Standards panel determination

THE Standards Panel of the Local Government Association of Tasmania has upheld Mr Ian Brown's appeal in relation to his Code of Conduct complaint against me. In a letter received by Registered Post today, the panel imposed the following sanctions upon me:

a) a caution
b) an apology to Mr Brown
c) a requirement to attend training

At this stage of the process, any appeals must be made by application to a court within 28 days of receiving notification of the panel's determination. If no application is received from myself or the complainant, the panel's recommendation will be reported to the mayor for consideration firstly by a closed council meeting and finally by an open council meeting. 

Comments will not be published until this matter is concluded.

November advertisement

BELOW is my latest councillor update, published in last week's issue of the Derwent Valley Gazette. A constituent suggested I publish these more often, but to keep them shorter. I tried!

Positive night at the council

THERE was a strong community focus at tonight's council meeting, with some good decisions made for our the people of our municipality. We took the first steps towards formalising the Friends of Frescati and helping them reach their goal of establishing a community garden; we approved the establishment of a committee to review the "spatial plan" for the New Norfolk central business district; and we endorsed a process for the removal of the pink planter boxes in Burnett St. The meeting finished a little earlier than usual, leaving time to chat with the members of the public who attended tonight's meeting.

Tidy Towns Committee brings home the prize

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone associated with the Derwent Valley Council's Tidy Towns Committee following their successful campaign which has resulted in New Norfolk being named the winner of the 2010 Tasmanian Tidy Towns Award. The committee wins $2000 and a trophy.

New Norfolk will now represent Tasmania in the judging for the national award. The competition includes Rutherglen (Victoria) and Stanthorpe (Queensland).

Previous winners of the state Tidy Town award are:

Year	Winner
2009/10	Richmond
2008/09	Oatlands
2008	Ross
2006	Swansea - 2007 National Winner
2005	Burnie
2004	Latrobe
2003	Bicheno
2002	Stanley
2001	Richmond
2000	Burnie
1999	Wynyard
1998	Smithton
1997	Latrobe
1996	Stanley - 1997 National Winner
1995	Deloraine
1994	Stanley
1993	Deloraine
1992	Deloraine
1991	Evandale
1990	Mathinna
1989	George Town
1988	George Town
1987	Ulverstone
1986	Ross
1985	Ross
1984	Mole Creek
1983	Mole Creek
1982	Wynyard
1981	Wynyard
1980	Wynyard

Subdivision comments

LAST week's council meeting declined to approve a subdivision at Molesworth, based on concerns about the impact of additional traffic on Molesworth Rd. Here's what I had to say on the matter: "Residents of the Molesworth district have had much to say about this subdivision, and they are in one voice on the subject of the proposed access road. I am not opposed to this subdivision but I agree with the concerns of the locally affected people. In particular I am concerned about the road safety implications of the proposed access off Molesworth Rd. I have visited the site and cannot agree with the finding that this is a suitable access point. I note the photographs showing sightlines from the road's edge and make the observation that few drivers leave their cars to check for oncoming traffic.Sightlines from the driver's seat of my car were not as generous as those in the planner's report. I cannot support the recommendation as it stands, and urge that more consideration be given to the option of accessing the proposed subdivision from the Lyell Highway. If the Lyell Highway cannot cope with an access of this type, we must ask what has been achieved by the State Government's $14 million worth of alleged improvements."