Still! Playing Games: Rowing Tasmania and Launceston City Council - Again.

In the last blog (24^th October) this blogger, reported some improvement in relations with Rowing Tasmania and developments regarding the Inveresk Rowing Precinct, and the North Esk Rowing Club.

Unfortunately it must now be reported that Rowing Tasmania and the Launceston City Council, are still playing games.

In October the Committee of the North Esk Rowing Club, meet with the President, CEO and Pathways (Talent) Development Officer of Rowing Tasmania. During this meeting all three members of Rowing Tasmania, clearly and unequivocally stated they did not want control or management of the piece of land behind the North Esk Rowing Club, and the Charles Street Bridge. The same statements were made regarding the lease of ground (foot print) of the North Esk Rowing Club (I’ll come back to this in a moment).

The North Esk Rowing Club, now believe this to be untrue. 

Further, at this meeting Rowing Tasmania acknowledged that the North Esk Rowing Club, had not been kept up to date on developments of and around the Rowing Precinct development – now under the management of Rowing Tasmania and that this would no longer be the case. North Esk would be added to the list of stakeholder rowing clubs and be kept up to date. It can now be confirmed that this is not eventuated and North Esk are still being left in the dark.

In this very same meeting Rowing Tasmania, also stated that no Rowing Tasmania monies would be spent on the Inveresk Rowing Precinct development. At this point, perhaps it’s time for the Tasmanian Rowing community – individuals, clubs and schools; to start asking some very serious questions of Rowing Tasmania Board and question themselves as to their faith in the board itself?

Added to all of this, the North Esk Rowing Club, now suspects (but can’t as yet prove) that Rowing Tasmania, Pathways Development Officer may have recorded the meeting; without the knowledge or consent of the North Esk Rowing Club committee.

Now back to the North Esk Rowing Club lease. Amongst all of this (potentially) dishonest conduct, the North Esk Rowing Club are still no further in it’s negotiations with the Launceston City Council regarding it’s foot print lease. Attempts have been made with relevant employees of the Launceston City Council, as well as attempts to meet with key Alderman. All yielding - naught. No meeting, no discussions. With the election over and Council elected and Council employed Officers in place, perhaps they are all feeling comfortable and secure in their positions and merely consider the North Esk Rowing Club, will like the lease holders* at the Launceston City Airport (of which the Launceston City Council are a majority share holder), Inveresk Bowls Club, Equestrians, Cricket Club and Launceston Royal Show Society; will simply roll over, give up and wait for the inevitable loss of their invested capital / major assets. Clearly they don't know Rowers - It's an endurance sport, it's in a Rowers DNA ..... 

There can be absolutely no doubt, at all. Based on Rowing Tasmania's actions to date; they are playing the long game to acquire North Esk Rowing Clubs financial assets  - particularly head lease, pontoon and building. In which case every single rowing club in the state should start worrying about their own future.

All the North Esk Rowing Club are requesting is:

• Transparency and integrity from both Rowing Tasmania, Launceston City Council and the University of Tasmania, regarding the Rowing Precinct and its development(s).  

• A 10-year or greater lease on its foot print lease (NERC owns the building on top) with the option of a further 10-year lease at the end of that period. 

• The inclusion of (and freedom to develop and control) the piece of ground between the North Esk Rowing Club and Charles Street Bridge. This is particularly important to the Club as it does not hold a lease and has no control of the existing car park next to the rowing club, nor it’s own boat park, outside it’s shed doors, nor ground to the pontoon (owned by North Esk and St Patricks’ College). It also now appears UTAS rowing have now approached both North Esk Rowing Club and St Patricks’ College to purchase the pontoon. North Esk have refused the offer and sincerely hope; and do not believe it is St Patricks’ College’s best interests to sell (and loose) control of their half. 

• The North Esk Rowing Club has been on it's current site for more than 10 years. It has run independently through out that time, from that site and wishes to remain so. Happily running adjacent to the new Rowing Precinct, but not directly part of it, nor it's management by Rowing Tasmania. Given recent developments, as described here, there is little, if any trust remaining between this club, nor it's the sports (state) peak rowing body.

In 2019 the North Esk Rowing Club will be 120 years old. In that time, it has survived fires and floods. Yet this current situation, has the potential to be it's greatest risk / threat yet; to it's assets, sovereignty and independence; with the risk coming from the very peak state body established to support the sport, and a municipal council which appears to have an appetite for compromisng and potentially crippling community groups. Every, not for profit community group in the Launceston Council Municipality should be deeply concerned.

The more we see of the Inveresk Rowing Precinct development, the more obvious it becomes that dirty games, politics and deceptions are at play.

One last thing…. A question. The University of Tasmania are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the establishment and development of a UTAS North, Rowing Club (along with the relocation of it’s Newnham / Launceston campus to Inveresk, instead of redeveloping a perfectly good existing campus). Yes simultaneously UTAS are unable to adequately provide residency and housingto students at the Hobart campus’. Given its reliance on overseas students for income, how do they consider any of this economically viable? 

Given there is a federal election mere months away, perhaps we had all best sit back and wait for the pork barrelling to commence .......

