Margot Giblin

Hayes felt that it had all been covered by his colleagues but what did impress him most was seeing the obvious joy in having representative from Hobart ‘taking the trouble to visit’, as expressed by his hosts. Hayes also referred to the coincidental timing of the aldermanic visit with the release of Tasmanian beef into Japan’s Jusko chain of supermarkets (400 stores). The price of porterhouse, he said, is $48 per kilo. Hayes also ran into a teacher from Hutchins at the airport, and a Tasmanian fruit grower.

Hobart City Council
Open Meeting
Tuesday 12 June 07
5pm.

Aldermen Present: Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, Deputy Lord Mayor Eva Ruzicka, Jeff Briscoe, Peter Sexton, Ron Christie, Philip Cocker, Helen Burnet, Eric Hayes, Lyn Archer

Leave of Absence: Darlene Haigh, Marti Zucco, John Freeman

In his Communication from the Chairman Valentine noted the receipt of a Tasmanian Award for Environmental Excellence by the Council for the Bicentennial Park project on Porter’s Hill which also received the Minister’s Environment Award, regarded as a top honour. The work of council officers, particularly Mr Heath, was acknowledged, as was the level of co-operative action from individual property owners willing to negotiate and community groups active in lobbying for support from the Federal government.
Ruzicka moved a vote of thanks to those concerned and asked for an act of acclamation. This meant those aldermen present clapped. It was a bit thin on sound as three aldermen were absent.
These absences meant debate was also slender on many items as Alderman Archer restricts himself to voting only and Eric Hayes is a comparatively reticent contributor.

Some agenda items

11 Mona St Battery Point. Mediation was the winning way in relation to a proposed additional dwelling of considerable concern to its neighbours. The outcome will see existing trees protected as any that die as a result of the development must be replaced with semi mature specimens.

Proposed changes to the Hydraulics Services By-Law of 2006 brought up the question of whether a council meeting would have to be called to OK responses to an emergency. These by-laws deal with Waters, Sewers and Drains. The General Manager, Brent Armstrong, said that he would exercise judgment by acting first and would explain or ‘ask for forgiveness’ later.

Blackspot funding (combined State/Council venture) was approved for seven sites including a roundabout for the Gladstone St/Salamanca Place intersection, median treatment for New Town Rd between Augusta Rd and Argyle St, Risdon Rd between Park and Bell St and kerb extensions and traffic signal relocations at Campbell St/Bathurst St.

At item 12 Christie opined that this would be the first time alderman and officers would get to dine at 5.45. Loud knocking on wood proved to be inadequate insurance, but not by a tedious margin.

Mawson Place — to tree or not to tree is dealt with at The Mawson dilemma.

Draft Principle Bicycle Network for Hobart — slowly but surely the network extends and community consultation will be undertaken to identify where major on and off-road routes should be located. A further report will be provided on the outcome of this process.
In debating the issue — which all aldermen present supported, Valentine stressed the importance of avoiding dog/cyclist entanglements.

Conference — Urban Water Planning and Management — aldermanic nominations were invited. Christie, Ruzicka and Sexton expressed interest and will attend in Melbourne, 25-26 July at a cost ranging between $2,198 for conference only and $4,378 including 4 workshops, per person, plus the cost of air travel and hotel accommodation (approx $700) to be funded from the Aldermanic Conference allocation in the City Government function of the 06/07 Annual Plan.

Annual Grant — City of Hobart Eisteddfod Society. This couldn’t be dealt with at the last open meeting due to the number of alderman for whom it presented a conflict of interest. It was resolved that the General Manager will determine the amount. Christie asked if Armstrong determined any other grants. The answer was no, with a reminder that the General Manager was only going to be doing this one because the aldermen couldn’t.

Yaizu, Japan. Sister City Trip
Before the meeting’s close the experiences of those aldermen who recently attended the 30th Anniversary celebrations of Hobart — Yaizu’s sister city relationship were shared.
A report will be forthcoming but in the meantime Valentine talked of how well supported the dinner had been — about 100 attended. Many things were discussed at it, including some of commercial interest such as the failure of a Yaizu company to import Tasmanian hops over several years. ‘We could look at trying to improve this situation.’
Valentine also referred to Yaizu’s Deep Sea Maritime Exhibition and its spin off activities, which Hobart might consider looking at.

Briscoe felt it had been a very successful trip, the pleasure of which was heightened by a Yaizu resident, one of his Tasmanian ex-students, recognizing him in a supermarket. He said the cultural significance of the 30 year link was uppermost in his mind in assessing the importance of the trip.
Briscoe expanded on the Maritime Exhibition and its links to fish farming and desalination which represented, he said, the sort of impetus he would be trying to bring to Hobart. He did point out that Yaizu experiences a level of co-operation between all spheres of government that is not mirrored in Hobart.

Hayes felt that it had all been covered by his colleagues but what did impress him most was seeing the obvious joy in having representative from Hobart ‘taking the trouble to visit’, as expressed by his hosts. Hayes also referred to the coincidental timing of the aldermanic visit with the release of Tasmanian beef into Japan’s Jusko chain of supermarkets (400 stores). The price of porterhouse, he said, is $48 per kilo.
Hayes also ran into a teacher from Hutchins at the airport, and a Tasmanian fruit grower.

The next Open Council meeting is on Monday 25 June 5pm

Wednesday 13 June’s Community Development Meeting was cancelled on the day, due to lack of a quorum. This committee comprises Zucco (chair) who had Leave of Absence, Archer, Briscoe, Burnet and Cocker. It will now meet on Thursday 21 June at 4.30 pm.