Media Release
Wednesday December 14, 2005
Hobart City Council trying to kill a Christmas tradition
Knopwoods Retreat has today slammed the Hobart City Council for trying to kill a Christmas tradition.
Knopwoods licensee Kate Duffy said she was at her wits end trying to negotiate a sensible resolution to a draconian new Council edict covering the ever-popular Christmas Eve celebrations at the Salamanca institution.
As a result of the complete inability of the Council to see any reason, it is with total reluctance that Knopwoods has been forced to completely change the way patrons celebrate Christmas this year.
Ms Duffy said Knopwoods was doing everything it could to avoid this outcome, but discussions with the Council so far were not looking at all promising.
“For many years Knopwoods and the Salamanca area have been a Hobart tradition, and our Christmas celebrations have become a focal point for Tasmanians young and old, especially those returning from interstate and overseas for the festive season. Thanks to our responsible management, these popular nights have been incident-free”.
“But this year, the Hobart City Council has decided for whatever reason that Knopwoods must erect a fence around our outside area and cage these festivities in.
“This is despite the fact that the sensible solution is simply to close the road. Road closures have occurred in the past, with great success.
“Caging in our punters is not something we want to do, and the bill for erecting this fence will be astronomical”.
It is not just Knopwoods punters that enjoy the Salamanca area, so why should we be responsible for the total cost of the fence.
Bureaucracy gone mad
The discrimination in this area applies apparently only to Knopwoods. Another venue in Salamanca has been allowed to extend its outdoor area into other carparks without a cage being put up. We think it is only fair that Council contribute to the huge costs of the fence given that this unfair impost has come about entirely because of its own making.
“Council’s response has been that we must put up the fence and foot the entire bill, or the road will not be closed and our licence will not be extended. They have us over a barrel.”
Ms Duffy said it was a case of Hobart City Council bureaucracy gone mad and she believed the hundreds of law-abiding Tasmanians who come along to Knopwoods on Christmas for no other reason than to have a good time would be incensed.
“Knopwoods at all times prides itself on responsible service and a great atmosphere.
“Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Council. For example we have, for many years, tried to get the Council to put in place additional toilets and rubbish bins to cater for Salamanca’s Christmas demand, and every time, this has been neglected. Nonetheless, Knopwoods staff have taken it upon themselves to provide additional toilets and clean any mess up.
“It appears that the Hobart City Council is doing its level best to make life as tough as it can for young Tasmanians, and the establishments that cater for them. The Council should not be surprised that its intransigence and unreasonableness on this issue will only make young Tasmanians feel more inclined that there is little to offer youth in this State.
“This is particularly so in light of the recent closure of another popular place for Hobart’s youth, Club Surreal.
“I am appealing for the Council to show some common-sense. Either contribute to the cost of the fence, or let us get on with showing Tasmanians a good time and a safe time in the way we always have, incident-free.”
Ms Duffy said that Knopwoods would like its valued customers to know that it is doing everything possible to make the traditional Christmas celebrations as terrific as they have always been in previous years, and that Knopwoods apologises if the Council spoils it for them this year.
Kate Duffy
Licensee
