Disclosure - code of conduct complaint

I WAS informed by Mayor Martyn Evans last evening that a Code of Conduct complaint has been made about me, with particular reference to my first formal council meeting as a councillor. I have today advised the mayor that I wish to have the matter heard by the council's Code of Conduct Panel.

As this is a quasi-legal process, comments on the matter will not be published until it has concluded.

Congratulations Rodney and Severine

HEARTY congratulations to local couple Rodney Dunn and Severine Demanet on having their Lachlan business the Agrarian Kitchen named at the very top of the “100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences” list, compiled by Australian Traveller magazine. The couple opened their business in the old Lachlan schoolhouse in January 2009. Check them out at  www.theagrariankitchen.com

How we voted in the Derwent Valley

THE Tasmanian Electoral Commission has made available the provisional polling place figures from Saturday's State Election. Results from local polling booths follow.

Bronte
CASSIDY Karen 6
GRAHAM Jackie 0
MORRIS Tim 12
PRIOR Sharon 3
STEVENS Karl 1

GRAY Leigh 3
HIDDING Rene 16
HOWLETT Jane 6
PLAYSTED James 10
SHELTON Mark 2

BUTLER Heather 6
LLEWELLYN David 16
POLLEY Michael 7
SULLIVAN Brendan 3
WHITE Rebecca 11
WRIGHT Nick 4


Dromedary
CASSIDY Karen 11
GRAHAM Jackie 3
MORRIS Tim 39
PRIOR Sharon 4
STEVENS Karl 7

GRAY Leigh 30
HIDDING Rene 23
HOWLETT Jane 24
PLAYSTED James 16
SHELTON Mark 9

BUTLER Heather 6
LLEWELLYN David 64
POLLEY Michael 29
SULLIVAN Brendan 5
WHITE Rebecca 36
WRIGHT Nick 18


Ellendale
CASSIDY Karen 3
GRAHAM Jackie 3
MORRIS Tim 29
PRIOR Sharon 2
STEVENS Karl 2

GRAY Leigh 7
HIDDING Rene 13
HOWLETT Jane 9
PLAYSTED James 23
SHELTON Mark 3

BUTLER Heather 4
LLEWELLYN David 22
POLLEY Michael 11
SULLIVAN Brendan 1
WHITE Rebecca 7
WRIGHT Nick 15


Glenora
CASSIDY Karen 4
GRAHAM Jackie 1
MORRIS Tim 28
PRIOR Sharon 3
STEVENS Karl 2

GRAY Leigh 17
HIDDING Rene 18
HOWLETT Jane 8
PLAYSTED James 15
SHELTON Mark 2

BUTLER Heather 12
LLEWELLYN David 39
POLLEY Michael 32
SULLIVAN Brendan 9
WHITE Rebecca 20
WRIGHT Nick 10

Granton
CASSIDY Karen 9
GRAHAM Jackie 9
MORRIS Tim 58
PRIOR Sharon 2
STEVENS Karl 8

GRAY Leigh 20
HIDDING Rene 33
HOWLETT Jane 34
PLAYSTED James 27
SHELTON Mark 12

BUTLER Heather 10
LLEWELLYN David 51
POLLEY Michael 29
SULLIVAN Brendan 10
WHITE Rebecca 62
WRIGHT Nick 25

Gretna
CASSIDY Karen 2
GRAHAM Jackie 2
MORRIS Tim 17
PRIOR Sharon 0
STEVENS Karl 2

GRAY Leigh 9
HIDDING Rene 21
HOWLETT Jane 13
PLAYSTED James 21
SHELTON Mark 7

BUTLER Heather 3
LLEWELLYN David 29
POLLEY Michael 16
SULLIVAN Brendan 5
WHITE Rebecca 10
WRIGHT Nick 9

Hamilton
CASSIDY Karen 2
GRAHAM Jackie 2
MORRIS Tim 15
PRIOR Sharon 1
STEVENS Karl 2

GRAY Leigh 8
HIDDING Rene 14
HOWLETT Jane 14
PLAYSTED James 17
SHELTON Mark 3

BUTLER Heather 3
LLEWELLYN David 24
POLLEY Michael 14
SULLIVAN Brendan 2
WHITE Rebecca 5
WRIGHT Nick 7

Lachlan
CASSIDY Karen 2
GRAHAM Jackie 6
MORRIS Tim 105
PRIOR Sharon 8
STEVENS Karl 8

