prospect of their rate demand increasing exponentially and with no sight of any relief at all. 

Interestingly, it has been reported that Launceston's population is shrinking while the state overall is growing, and significantly, after a longish period of stagnation. And yes, Hobart's population is growing along with its burgeoning student numbers. Concerningly, Australia's population is growing so fast that it's growth rates get a mention in all kinds of planners' journals etc. So, why is this so? Are, as has been suggested, young people moving away because Launceston has less and less to offer? Or, are we looking at serial failures going on Launceston's Town Hall?

At Council's next meeting the city's alderpeople will slink off yet again behind closed doors to consider the lease of Albert Hall, at the very least to not let anyone know who said what or how they voted. It does look a lot like they regard 'accountability' as being discretionary. As for 'transparency' that too is a standard it appears these elected representatives are quite willing to walk past.

But as they say "nothing to see here"!!