Sven Wiener
TOMORROW, Tuesday 18 December, Gunns are coming to George Town to address George Town Council councillors in a closed meeting of the council. The December monthly meeting will now instead be the following day on Wednesday 19 December, 1PM at the council offices 16 Anne St George Town.
The motions that were passed at the Nov 27 pulp mill public meeting and also details of the upcoming pulp mill elector poll, will be discussed at Wednesday’s ordinary monthly council meeting.
Just from looking at the George Town Council website (www.georgetown.tas.gov.au) and trying to find your way through the various confusing references to dates for the December monthly meeting, you’ll probably agree that for the health and safety of Tamar Valley residents this would be absolutely the wrong council to oversee local government aspects of regulating a pulp mill or any heavy industry precinct.
I believe different council leadership would be a great start to fixing up the mess. And greater diversity of newspaper coverage (currently The Examiner and http://www.georgetownjournal.com.au) to assist electors with staying informed. The council even makes the Lennon Government look good by comparison.
A motion of censure against Mayor Douglas Burt for alleged bias regarding his handling of the pulp mill issue, was narrowly defeated at the Nov 27 pulp mill public meeting. A similar motion of no confidence in the Council General Manager was also only narrowly defeated at the council AGM on 11 December. According to AGM chairperson Mayor Burt, the vote was 18 to 20 and so the motion of no confidence was lost. I believe that the motion of censure against Mayor Burt for alleged bias regarding his handling of the pulp mill issue, was very much justified. Mayor Burt claimed in the Examiner in July that apart from some pockets of resistance in coastal areas, George Town Municipality residents were all for the pulp mill. Mayor Burt was also on ABC Radio in early September stating that there would be no council elector poll on the pulp mill because he’d consulted with the community about the pulp mill and they’re happy. Mayor Burt was only just reelected as Mayor at the October council elections (3% margin), running against two anti-mill mayoral candidates.
While it’s a shame that the upcoming $20,000 elector poll couldn’t have instead been conducted for a sixth of the price in conjunction with the October council elections, the only way to now counteract the pro-mill propaganda campaign is to have an elector poll where electors are free to confidentially express their opinions without fear.
Mayor Burt was made aware during public question time at the August 2007 ordinary monthly council meeting that if council did not conduct an elector poll in conjunction with the October council election that one would be forced by petition under the Local Government Act 1993. Mayor Burt’s written response to this in early September was:
“Residents and voters of the municipality are free to petition Council on any matter at any time and I understand you have been provided advice on this matter”
(see copy of Mayor Burt’s August letter at http://users.picknowl.com.au/svea/gtc/mayors_reply.html )
The agenda for George Town Council’s December monthly meeting is on their website: HERE
Details in the agenda relating to the pulp mill elector poll are as follows:
“The petition complies with section 60C(1) of the Local Government Act and is tabled for the information of Councillors. The proposers of the petition, Jim Welsh, Richard King and Justin Miller, have been advised of this and in accordance with section 60C(2) have been asked if they agree to an elector poll being held in conjunction with the next ordinary election. They have responded that they do not agree to this and want an elector poll within 60 days. The petition was signed by 386 signatories, which were checked against the Electoral Roll and 3 signatories were found not to be on the roll. The petition therefore has 383 signatures and meets the requirement of 5% of electors in the municipal area.
Section 60D of the Act sets out the process for an elector poll, which must be held within 60 days of receipt of the petition. The elector poll is to be conducted as determined by the Electoral Commissioner or any other person authorised by the Council. In the interests of timeliness the Tasmanian Electoral Commission has been contacted to conduct the poll in accordance with the Act however this needs to be confirmed by Council. They have advised a proposed timetable for the poll as follows:
Roll closes Thursday 6 January 2008 at 6pm
Ballot posted Monday 21 January 2008
Polling closes Tuesday 5 February 2008 at 10am
RECOMMENDATION
That Council receives the petition and authorises the Electoral Commissioner to conduct the poll.”
The currently proposed elector poll text is:
“The Council wishes to determine the opinion of its electors on issues associated with the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. Do you agree with:
a) the process used to assess the proposed Pulp Mill in the Tamar Valley;
b) the type of pulp manufacture proposed; and
c) the location of a pulp mill of the type proposed in the Tamar Valley?
Do you believe that the pulp mill will have a net adverse impact on the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the Tamar Valley and its residents?”
The motions passed at the Nov 27 pulp mill public meeting were as follows:
Motion 1
That this meeting calls upon the George Town Council to actively oppose the proposed Pulp Mill on the grounds that the health, safety and well being of the
citizens of the East Tamar has been put at risk by the fast-track approval of the project and can no longer be adequately protected or ensured.
Motion 2
That George Town Council
(1) assess, consult and advise on all projected major hazards and inform the community on completion;
(2) ensure that baseline studies for all major environmental hazards are completed for future testing for communities health and wellbeing; and
(3) Provide world health sure guard information for industrial pollution levels and safe distances for community living.
Sven Wiener
George Town Municipality elector