GRAY Leigh 8
HIDDING Rene 24
HOWLETT Jane 27
PLAYSTED James 15
SHELTON Mark 9

BUTLER Heather 15
LLEWELLYN David 46
POLLEY Michael 18
SULLIVAN Brendan 8
WHITE Rebecca 47
WRIGHT Nick 16

Magra
CASSIDY Karen 7
GRAHAM Jackie 4
MORRIS Tim 48
PRIOR Sharon 1
STEVENS Karl 4

GRAY Leigh 22
HIDDING Rene 47
HOWLETT Jane 37
PLAYSTED James 30
SHELTON Mark 16

BUTLER Heather 20
LLEWELLYN David 87
POLLEY Michael 45
SULLIVAN Brendan 9
WHITE Rebecca 56
WRIGHT Nick 29

Maydena
CASSIDY Karen 6
GRAHAM Jackie 0
MORRIS Tim 21
PRIOR Sharon 3
STEVENS Karl 5

GRAY Leigh 4
HIDDING Rene 10
HOWLETT Jane 2
PLAYSTED James 9
SHELTON Mark 1

BUTLER Heather 6
LLEWELLYN David 31
POLLEY Michael 9
SULLIVAN Brendan 9
WHITE Rebecca 6
WRIGHT Nick 6

Molesworth
CASSIDY Karen 6
GRAHAM Jackie 4
MORRIS Tim 92
PRIOR Sharon 5
STEVENS Karl 5

GRAY Leigh 6
HIDDING Rene 26
HOWLETT Jane 10
PLAYSTED James 14
SHELTON Mark 7

BUTLER Heather 8
LLEWELLYN David 29
POLLEY Michael 26
SULLIVAN Brendan 11
WHITE Rebecca 27
WRIGHT Nick 8

New Norfolk
CASSIDY Karen 27
GRAHAM Jackie 29
MORRIS Tim 263
PRIOR Sharon 19
STEVENS Karl 20

GRAY Leigh 55
HIDDING Rene 160
HOWLETT Jane 123
PLAYSTED James 74
SHELTON Mark 25

BUTLER Heather 87
LLEWELLYN David 307
POLLEY Michael 176
SULLIVAN Brendan 41
WHITE Rebecca 299
WRIGHT Nick 76

New Norfolk North
CASSIDY Karen 11
GRAHAM Jackie 7
MORRIS Tim 119
PRIOR Sharon 6
STEVENS Karl 6

GRAY Leigh 31
HIDDING Rene 118
HOWLETT Jane 62
PLAYSTED James 52
SHELTON Mark 27

BUTLER Heather 41
LLEWELLYN David 287
POLLEY Michael 142
SULLIVAN Brendan 42
WHITE Rebecca 228
WRIGHT Nick 121

Ouse
CASSIDY Karen 3
GRAHAM Jackie 2
MORRIS Tim 13
PRIOR Sharon 2
STEVENS Karl 4

GRAY Leigh 23
HIDDING Rene 36
HOWLETT Jane 10
PLAYSTED James 30
SHELTON Mark 5

BUTLER Heather 2
LLEWELLYN David 52
POLLEY Michael 22
SULLIVAN Brendan 3
WHITE Rebecca 17
WRIGHT Nick 9

Westerway
CASSIDY Karen 4
GRAHAM Jackie 1
MORRIS Tim 34
PRIOR Sharon 4
STEVENS Karl 2

GRAY Leigh 8
HIDDING Rene 19
HOWLETT Jane 11
PLAYSTED James 18
SHELTON Mark 5

BUTLER Heather 5
LLEWELLYN David 35
POLLEY Michael 5
SULLIVAN Brendan 3
WHITE Rebecca 15
WRIGHT Nick 11

Willow Court statement

I have conflicting feelings about the latest twist in the Willow Court story. 

I have always said Willow Court should not have been sold by the government in the first place. It should have been been declared a National Park like Port Arthur and appropriately developed for visitors.

That said, I'm not in favour of the council handing back Willow Court at this time. In the months since my election to council we have taken the necessary steps to have Willow Court open to visitors by the end of May. We are reviewing and updating 10 years' worth of planning. We have established the Friends of Willow Court to introduce community participation. 

If anything, the government's record of caring for the site is just as bad as the council's. The first local attempts to turn Willow Court into a museum date back to the 1960s but nothing came of it and the barracks in particular continued to deteriorate while under various government ownership.

I have led the criticism of the council's handling of the site in the past, but we are finally making progress and the majority of councillors have endorsed this new thrust. I fear that returning the site to the state will only further delay the preservation and redevelopment of Willow Court and surrounds.

