THE UNIVERSITY, THE SPECTRE OF THE FLOOD AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUPIDITY

Every now and then someone stands back and looks at a situation and wonders about what is actually going on in front of them – not what they'd hope to see, not what they expect to see, not what they wish to see ... just what is right there right now.

Chris Penna's letter in the EXAMINER 15/3/2019 clearly comes after some serious hard headed thinking about the facts. Mr Penna has made most of connections. That is, the connections that are there to be made and have always been there but have been talked down up to now. 

Indeed, his observations have been made by various people, in various contexts and on various occasions over quite a long time.

What's different now is that it is a new set of eyes, an independent set of eyes, eyes that belong to an intelligent commentator looking at all the accumulated evidence anew, and in perspective.

He is now speaking up loud about what's there to be seen. 

The most import bit of evidence being Council's very own commissioned 'flood modelling' that should be ringing the loudest of alarms in Invermay and Inveresk – not to mention around the Council table. However, it seems that it has only drawn sniggers from the Aldermanic UTas cabal so far. You see, everything is on track and the deeming seems to be cutting it. Well, maybe not.

Also, all we seem to be hearing is the giggling and shouts of 'not true' from those who, four years ago, gave far too much oxygen to one of the silliest ideas on the planet  – spend mega bucks on tidal flat for something without veracity and pray/hope/wish/whatever. 

What's the mantra? Build and they'll come! The again maybe not.

The new Council 'flood report' has veracity but it seems that there are Aldermen – now Councillors – who are betting on 'the disaster' coming sometime after they've taken their money and are in their hide-outs back in the hills somewhere. 

It needs to be remembered that for the vote for a 'land gift to UTas' needed to be an 'absolutely unanimous!'  There is no hiding from that, there is no ambiguity about it at al nor is there any doubt about the depth of the delusion and silliness – none whatsoever.  It might not have been their silly idea but they, the Aldermen, did swallow it all – hook, line and sinker.

Then comes the 'snake oil' that UTas managed to go on to sell to this careless collection of non-performing non-thinkers – and Launcestonians were left unrepresented effectively.  As late as this week UTas's Prof Adams was on his rostrum selling his snake oil again. The dose he is currently flogging off has been reduced and is to be drip fed to whoever is paying but 'into the future'.  When you think you've seen the full spectrum of unconvincing vacuousness, yet another skin-saving version pops up to bemuse us. 

Clearly, UTas has insulated and isolated itself from the real world. If that's not troubling enough, the recalcitrant Aldermen are singing kumbaya in unison, in mutual admiration and at one with UTas operatives at any 'spruik in a carpark' where they can pull a crowd of three – just so it can be called a crowd.  

Apparently, nobody at UTas, on the evidence,  and given the rhetorical outputs:

• reads and takes any notice of the science to do with climate change;
• reads the world and national news;
• thinks critically about 21st C post-secondary career shaping;
• pays any attention at all to rigorous research; and to top it off
• there is an arrogant assumption that there is a 'social licence' that the institution has not won.

In Australia recent 'flood events' in places like Brisbane, Lismore and Townsville, not to downplay Launceston's very own 2016 flood, there is much to be learnt. The folly of looking away is all too clear but it, seemingly, is going on.

UTas as an institution has done, and is doing, itself no good at all. Indeed, Council in collaboration with UTas seems to be quite oblivious to their own hubris along with the threats to, and the damage done to, post-secondary education and training in the region.

Now is the time for repair;

• not the time for a self-serving self-indulgence;
• not the time fibs;
• not the time for a career massage.

What needs to be done right now is to hold a independent investigation that:

• actually engages with the community; and 
• that gathers all the available evidence; and
• before any further nonsense is foisted upon Northern Tasmania's economy;
• its time to come clean with the ratepayers and taxpayer who have been conscripted into this folly.

LETTER IN THE EXAMINER 

Flooding concerns: The City of Launceston commissioned the North and South Esk Rivers Flood Modelling and Mapping Update reports by BMT. The renewed levees were designed to protect the city from a one-in-200-year flood based on a 2008 study. .............. The more accurate 2018 BMT report shows that if there was a one-in-200-year flood now, the levees would be overtopped, and Inveresk would suffer a two-to-five-metre deep flood of hazard class 5 – defined as unsafe for vehicles and people; all buildings vulnerable to structural damage............... These BMT reports should be of serious concern to ratepayers and must give pause to any reconsideration of the UTAS Inveresk Precinct. As the council commissioned the report and has gifted Inveresk public land to UTAS, it is the responsibility of the council to take the initiative in acting publicly on the 2018 BMT report............... If UTAS decides/is allowed to continue with Inveresk there will be an additional $400 million set of assets constructed behind the levees, and there is likely to be pressure from UTAS, to raise and strength the levees – a very expensive undertaking which is the responsibility of the council............... How would the council obtain funds for this? Ideally, there should be a joint announcement in the immediate future from UTAS and the council about the status of the UTAS Inveresk project, in view of the BMT report............... Chris Penna, West Launceston.