Failing Willow Court

SADLY disappointed is the only way to describe my feelings after tonight's council meeting. Some kind observers have congratulated me on seeing four of my nine motions supported by the majority of councillors, but there is no escaping the fact that six councillors opposed my proposals to protect Willow Court. The devastating loss of F Ward has shaken many of us who care about the site but most of your councillors appear to be unmoved.

Equally disappointing is the fact that tonight's meeting saw the majority of councillors vote to exclude the public from our monthly workshops after the first 30 minutes. But that's another story.


Here's how it went:

Motion 1. That this council proceed immediately with the installation of permanent security fencing around Wards D, E, F and G at Willow Court.
Motion 1a. That council make urgent application to the State and Federal Government for sundry grants to contribute towards the cost of fencing Wards D, E, F and G.

What I said: Mr Mayor, This is a common sense response to the disastrous position this council and this community finds itself in after a decade of neglect at Willow Court. This motion deals with security fencing. I do not need to remind council of my comments here three months ago when I sought a price for the secure fencing of Wards D, E, F and G. And I do not need to remind councillors that once we had that price, they decided to defer consideration of such a fence for a month. That was two months ago. In those two months we have had more vandalism, more destruction, and the loss of one building to fire. It is time to stop deferring and to put up the fence. Mr Mayor, we should also make urgent application to the State and Federal Governments for financial assistance specifically for security measures. Perhaps we should also ask Leo Schofield.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey and Graham
Those against: Councillors Evans, Lester, Shoobridge, Bromfield and Nicholson
Result: Motion lost.

Motion 2. That this council proceed immediately to expand the fenced enclosure around Frescati to include the house garden area, including the pond and hedge, and the installation of electronic security inside the fenced area.
Motion 2a. That council make urgent application to the State and Federal Government for sundry grants to contribute towards the cost of expanding the fenced area around Frescati and electronic security.
Motion 2b. That council develop procedures with the Friends of Frescati to ensure their continued access to the site.

What I said: Mr Mayor, we have an excellent security fence around Frescati and this was an example of the council’s leadership at a previous time of crisis. I believe we should extend this fence and install electronic security inside the fenced area. I am mindful of the first class work of the Friends of Frescati in this area and it is not my intention to restrict their access to the site, rather to extend the secure area in keeping with the fire brigade's recommendations about access. Mr Mayor, I visited yesterday’s meeting of the Friends of Frescati to explain my intentions and express my hope for their continued good work, even if it is behind a fence.

Debate on this motion was cut short when Cr Nicholson moved a "gag" motion that brought forward the vote without further discussion.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey, Graham and Bromfield
Those against: Councillors Evans, Lester, Shoobridge and Nicholson
Vote tied and therefore the motion was lost.

Motion 3. That this council take immediate steps to bring to a speedy conclusion the protracted negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government for the development and protection of the Willow Court historic site.

What I said: Mr Mayor, I was dumbfounded last week when it emerged that this council had sent no written response to the draft MOU received from Heritage Tasmania last year. This is not good enough and this matter must be resolved without further delay.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey, Graham, Bromfield, Evans, Lester, Shoobridge and Nicholson.
Result: Motion carried unanimously.

Motion 4. That this council issue a general apology for its comprehensive failure to protect and develop the Willow Court historic site over the last decade, resulting in the vandalising of all buildings in its care and the complete destruction of one.
Motion 4a. That the apology be published as a media release issued by the mayor, as a public notice in a daily newspaper circulating in Tasmania and in a prominent position on the council website.

