Green slam local government directors report

Georgetown Residents and Ratepayers Congratulated

The Tasmanian Greens today backed the George Town Residents and Rate Payers Association in their criticism of the Director of Local Government’s report into the performance of the George Town Council.

Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said members of the Association were well within their rights to feel angry at Philip Hoysted’s findings, as well as remarks made within the body of the report.

“Mr Hoysted’s report to Minister for Local Government, Bryan Green, is not only lacking, but also contains several inappropriate and possibly defamatory remarks about the George Town Residents and Rate Payers” said Mr Booth.

“To label a ratepayers group who have courageously stood up for their community and heritage as ‘antagonistic’ is offensive and ill-informed, especially when there is no evidence to justify that comment.”

“The Director’s own report acknowledges the controversy and community dissatisfaction surrounding the proposal to build a LINC Hub on the historic Regent Square.”

“The Director and the Minister should be aware that this storm has been brewing for some time now and the Regent Square debacle is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“Constituents have raised concerns about the General Manager, Mayor and some Councillors in George Town over a range of issues, some of which go to show lack of transparency and proper process.”

“Alarmingly, sworn testimony given to the Public Works Committee tells a sordid story of the Council Planner being used as a vitual ventriloquists dummy by the General Manger, whom apparently ordered her to cut and paste the application, below her letterhead and above her signature, to make it appear that it was a planning assessment”

“This is a very serious matter that requires investigation and casts oubt over not only the Regent Square approval process, but goes to the competence of Council and the matters that the Director should have got his teeth into before whitewashing the Council”

“The hierarchy of the George Town Council appear to be making rules as they went along in order to silencing members of the community during important procedural processes such as Council meeting question time.”

“They should have known the community would not take such indignation lying down.”

“The Residents and Ratepayers should be congratulated for standing up for their community when their Council failed them not have the Director attempt to whitewash their views.”
Kim Booth MP Member for Bass