Please Note:

It is my considered opinion that when faced with a political environment which is not being open and transparent, local media which has become nothing more than a ‘cut and paste’ from prepackaged media release(s) and with 60% of the nation’s media organisations owned or controlled by one media mogul; we have a social and civic duty to ask questions and provide information to the larger community.

If this means that I am perceived as a ‘revolutionary’, a ‘S*** Stir’, ‘difficult’ whatever else, then so be it.  This blog is my own, the opinions and thoughts expressed, are - my own and based entirely on facts available at time of writing. 

 

*Lease holders at Launceston Airport with affected leases include, Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Aero Club, both of which, as with those already listed in Launceston; are not for profit community organisations.

State of Rowing & Launceston City Council- Update

Update written: 24th October 2018.

Copy provided to Rowing Tasmania, prior to posting.

 

Today, I’d like to thank all those who have provided feed back on previous blogs. Whether positive or negative all is valuable.

Speaking out publicly, placing issues within the public domain, forces questions to be asked some of which may eventually be answered. When this occurs, or new information becomes available, I’m always happy to provide a blog update.

However, this blog is my own, the opinions and thoughts expressed, are my own.

It is my considered opinion that when faced with a political environment which is not being open and transparent, local media which has become nothing more than a ‘cut and paste’ from prepackaged media release(s) and with 60% of the nation’s media organisations owned or controlled by one media mogul; we have a social and civic duty to ask questions and provide information to the larger community.

If this means that I am perceived as a ‘revolutionary’, a ‘S*** Stir’, ‘difficult’ what ever else, then so be it.

Also, lets keep in mind that Launceston is in the midst of a municipal council election and a Federal election is due in 2019. These being, the opportune moments, to lift the carpet, ask difficult questions and speak out where they have not been forth coming.

Right. Lets get to business on these updates.

First to the matter of Rowing Tasmania. Relations between the Tasmanian peak body and Tasmanian Rowing Clubs, is largely symbiotic, but has by no means always been on calm waters.

During the process of researching the history of Northern Tasmania’s early rowing days, I stumbled upon some material which suggests; early last century there may have been an attempt to form a break away, state body. At one point, two bodies did exist – The Tasmanian Rowing Association and a Tasmanian Rowing Union. Things must have been pretty bad!

As to the current situation, my updated understanding is as follows.

To date Rowing Tas has received $5000 from the Launceston City Council and $25,000 from the current Liberal, Tasmanian State Govt. This money is for the preliminary part, of the Launceston Rowing Precinct project development including: liaising with those clubs and schools looking to locate into the new rowing precinct. Creation and feed back of plans, modeling etc. Reliable sources indicate this project will only go ahead with funding from outside sources – not from the coffers of Rowing Tasmania itself. Should external funding not be available, the project will simply not be achievable.

The Pontoon which Rowing Tasmania and the Launceston City Council are proposing to use for the entire precinct, is owned jointly by St Patrick’s College and the North Esk Rowing Club.

The Launceston City Council decided and the stakeholders informed at meeting on the 19^th May 2018. This does not reflect the original situation as discussed and agreed to between LCC, North Esk Rowing Club and a private benefactor when the repairs and extensions to the pontoon where originally, put on the table at North Esk - discussed and agreed to between these three parties.

In fact post the meeting on 19^th May, North Esk were somewhat shell shocked, to say the very least. However, this may actually turn out to be to St Patrick College and North Esk Rowing Club’s advantage in the longer term.

Whilst these two organisations will retain ownership and management of the pontoon, there are still serious concerns from both organisations as to the practicality of boating an entire rowing precinct from one pontoon already running at capacity (which is why the size was doubled post 2016 flood) plus and the existence of the new foot bridge creating bottle necks – particularly with quick moving tides or flood waters.

A second pontoon on the other side of the bridge would be a more sensible proposal and practical solution.

Now to Rowing Tasmania itself. I’ve been advised recently that, the hiring of employees by Rowing Tasmania has been out sourced to (*find and insert company name here?*) and therefore - independent.

Within Tasmania there is an entire generation, almost completely unrepresented within the coaching ranks. This is not the fault of any organization, nor is this a criticism of any coach. It is simply the way things are.

Tasmania does have some exceptional coaching talent, which would be greatly enhanced and supported with the introduction of ‘new blood’. In deed a prime example of this was the arrival of Sam La Compt from New Zealand during the 1990s.

Fresh ideas and perspective would be of great benefit statewide, particularly within development programs and coach mentoring.

The other issue is the perception by many that the sovereignty and independence of their clubs are under threat.

Whilst Revolutionize Sport is an outstanding platform which has greatly improved efficiency of administration for those clubs and schools using it; there are parameters and restrictions which are not only causing some internal issues for users, unnecessary work for state bodies. In some instances these could be interpreted as conflicting with the autonomy of organisations. This is a situation, which needs rectifying ASAP. Not only for practicality, but also to alleviate the fore mentioned concerns.

The best publicity any community or government body – or, indeed any large project for that matter, is through open communication, community engagement, regular updates and transparency.

Whilst we are on the matter of autonomy, independence and asset management / protection of community organisations; I must also add an update on Launceston City Council matters. However, that will have to be part 2 for another blog.