What I find particularly galling is that Mayor Martyn Evans has allowed one councillor's position on Willow Court to override lawful council decisions. It seems all of our plans have been thrown to the wind following a short meeting with the premier, which I was unable to attend. I am most disappointed at this turn of events and appalled that I had to learn about it at a public meeting without being briefed by the mayor beforehand.

Ten years ago this council took ownership of Willow Court without asking if that was what the community wanted. Now after wasting about $2 million with no discernable result, it is proposed to give the site away without asking if that is what the community wants. I really expected better from this mayor.

This situation also brings into question how the council can in good faith interview potential purchasers of the oval precinct tomorrow, when on Sunday we may no longer own the site.

Councillor Damian Bester

(this statement was issued to the Derwent Valley Gazette earlier today)

Willow Court shock

AFTER 10 years in council hands, the Willow Court historic site would be resumed by a re-elected Labor State Government, Lyons Labor MHA David Llewellyn told tonight's election forum at New Norfolk. The shock announcement follows discussions between the council and Premier David Bartlett earlier today. Mr Llewellyn said the government had decided to allow the Derwent Valley Council to keep the disputed $750,000 grant originally intended for Willow Court works, and this could be used for any purpose the council sees fit. Liberal MHA Rene Hidding said his party would work to assist the council develop Willow Court if elected this weekend.

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published. 

Candidates' forum tonight

A REMINDER that the Lyons Candidates' Election Forum is on this evening at the New Norfolk District Football Club at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Lyons Labor candidate Nick Wright

LISTENING to hundreds of people since I started campaigning in the Derwent Valley in April 2009, I share the growing optimism that there are better times ahead. The Derwent Valley's natural beauty, history, proximity to the wilderness, agriculture and strong sense of community could combine to make the Derwent Valley a model of what can be achieved around regional Tasmania.


The rejuvenation of the Council at last year's local government elections was an important turning point: the election of a new, energetic, capable, experienced and straight talking Labor member in southern Lyons would be another step forward in supporting the Valley's potential.


Should I be elected, my focus for the Derwent Valley would be upon:

• supporting opportunities for investment and economic development, by working with the Council and potential investors to maximise the support available from State Government, navigating planning and environmental approvals and standing up to green busy bodies who stand in the way of most of the projects proposed in regional Tasmania;
• helping the Derwent Valley gets a fairer share of support services for disadvantaged people.  Having spent time in both communities, it is really striking that there are nowhere near the number and range of support services in New Norfolk that are provided to Bridgewater and Gagebrook - but it is also obvious that in some areas, the level of disadvantage is very similar;
• working with the local bus operator and the Tasmanian Bus Association to build on and sustain the improvement in the region's public bus services.

I need a big vote from the Valley to secure the privilege of a seat in Parliament - so make sure you make the Wright choice on election day!

Nick Wright

* All Lyons candidates have been invited to provide a statement for publication, detailing their commitments for the Derwent Valley. Mr Wright is the first to do so.

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Premier visits at last

PREMIER David Bartlett met several members of the Derwent Valley Council this morning, but work commitments prevented my attendance. I have not yet heard what commitments he made for the Derwent Valley and there have been no public statements on the matter. After leaving New Norfolk, Mr Bartlett travelled to Bridgewater where he promised to build a $3 million 25m pool if his government is re-elected this weekend.


Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Is it something we said?

DERWENT Valley Councillors lost another opportunity to lobby Premier David Bartlett when both he and Opposition Leader Will Hodgman opted out of today's general meeting of the Local Government Association. Held at the Brighton Civic Centre at Bridgewater, the gathering of councils was expecting to be addressed by Mr Hodgman at 10.15am and Mr Bartlett at 2.30pm. Instead, they heard from Rene Hidding and David Llewellyn. The only leader to keep his appointment was Nick McKim, despite having his party's election campaign launch today as well.


Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Early opening for school refurbishment

WORK has not yet finished, but the refurbished New Norfolk Primary School was officially opened today, with Lyons Labor MHA David Llewellyn standing in for Premier and Education Minister David Bartlett. “To all intents and purposes, New Norfolk Primary School will present as a new school when all building work is complete,” Mr Llewellyn said.

State Government funding of $2.59 million covered the cost of a new classroom block on top of the existing Prep classroom, as well as the refurbishment of the majority of classrooms. Work started a year ago and a strong working relationship between the school, supervising architect and the builders had enabled the uninterrupted education of the school's growing student body. “This is no mean feat considering the potential for disruption presented by more than 12 months of major works on a school site," Mr Llewellyn said.

An additional $2 million in Federal Government "Education Revolution" funding had extended the project to include refurbishing the multi-purpose hall, library and other classrooms, as well as a $125,000 upgrade of playgrounds and the replacement of boundary fences.

