In the last blog (24th 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.
On the South Bank opposite the North Esk Rowing Club are 2 pontoons, with a long building behind it. 
