FROM THE EXAMINER: "THE Penny Royal car park is free to pass into the hands of developers JAC Group, after the Launceston City Council on Monday passed a motion to sell the land. Josef Chromy's JAC Group leases the land from the council for $10 a year in a long-term arrangement, on the condition they provide a free public car park for anyone attending the Penny Royal complex or the Gorge. General manager Robert Dobryznski will now be able to negotiate a price for the land ...........
However does Mr Dobryznski know what this land is 'worth' to Launcestonians? The next question is, to whom is he accountable other than himself under SECTION 65 of the Local Govt Act?
We need to remember Alderman Robin Mckendrick's disagreement with council retaining this land ..... wrong headed as it was. Apparently he thinks the car park is worthless to council. Launcestonians can only hope that his assessment doesn't have any influence at all on the price Mr Dobryznski determines in secret and that seven aldermen will give the nod to .... if they are asked.
Mr. Dobryznski needs to remember that eventually the price paid to council will become available to the public. He had better have a good defence for what he agrees upon. Interestingly there might have been other interested parties .... even now.
You have to wonder who was thinking what about who in regard to Alderman Danny Gibson's statement "It's a very useful piece of land, once it's sold it's gone." when they voted.
Interestingly the mayor voted on the sale of this land. Why? There was a precedent set by his predecessors that became a convention of a kind in regard to contentious decisions such as the sale of public land. It was intended to set the mayor apart and therefore they abstained! It's more than interesting that the mayor in fact voted on this sale.
There is something most of us are not thinking about. It's that the JAC Group is looking to Launceston's ratepayers to subsidise developments in the Penny Royal area. The group seems to be assuming that whatever they have to pay for the land, it will be invested in such projects, not invested in bringing down Launcestonian's exorbitant rates.
This is the strangest decision making process, and one that's quite warped. What's more its one that's likely to come back on the perpetrators in time.
It certainly looks like accountability is right out the window ..... at least for now.
However does Mr Dobryznski know what this land is 'worth' to Launcestonians? The next question is, to whom is he accountable other than himself under SECTION 65 of the Local Govt Act?
We need to remember Alderman Robin Mckendrick's disagreement with council retaining this land ..... wrong headed as it was. Apparently he thinks the car park is worthless to council. Launcestonians can only hope that his assessment doesn't have any influence at all on the price Mr Dobryznski determines in secret and that seven aldermen will give the nod to .... if they are asked.
Mr. Dobryznski needs to remember that eventually the price paid to council will become available to the public. He had better have a good defence for what he agrees upon. Interestingly there might have been other interested parties .... even now.
You have to wonder who was thinking what about who in regard to Alderman Danny Gibson's statement "It's a very useful piece of land, once it's sold it's gone." when they voted.
Interestingly the mayor voted on the sale of this land. Why? There was a precedent set by his predecessors that became a convention of a kind in regard to contentious decisions such as the sale of public land. It was intended to set the mayor apart and therefore they abstained! It's more than interesting that the mayor in fact voted on this sale.
There is something most of us are not thinking about. It's that the JAC Group is looking to Launceston's ratepayers to subsidise developments in the Penny Royal area. The group seems to be assuming that whatever they have to pay for the land, it will be invested in such projects, not invested in bringing down Launcestonian's exorbitant rates.
This is the strangest decision making process, and one that's quite warped. What's more its one that's likely to come back on the perpetrators in time.
It certainly looks like accountability is right out the window ..... at least for now.
For further information email LauncestonPR@tassie.net.au
A comment in the Examiner reminds us that this developer here wants $4million from ratepayers and taxpayers for THEIR project .... As the say "No hide, no Christmas box."
ReplyDeleteWhen will all this get real and when will everyone stop milking 'The Ratepayer"? Please ... NO MORE!
See this http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2887712/chromy-seeks-4-million-for-gorge-plan/
WELL DOREEN IN THE EXAMINER I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER
ReplyDelete"Why the rush? In February, LCC begins a study into carparking needs in this area and beforehand it sells the prime position it already owns and which costs zero to maintain.
The only reason JAC would want to buy the carpark is so that they can control and develop it for their exclusive needs. At the moment JAC is required to maintain this carpark providing patrons entering Penny Royal AND the Cataract Gorge Reserve can park there for FREE. As soon as JAC take control they will stop visitors to Cataract Gorge Reserve parking there for free. There is no other site close to the Gorge entrance that could be developed for parking and the relatively small sum Council will get from selling this carpark will be woefully inadequate to replace this carpark anyway.
Aldermen have neglected their duty by not stopping this crazy idea dead in its tracks by voting the sale down. Management concerns with the carpark could easily be fixed if JAC agreed but now they can do as they please and tourism in Launceston and the ratepayers will be the poorer."
You should be on the council Doreen