John Henshaw – Senior Vice-President
Launceston Municipal Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association Inc.

To Mr. Frank Dixon, GM, Launceston City Council. Thank you for your letter of 2nd August. The answers were most informative but have given rise to further questions about the York Park-Aurora Stadium, the Council’s Ten-Year Plan, the Racecourse Crescent Tennis Centre and the operational review of the Council’s operations.

( Meanwhile: Fellow Ratepayers: Please note that not only has the Examiner poll on the Regional Aquatic Centre closed but the results have NOT BEEN POSTED!!!!!! Have they been conveniently LOST….because the result was not to the Examiner’s liking? Please go to: http://northerntasmania.yourguide.com.au/poll.asp?question_id=2775 Notwithstanding the 80 PLUS surge in votes FOR the Regional Aquatic Centre following a meeting of swimmers, the poll still showed a majority against this extravagance.)

Mr. Frank Dixon,
General Manager,
Launceston City Council,
Council Chambers,
St. John Street,
LAUNCESTON TAS 7250

7th September, 2007

Dear Mr. Dixon,

QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL

Thank you for your letter of 2nd August in response to our letter of 24th July. The answers were most informative but have, as you might expect, given rise to further questions, as follows:

1. York Park-Aurora Stadium

Could we have, or be directed to where we may obtain, a detailed copy of the Business Plan/Business Case/Budget for this total facility that includes all estimates of annual income and expenditure? Our members are particularly interested in determining just when the haemorrhaging of ratepayer funds might cease and this facility break even.

2. Ten-Year Plan

Could we have, or be directed to where we may obtain, a detailed copy of Council’s Ten-Year Plan? By detailed, we mean considerably more information than is currently available via the Council’s published material, in both hard copy and via the Council’s website.

3. Tennis Court Centre, Racecourse Crescent

Could we have, or be directed to where we may obtain, more information on precisely what Council intends with regard to this facility? Our members are opposed to the possibility of Council having an operating and financing involvement in this facility.

4. Operational Review

Our members note with some satisfaction the recent announcement to reduce staffing overheads. We would ask, however, what other progress has been made in the overall operational review of Council’s operations that you indicated, at our meeting of 5th May, was to take place?

Our members look forward to your responses but would respectfully ask that they be made available before our monthly meeting on Monday, 17th September.

Yours sincerely,

John Henshaw
Launceston Municipal Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association Inc.
Senior Vice-President

LAUNCESTON MUNICIPAL RATEPAYERS’ AND RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
PO BOX 2039, NEWNHAM 7248
email: [email protected]