Article
On ‘Bad Behaviour’ in Clarence …
Media release – Clarence Council, 8 July 2024
Council calls out behaviour towards councillors and council staff
Clarence City Council has supported a motion tabled by Councillor Wendy Kennedy calling for a community awareness campaign, aimed at addressing poor behaviour and conduct towards both councillors and council staff.
Councillor Kennedy said councillors and council staff are being subjected to increased levels of bullying and threatening behaviour through their day-to-day business, which is unacceptable.
“Several of my fellow councillors spoke to this at the last council meeting, and this issue has been exemplified and unrelenting since the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre debate has come before Council,” Councillor Kennedy said.
“During my time on Council, I have seen this inappropriate behaviour from members of the community intensify each time we have a contentious issue to deal with.
“It needs to be recognised that this is our workplace, both for councillors and for council staff, and bullying, harassing and intimidatory behaviours aren’t appropriate or acceptable in any workplace.
“Regardless of your point of view on a matter, it is never ok to get behind a keyboard and abuse another person.”
“If there is any legacy I’d like to leave from my time on Council, it is that when aspiring councillors ask me eagerly should they do it – I don’t want to look at them weary and downtrodden and say no, don’t do it to yourself, it’s not worth it.
“I want to encourage a brave new generation that will be treated with respect, with constituents who have a clear understanding that there are boundaries to communicating with elected members, and people are simply trying to do their jobs.”
Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said he whole-heartedly supported Councillor Kennedy’s motion and the behaviour of a small minority of the community needed to stop immediately.
“Some of the things said directly or indirectly about councillors and council staff recently has been horrifying,” said Mayor Blomeley.
“These have ranged from personal attacks, telling staff they are no good at their job, they should be ashamed of themselves, and even sharing the personal details of staff members.
“In no way, shape, or form does anybody have the right to treat another person like that.
“On the whole, our community are always wonderful to work with and we know that this behaviour comes from a very small segment, but we want everybody to know this behaviour is not ok and it has to stop now.”
Media release – Save Rosny’s Parks, 10 July 2024
Save Rosny Parks (SRP) Group Launches Website
With so much misinformation around the upcoming electoral poll, the Save Rosny Parks group has launched a website to help the community understand the AFL High Performance Centre (HPC) Proposal and how it will impact Rosny’s central parks. Go to https://saverosnyparks.com.
The Save Rosny Parks group is concerned about the repeated disinformation being promoted by Mayor Brendan Blomeley in an intensive media campaign by Clarence City Council since the elector poll announcement.
In just one interview on 26 June with Tim Paine and Brent Costello for SEN Tassie the Mayor made a raft of misleading claims. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/KMejSZ8UtcSaFbmR/
1. Rosny Parkland was a golf course, a sporting precinct
The Mayor implied that building the HPC onto Rosny Parkland will be a straightforward continuation of the “sporting” use of the land. But what type of golf course was it? A public parkland golf course. They’re called parkland courses because they look and feel like you are playing golf in a park. And as a public golf course, one of the few in Hobart, it was open to everyone. By contrast, an AFL HPC won’t look or feel like parkland, and won’t be open to everyone.
2. Rosny’s parks were the only land which met the AFL’s criteria
Other sites matched the criteria. However, of some five options considered, only Rosny is owned and managed by council and could be offered to the AFL. Rosny in fact fails on two criteria: 12 – Potential to grow and 13 – Ability to locate all facilities at one site as has been pointed out to the Mayor by his own staff.
3. Nobody objected to the Aged Care facility on parts of the former Golf Course
Retirement villages near services are much needed in an aging population, and this facility still left a significant portion of Rosny Parkland available for public use. By contrast, the AFL HPC is a commercial elite sporting facility that will take the best of the remaining parkland for the benefit of very few.
4. Council consulted with their community
Mayor Blomeley needs to listen back to the recording of the 15 May public meeting called by the community. In that meeting, Council agreed that the consultation was rushed because of time constraints put in place by the AFL and the Department of State Growth, and could have been better.
5. Mr Blomeley discusses Save Rosny Group harassing members of the public
There is no evidence that any of the claimed ‘harassment’ events took place. The mayor is using his platform to smear ordinary residents who are simply trying to save public green space from inappropriate development.
6. Save Rosny Parks Group is a well organised anti-development group
The fact is that most participants didn’t know each other before the HPC announcement was made. As Mr Polglase says, ‘the group has grown rapidly as residents become aware of what is about to be lost.” This is a group of like-minded community members united on one front: to save Rosny’s parks.
7. The City Heart Plan is so much more than Rosny’s Parks
Yes, Rosny’s Parks are only one part of the City Heart Plan. But they ARE the city’s heart and lungs.
Letter – << name witheld due to fear of Clarence Council bullying>>, 10 July 2024
Clarence City Council has lost their way
In 1948 Charles Hand was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Franklin. He held that seat until defeat in 1956. He then became the first Commissioner for Clarence from 1958 until his death in October 1966 at the age of 65. Charles Hand was brought in as Commissioner for Clarence because of the disfunction of the then council. It seems 58 years later things haven’t progressed.
Charles Hand Memorial Park was donated to the Clarence Council by the Hand family in memory of Charles Hand and in recognition of his leadership of the Clarence Council and its community.
In any community, leadership guided by strong values is not just a choice but a necessity. Values leadership means making decisions based on principles like honesty, respect, and fairness. These principles are the bedrock of trust and cooperation between elected officials and the people they serve.
In a local council setting, values leadership is particularly vital. Councillors are entrusted with making decisions that affect the daily lives of residents—from infrastructure to community services. When leaders adhere to values such as transparency and inclusivity, they foster an environment where everyone’s voice is heard and respected.
Unfortunately, recent events at Clarence Council have highlighted a troubling trend: the misuse of passive aggression to undermine and divide the community. Through media articles, council meetings, and social media, some councillors have chosen to discredit and disempower those who do not align with their views. This tactic not only erodes trust but also damages the council’s ability to effectively serve the community.
Reports from previous meetings reveal instances where councillors outside certain circles are treated rudely, highlighting a concerning lack of respect among colleagues. This behaviour is further exacerbated by the attitudes of key figures, including the mayor, who appear to condone and even encourage intimidation and disrespect both online and in person.
The repercussions of this divisive atmosphere extend beyond interpersonal conflicts. They set a precedent for behaviour within the council and influence how staff engage with the community. If leaders at the top demonstrate aggression and disrespect, it sends a clear signal throughout the organisation.
The current situation has strained the relationship between the council and the community to its breaking point. This should not be the norm. Professionalism, genuine care, and meaningful engagement are fundamental to rebuilding trust and fostering a harmonious community.
Instead, the focus seems to be on optics and the agendas of a select few councillors aligned with the mayor. Their tactics of bullish behaviour and gaslighting overshadow genuine efforts to address community needs. This approach not only polarises opinions but also distracts from the council’s primary duty: serving the community effectively and responsibly.
It is time for a reset—a return to values-driven leadership that prioritises collaboration, integrity, and respect. Only through genuine dialogue and a commitment to shared values can Clarence Council rebuild a relationship of trust with its community and set a positive example for other local councils to follow.
The path forward requires a collective effort to uphold values that promote unity, transparency, and respect. By doing so, we can ensure that our local councils serve as beacons of ethical leadership, fostering a community where everyone feels heard, valued, and respected.