Alderman Jeff Briscoe Press Release
Alderman Rob Valentine in a letter to the editor at the Mercury on Friday 24 November 2006 incorrectly restated that the Council’s preferred recent position was for a ‘scramble track ‘ around Battery Point foreshore. That is far from the truth said Alderman Briscoe.
Media Release
Sunday 26 November 2006
Alderman Jeff Briscoe
CALL upon the Lord Mayor to reveal his relationships with Battery Point foreshore residents blocking public access?
Alderman Jeff Briscoe said today that he was shocked to learn of significant connections of the Lord Mayor with the few foreshore residents that have hindered the realization of a community vision of restoring public access and the construction a low impact walkway around the Battery Point foreshore.
“So I am calling upon Lord Mayor today to come clean about these relationships with these foreshore residents.” Said Alderman Briscoe.
It has been revealed by the web based ‘Tasmanian Times’ (See here) that Magistrate Chris Webster, campaign manager for the former politician John White was also Alderman Valentine’s campaign manager for the last Hobart City Council election and endorsed all of his election material.
Mr John White, former Labor Health minister and Director of TCC, also indicated his support for Ald Valentine in a letter to the Mercury following the last Mayoral election in 2005.
Mr Ken Hosking, one of the foreshore residents whose fence blocks public access on the Battery Point foreshore has revealed his support for Ald Valentine in numerous communications published on the Tasmanian Times web site.
“Any letters or public comments Alderman Valentine has made always seem to me to express the views of those few influential, well connected foreshore residents and now I have some understanding why this could be the case” said Ald Briscoe. “His comments to me often don’t reflect the Council’s position”
“It is now in his ball park for him to come clean about his relationships with those influential foreshore owners.”
Alderman Rob Valentine in a letter to the editor at the Mercury on Friday 24 November 2006 incorrectly restated that the Council’s preferred recent position was for a ‘scramble track ‘ around Battery Point foreshore.
That is far from the truth, said Alderman Briscoe.
Valentine’s own correspondence with the Government reveals the truth said Alderman Briscoe. Letters to and from Ald Valentine to David Llewellyn were released today by Alderman Briscoe.
Alderman Valentine wrote to Minister David Llewellyn on 2 October 2006 quoting the council decision of the 25 September where he was instructed by the Council to write to the Minister for permission
“..to conduct a feasibility study for a low impact walkway around or on the foreshore of Battery Point”
Alderman Briscoe said “I have privately attempted to get the Lord Mayor to publicly correct his misinformation he has given the Mercury but he refuses to do so – instructing me to talk to the Council officers who writes his letters.”