What I said: Mr Mayor, there can be no argument that this council's handling of Willow Court has now turned from poor to disastrous. On our watch, heritage buildings have been extensively damaged, and now, destroyed. Councillors have failed to fully comprehend and respond to the task at hand, and I have failed to convince enough councillors to act. Mr Mayor I have spent two years trying to work co-operatively with all councillors on all issues, but on the topic of Willow Court most of all. Despite early promise, we have made very little progress in those two years and that progress has been wiped out by the loss of a building we failed to protect. Over the 10 years of council ownership of the site we have comprehensively failed our community and wider Tasmania, if not Australia, and for this we should apologise. With this behind us, we can move on, speedily and co-operatively to get this site open to visitors and progressively redeveloped.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester and Lathey
Those against: Councillors Evans, Lester, Shoobridge, Graham, Bromfield and Nicholson
Result: Motion lost.

Motion 5. That this council note and apologise for its failure to implement decisions about Willow Court in a timely manner.

What I said: Mr Mayor, the list is extensive so I will restrict my remarks to the period since my election in 2009. We have the matter of the fence, we have various meetings that were requested but never convened, we had the drawn out process of the McDonald Report (before and after it was finished), we have the MOU, and need I say it, we have the financial analysis that is now 26 months overdue. For these things and more, the council should apologise.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester and Lathey
Those against: Councillors Evans, Lester, Shoobridge, Graham, Bromfield and Nicholson
Result: Motion lost.

Motion 6. That this council apologise to its ratepayers for the burden placed upon them by its failure to address the Willow Court issues for the last 10 years, including the loss of grant funds and the poor management of several million dollars.

What I said: Mr Mayor, in the absence of the required financial analysis, funds have continued to be diverted from the Willow Court account. In the first six months of the current financial year, nearly $30,000 went on rent, electricity, telephones, security, cleaning and rates, for the office at 2 High St which no longer has any connection to Willow Court. $30,000 in six months. Six month's electricity at Willow Court has apparently cost $20,000. Total expenditure charged to Willow Court since 2002 is $3.9 million and, last Christmas, we had had only $589,000 left in the account. I am afraid to ask whether that includes the $750,000 state grant. For all this Mr Mayor, the council should apologise.
 
Those in favour: Councillors Bester and Lathey
Those against: Councillors Evans, Lester, Shoobridge, Graham, Bromfield and Nicholson
Result: Motion lost.

Motion 7. That this council congratulate the owners of parts of the site who have successfully protected and developed the parts of the site they are responsible for; and pledge to work co-operatively with them from this point forward.

What I said: Mr Mayor, this is the good news. While the council has dithered over the last decade, private individuals have made progress. The owner of the former administration building has publicly stated the figure of $100,000 for the near-complete restoration of his art-deco gem. The owner of a large part of the site has successfully established an antique business and a motel, and has tenants of his own running other businesses on the site. Instead of privately disparaging these people, we should publicly congratulate them and pledge to work with them.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey, Graham, Bromfield, Evans, Lester, Shoobridge and Nicholson.
Result: Motion carried unanimously.

Motion 8. That this council thank those members of the community who have volunteered their time to work on the site in the last decade and develop procedures to work more effectively with those community members from this point forward.

What I said: Mr Mayor, we have two teams of volunteers at Willow Court. One gratefully appreciates the council's support and the other wishes for a better relationship. We should thank everyone who helps with Willow Court and seek ways to better support everyone who wishes to help.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey, Graham, Evans, Lester, Shoobridge and Nicholson.
Those against: Councillor Bromfield.
Result: Motion carried.

Motion 9. That this council make contact with Malcolm McDonald to obtain an estimate of the cost for him to source grants in accordance with the McDonald Report.

What I said: Mr Mayor, some councillors have seen fit to criticise Mr McDonald both during the drafting of his report and afterwards. Some have been critical of the report and made claims about the suitability of funding opportunities suggested in it. Mr McDonald stated his willingness to support the council in its efforts to seek funding and we should give him the opportunity to do so.

Those in favour: Councillors Bester, Lathey, Graham, Evans, Lester, Shoobridge and Nicholson.
Those against: Councillor Bromfield.
Result: Motion carried.

(The record of voting listed above will be compared with the council minutes when they are issued)