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Still no word on premier's no-show

A MEETING of Derwent Valley Councillors was told last night that Premier David Bartlett's New Norfolk visit was confirmed only 15 minutes prior to last Sunday's non-appearance at the New Norfolk District Football Club. Mayor Martyn Evans said the visit had been confirmed by the office of Derwent MLC and state treasurer Michael Aird. No word had been received to explain why the premier had not turned up.

Mayor Evans said he was still hopeful of meeting Mr Bartlett prior to next fortnight's State Election, in order to impress upon the premier the many pressing needs of the Derwent Valley.

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Election forum advertisement

Premier was a no-show

MYSTERY surrounds the non-appearance of Premier David Bartlett at a function with Derwent Valley Councillors yesterday morning. On Friday evening, deputy mayor Craig Farrell emailed all councillors on behalf of the mayor and requested their attendance at the New Norfolk District Football Clubrooms on Sunday morning (yesterday) where Mr Bartlett would make a funding announcement for the Derwent Valley.

I was unable to attend, due to illness, but advised the mayor that I would look forward to hearing of Mr Bartlett's election commitments and if necessary "to eat humble pie" following my outburst at last week's council workshop where I said the State Government would not talk to the council while we continued to stonewall on the issue of unspent grant funding for Willow Court.

On Sunday morning, Mayor Evans, Deputy Mayor Farrell, Councillors Bromfield, Elliott and Lathey, and general manager Stephen Mackey attended the football clubrooms. Representing the State Government were David Llewellyn MHA, and an advisor - but no premier.

After a bit of a chat, Mr Llewllyn made his announcement of $50,000 funding for the Boyer Oval lights and that was that. This was welcome news - but it's hardly anything like the $27 million promised by David Bartlett to the West Coast municipality.


Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Labor promises night-time footy at New Norfolk

A RE-ELECTED Labor State Government would fund the completion of lights at New Norfolk's Boyer Oval, Lyons MHA David Llewellyn said today. "Last year Sport and Recreation provided funding of $47,400, and now we are committing to provide further funding to complete the project," Mr Llewellyn said.

"A Labor government will provide another $50,000 to light up the four new light towers. The lights will improve the playing and training situation for footballers and cricketers, and for Derwent Valley schools," Mr Llewellyn said.

"New Norfolk Football Club and Derwent Valley cricket teams will be able to play games at night under the new lights. When Brighton Football Club started Saturday night games in 2009, using game-standard lighting, the crowds were terrific. It's a great opportunity for people to enjoy each other's company and encourage community sport at the same time.

"About 3000 come to sporting competitions in the Derwent Valley - this will provide better facilities for all of them," he said. Mr Llewellyn said the overall project has been supported by a great deal of in-kind support from the community, local businesses and the Derwent Valley Council.

Please note: By law, online comments relating to the State Election must include the given name, surname and locality of the writer. Anonymous comments cannot be published.

Meet the candidates at New Norfolk

AS advertised in this week's issue of the Derwent Valley Gazette, a state election forum featuring candidates for Lyons will be held at the New Norfolk District Football Clubrooms at 7.30pm on March 15. I hope to see you there.

Lyons candidates named

SIXTEEN candidates from the three major parties will contest the five available seats in Lyons in this month's State Election. In the order in which they were named by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission today, the candidates are:

Division of Lyons
Enrolment 72,346
   
TASMANIAN GREENS         
CASSIDY, Karen - Tasmanian Greens Party Manager - Waverley     
GRAHAM, Jackie - Health Educator - Dodges Ferry     
MORRIS, Tim - Member of Parliament - New Norfolk     
PRIOR, Sharon - Team Leader - Forcett     
STEVENS, Karl - Manager, Small Business, Councillor - Beaconsfield     

LIBERAL PARTY             
GRAY, Leigh R - Customs Broker - Brighton     
HIDDING, Rene - Member of Parliament - Youngtown     
HOWLETT, Jane - Business Development Manager - Battery Point
PLAYSTED, James  - Consultant - Sandy Bay     
SHELTON, Mark - Mayor (Meander Valley Council) / Teacher - Bracknell     

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY         
BUTLER, Heather - Member of Parliament - St Helens     
LLEWELLYN, David - Member of Parliament - Howrah     
POLLEY, Michael - Member of Parliament - Longford     
SULLIVAN, Brendan - Key Account Manager - Port Sorell     
WHITE, Rebecca - Electorate Officer - Orielton     
WRIGHT, Nick - Public Servant - West Hobart