Hon..David Llewellyn AM – Willow Court Tasmania

Hon. David Llewellyn AM, Conservation Progress Report

October 27, 2014 No Comments

October 2014

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee of the Derwent Valley Council received a report from David Llewellyn which was recorded so everyone can have access to the updated information of the site.

Recorded last Wednesday and broken up into 20 small podcasts for you to hear, with each podcast edited and self titled for easy access to the subject/s that interest you or you can just play all 20 and know the very latest information.

Click on the picture to go to the restoration tab and hear the podcasts.

1. “Work priority considerations” 1:50
2. “ Welcome” 1:05
3. “Total expenditure” 0:49
4. “The project manager” 1:29
5. “Terms of reference and committee make up” 2:28
6. “Security” 1:50
7. “Reason why conservation not complete” 1:23
8. “Questions DVC Strategy for use” 2:37
9. “Preamble” 1:59
10. “MOU” 1:15
11. “Grape vine cuttings” 0:53
12. “David Llewellyn Future” 0:48
13. “Fund raising and financial plan” 2:45
14. “Frustrations and reports” 1:30
15. “Frascati” 1:20
16. “Conclusion” 1:05
17. “Brett Noble on going involvement” 1:13
18. “Anchor tenant and occupancy” 2:27
19. “2012” 1:42
20. “2010” 2:16

Global, Local

Friends of Willow Court AGM

October 20, 2014 No Comments

This Wednesday, 22nd October 2014 will be the Annual General Meeting AGM for the Friends of Willow Court Special Committee. Guest Speaker will be the Chair of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee Mr. David Llewellyn.

The meeting will take place at the Derwent Valley Community House, The Avenue, New Norfolk at 7 pm.

There may also be some issues with parking as the Kettering Incident KTI film crew will be using the old Administration Building next door, but they hope to conclude by the time the meeting is going to get underway.

All members of the public are welcome to attend and people who are interested in joining the Friends of Willow Court are also invited. Nomination forms will be available on the day or by request. A light supper will be provided.

Global

News Release

July 30, 2013 No Comments

WILLOW COURT BARRACKS PRECINCT RENEWAL WORKS July 2013 Media Release

“Restoration work on Willow Court will be moving to a higher and more exciting level over the next few months ”Chairman of the Derwent Valley Councils Willow Court Conservation Special Committee David Llewellyn said today. “The work on repairing the windows at Bronte has brought the building to life again, but there is much more to do.”

The Committee at its July meeting concluded an “Expressions of interest process” for work on The Barracks, Bronte and landscaping surroundings of the heritage precinct. The successful proponent was Xsquared Architects, incorporating Inspiring Place and the Centre for Heritage at Oatlands. Xsquared was selected after a rigorous assessment from a very competitive field of contenders and will lead a group of experienced specialists in oversighting the next restoration stage of works. “Our focus now is to finalise works approvals with the various regulatory bodies and to invite comments from the New Norfolk community.” David Llewellyn said. “We want public input into the plans and we also want the public and local community to get involved in the current works. David Llewellyn again emphasised that local contractors have already been used on current works and local contractors will be actively pursued for the new works once approvals secured.

Restoration works on The Barracks will start very soon, including repairs to exterior and interior elements of the building, and opening up other rooms.
Willow Court is a nationally recognised heritage precinct, of great importance to the region and nation. The most historic of the many buildings that make up the site is The Barracks, built around 1830. The Barracks was built as Tasmania’s first hospital for invalid convicts but soon was exclusively used as a ‘lunatic asylum’. “The project is an excellent example of collaboration between local, State and Federal governments, and I am keen to build on that collaborative effort in order to see full use of the buildings at Willow Court”, David Llewellyn reiterated.

Media Contact: David Llewellyn 0418122048

Local

Willow Court Media Release

July 2, 2013 No Comments

The Derwent Valley Council has put a media release up on their website well after the community already knew about it nearly two weeks earlier. It would appear that the Council is better at leaking news and not taking the opportunity to be the first to announce to the community the positive stories of Willow Court’s restoration progress. In the latest news from Councillor Damian Bester own web blog, which contained the media release over a week earlier, he suggests that Mercury Columnist, Leo Schofield needs to get the facts right before reporting in the Mercury Newspaper about Willow Court. Both men are employed by the Mercury Newspaper. Social media comments on New Norfolk Facebook groups are condemning Leo Schofield for his critical reflections of The Valley, it’s people and it’s lack of progress over the last decade with Willow Court. The media release offers little new information however the reply on Cr. Damian Bester web-blog will help secure public notoriety before the next local election due in 2014.

Official Media Release

Global

Restoration process to continue

March 19, 2013 No Comments

After the Friends of Willow Court Committee started restoration of the front gates in October 2012 and concluded in November (Gates Completed) in an attempt to get the ball rolling with restoration at the site we saw yesterday a leak from the Derwent Valley Council to the Mercury about a briefing given by David Llewellyn about further restoration works that are about to start in April. The unsigned article informed the Public that;

“In a briefing to the council, they (David Llewellyn and project manager Brett Noble) said the installation of a power supply was almost complete, giving a kick-start to further works.

