26 May 2015 Special Council Meeting
Closed Derwent Valley Council meeting on the 26th May to discuss the selling or leasing of Willow Court and expression of interest documents.
It is expected that the Expression of interest will take up to 12 months, so the site will be left abandoned again for that period of time.
Councillor Bester responds to this post HERE and points out that it was not a closed meeting as I have reported ( I agree that this is right).
He then goes on to write and suggest that the only source of truth about Willow Court is the “Councillors” of the Derwent Valley Council.
As we have previously seen, all have their own agenda and political futures to protect as is witnessed each time the State election is called.
While I suggest The Council is important in holding the current ownership of the site, anyone who looks back at the past 15 year after the closure of Willow Court, many of those that the Derwent Valley Council has had a leading roll in Willow Court, the proof of the work and negotiation can be found in the site as it is today.
“What’s not so good is when opinions are presented as facts” Councillor Bester tells us “opinions as fact” when the statements he refers to were those spoken either at Council meetings or by Councillors attending Friends of Willow Court meetings. So the only fact is the very confused messages that leak out of the Derwent Valley Council and from the many sources.
Here are some facts:
The Derwent Valley Council have no plans for Willow Court (Stated by a Councillor) Witnessed, despite spending $70k approx on a marketing\business plan which they are not following.
Despite the Liberal Government meeting recently with Council, there is nothing for Willow Court in the Budget. “At first glance there seems to be nothing in the budget for the major issues of Willow Court…” New Norfolk News 29th May 2015
A Councillor announced that on Friday 15th May after being asked what plans do the Council have for the site? The response was “NOTHING” (witnessed)
A Councillor announced on the same night that the keys would be handed over at the end of June.
A Councillor announced at a recent Council meeting that “Willow Court was a bloody eye sore”
A Councillor at a Council meeting also announced that “no-body wants it” referring to Willow Court.
A Councillor stated at the same meeting that the call for expressions of interest could take “up to 12 months”.
The Community House is moving into Bronte House without an impact study to know if there is any negative affect to the tourist potential of the site.
The Council is wanting to sign a lease with the Department of Health and Human Services because it will receive funds for ongoing restoration (one off), but will loose one of the main buildings of the site for tourist potential and education.
Funding is more readily available for Nationally Heritage listed sites which Willow Court is not. It has just recently been nominated for National Heritage listing. Why has the Council taken so many years to do this?
The DVC has spent 1.5 million dollars on restoration, $750 thousand of that was a state government grant, so where is the rest of the money for the assets and real estate since the DVC have been involved?
So while a local politician is smiling at you and saying trust me for all the truth, we should ask some of these questions and expect full answers.
It is surprising that Councillor Bester is using his personal blog site as the epiphany of truth.
History has indicate that any Government, local of otherwise should not be the only source of “trusted” information.
