Oh frabjous day!

Oh frabjous day! I picked up a copy of The Gazette at the newsagent and the page one headlinbe ran HISTORIC VICTORY, Plan to develop Will Court finally approved.

Read on and you’ll find we are only at the memorandum of understandingt stage, and there is much byzantine bureaucratic process to be endured before the first sod is turned at this irreplaceable history-laden site, but at least it’s a plan.

And it could provide employment for some of the local teens.

Derwent Valley councillors would do well to take a hike up the highway to see how sensitively a sister local government authority has approached the gradual rehabilitation of Oatlands.

Up there, young people are being trained in traditional building techniques and God only knows there are enough buildings in need of rehabilitation around this island to keep an army of workmen employed into the next century.

PROGRESS AT WILLOW COURT
MoU to be signed at last

Tim Morris MP
Member for Lyons
Sunday May 6 2012

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and the Derwent Valley Council that will facilitate the access to the remaining state funds that were allocated to the Council several years ago but which have still not been fully utilised.

Greens Member for Lyons Tim Morris MP said that, with former minister David Llewellyn set to take charge of a new management committee that will oversee and drive the preservation and redevelopment of the historic Willow Court at New Norfolk, it is likely that noticeable progress will at last be made after a decade of delays and procrastination.

“I have had some very productive discussions with Minister Brian Wightman and the Derwent Valley Council in recent weeks, and I am convinced that there are good prospects for substantial progress to be made at last.”

“The recent work that has been undertaken by the volunteers of the Friends of Frescatti shows what can be achieved by a small group of people with a clear vision and the backing of the Council.”

“I remain concerned that the Council intends to try to sell off three more buildings which will potentially further diminish the heritage value of the site because they will not have adequate control over the future use of that area.”

“Also I call on the Council to reconsider its decision to refuse to integrate the maintenance of the site grounds and streets into its regular works program based on a decision made several years ago that it would not use any resources from its own budget to care for the site.”

“I strongly urge the Council to revisit this decision as the site is a valuable asset for the municipality and that value will be maximised if the site is properly maintained.”

“Willow Court is an important heritage site for all of Tasmania and I will do everything I reasonably can to assist in its protection,” said Mr Morris.