Mr Noble said there was about $1.5 million available to do the priority work and it would have to go a long way.

This included the development of a visitor centre in a wing of the adjacent Bronte building (1925).

He said the two buildings were in remarkably good condition and it would be possible to reuse many original features, including doors and windows.

The site would soon close to all visitors for six to eight months”

Full Mercury article.

While this article states that the site will be closed for six to eight months, Project Officer Brett Noble is in discussion with the Friends of Willow Court about holding events that have been planned for the next few months.

The Conservation Committee sort a report from Dr Jane Harrington about restoration and Priority Conservation Works on the Willow Court Precinct and this was presented to the Derwent Valley Council in November 2012. These works are of great importance and the report highlighted three points

The need to preserve and maintain the Barracks building as a matter of urgency

Funding for works to conserve the buildings being immediately available

The potential existing for Barracks and Bronte to be developed as a historic interpretation centre for the site.

Conservation Committee get on with the job.

We (Willow Court Advocay Group) are please that the first official restoration works will occur soon and that this bandage work will assist the site from deteriorating any more. The Friends of Willow Court were informed that Mr Paul Lan and Dr Jane Harrington presented a range of fencing types for Willow Court that would comply with Heritage standards but they haven’t heard anymore about security on the site and hope that something will be in place before work commences and tradesmen are employed.

As soon as talks with Brett Noble have completed a list of events will appear here.

Global

Site of Conscience and the Ministers response to be discussed at Council (UPDATE)

March 3, 2013 No Comments

UPDATE

At the February Council Meeting this year it was announced that Minister Cassie O’Conner has granted a meeting date with representatives of the Council who are concerned about the possibility of any Apology to People who were housed and incarcerated within Royal Derwent Hospital/ Willow Court. This apology was around the past practises used at this location because of the public policy at of the time.

Restriction of freedoms that most people in the community never knew about and appalling conditions that are well recorded throughout history in books such at the “Troubled Asylum” compel political leaders to ask themselves, was this right, just or proper? The Mayor should be well advised about conditions and happening from the hospital as three Councillors were former employees at Willow Court/RDH and a number have indirect connection.

Taken from the Agenda for the November Derwent Council Meeting, this article sits out. This agenda item reported on both the “Site of Conscience” statement from the Hon David Llewellyn AM on ABC Local radio and the Minister for Human Services Cassie O’Conner’s response to to the question, “when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital?”

There is no doubt that this is a sensitive issue and if the Minister is going to proceed, then a full consultation should take place.

Council Agenda

Cassie O’Conner article

Hon David Llewellyn AM Radio interview

Derwent Valley Council

Council Meeting Agenda

15 November 2012

9. MOTIONS ON NOTICE

Date: 15/11/12

File: 197

Sites of Conscience (Apology)

Moved: Cr Lester

Seconded:

That Council writes to the Minister for Human Services The Hon. Cassie O’Conner requesting a meeting with her to discuss the proposal for Willow Court Sites of Conscience before any decision is made by the State Government.

Discussion

I have been made aware that this matter must have been the subject of discussions with the Chairperson of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, the Hon David Llewellyn AM. The reason I make that statement is because he has made the comment on ABC Radio. I was somewhat heartened to read Councillor Bester’s e-mail of the 6th November 2012 which reads in part as follows:“the following message was posted today on the Willow Court website operated by the Sites of Conscience proponents. At today’s meeting with Cassie O’Conner I was able to ask the question, as the Minister for Human Services, when are you envisaging an apology to the people who lived at Willow Court and Royal Derwent Hospital? The answer in short is late next year is the plan, the longer answer is that there needs to be a lot of support from People living with Disabilities and those that advocate on behalf of those people whom may not be able to advocate for themselves.

Silence on this matter will not give support, even though there is an evidence basis for an apology. It is also important that this is not seen as an apology on behalf of previous Staff of Willow Court, but more an apology for the past policies and practices”.

I feel it is critical that the consultation that is stated above from the Minister takes place but it is also important that those that previously worked in the hospital are fully consulted as well as the people who reside in the Derwent Valley.

Global

Willow Court Conservation Special Committee Communication Brief Dec 2012

December 23, 2012 No Comments

Communication Brief – December 2012

The Chairman of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee (WCCSC) David Llewellyn today reported that a further productive meeting of the WCCSC had occurred on December 13th 2012 at its meeting in New Norfolk.

Mr Llewellyn said “progress on power supply renewal and security fencing were two issues that occupied the minds of committee members at the December meeting but by far the most important matter approved by the committee was the appointment of Mr Brett Noble to the position of Project Manager to oversight and drive restoration and development of the Willow Court site”.

Mr Noble comes to the role of Project Manager with impeccable qualifications having recently occupied the position of Director Policy and Projects within the Department of Primary Industry Parks Water and the Environment. With formal degree qualifications in archaeology Brett has wide experience in heritage development projects and will provide the important impetus necessary to achieve the outcomes sought by the committee.

“I want to place on record my thanks to the Secretary of DPIPWE Mr Kim Evans for facilitating the appointment of Mr Noble to the project manager’s position and to Brett for accepting the challenge” Mr Llewellyn said.

Although some issues may be dealt with out of session by the committee in January 2013 the next formal meeting of the WCSCC will beheld in Hobart on Thursday 14^th of February.

Global

Willow Court Centre Project Officer

December 17, 2012 No Comments

This post has been removed at the request of the Conservation Committee Representative until the minutes are ratified and publicly available.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Global, Local

The elusive tunnel?

November 27, 2012 No Comments

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE DVC.

The last minutes for the Derwent Valley Council Cr Bester asked the follow question without notice

Can you update us on the search for tunnels beneath Willow Court?

The Mayor Evans advised that the Hon. David Llewellyn had been researching the matter in the state archives and had found historical references to the tunnel dating to 1834.The mayor said he would liaise with the new licensee of the Bush Inn Hotel and a member of the public who had seen the tunnel beneath the hotel.

It is also interesting that Frascati was also built in that year and we know that the Barrel Tunnel runs out next to the Bush Inn Tony Talks about the Barrel Drain that runs from Willow Court to the Derwent River is this one in the same?

Global

Conservation Committee and DV Council get on with the job.

November 26, 2012 No Comments

Taken from the agenda for November 15th Meeting of the Derwent Valley Council. Priority Conservation Works on the Willow Court Precinct. With the power being installed soon the work needs to begin. This item is suggesting works start on the Barracks Building. We look forward to the joint press statement from the Mayor and the Chair of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee.

Council Meeting Minutes

DISCUSSION PAPER PRIORITY CONSERVATION WORKS

WILLOW COURT

Report To: Council

Author: General Manager

Qualified Officer: Dr Jane Harrington (Willow Court Conservation Special Committee) and General Manager Introduction and Purpose

The purpose of this report is to table the recommendation of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee in regard to Priority Conservation Works on the Willow Court Precinct.

Strategic Plan

IS5 To develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders on the development, management and maintenance of services in the municipality.

S3 To encourage the development of local sporting, cultural and artistic activities.

Ec1 To encourage and facilitate greater opportunities for business development and tourism and work toward a strategic plan for tourism and business development in the area.

Ec3 To develop partnerships with State Government, industry and regional bodies to promote economic and employment development.

Discussion

Background

One of the charters given to the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee (WCCSC) under the MoU with Derwent Valley Council (DVC) is to ‘develop a program of works to achieve sustainable re-use for the buildings in the Willow Court Precinct’ (para 3.3.5). at Meeting 5 of the committee (11/10/12 there was recognition that the development of a full program will take some time, but in the interim it was imperative to identify a priority project that could be commenced with a greater immediacy. This imperative has two primary drivers: the first is to provide a tangible outcome that reassures the community that the project is progressing in a meaningful way, the second is to recognise that the existing heritage documentation is now a number of years old and that it has identified a range of responsibilities in terms of conservation maintenance that need to be progressed urgently. It is proposed that the priority project be the implementation of a conservation works program for the Willow Court Barracks building. There is no argument that the heritage significance of Willow Court as a whole lies in its long history of use and incorporates all contributory structures and landscapes (this is identified in the citation for the listing on the Tasmanian Heritage Register). Within the complex, however, the Barracks building stands out as the hub of the complex, the oldest and indeed original structure, and the most fragile in terms of its construction material. It could probably be argued that it has become the most easily recognised structure in the precinct and this is enhanced by its architectural style and aesthetic appeal. Because of its ongoing use it represents both the convict and latter periods of institutional residency. The prerequisite for a program of works on any heritage place is the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan, Stage C, The Barracks and Bronte. Scripps et al, 2005. I draw the committee’s attention to page 1 of that document:

The reason for the production of this part of Stage 3 before the remaining buildings and landscape relates to factors such as:

• The need to preserve and maintain the Barracks building as a matter of urgency
• Funding for works to conserve the buildings being immediately available
• The potential existing for Barracks and Bronte to be developed as a historic interpretation centre for the site’.

It is some 7 years since the identification of the urgency of works on the Barracks and a decision by the WCCSC and the DVC to commence a conservation program for the Barracks is desirable and responsible. The conservation program being proposed relates only to general maintenance and repair, as prioritised under the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) – noting however that as the CMP is dated it is fair to assume that further works may be identified and reprioritised. It should include the external context of the building surrounds and address the courtyard plantings and relevant landscape features, including the front wall. It is not proposed that this is an initial stage of works includes interpretation. The latter depends on decisions regarding future use, however while some structural elements have been identified as less contributory to the heritage significance of the building than others, the CMP does not support internal structural changes and hence an immediate works program can be predicated on the existing room configurations remaining, regardless of latter use decisions.

Opportunities / positives

• There is a conservation imperative to progress this work as a priority

• It provides a ‘flagship’ project to endorse that the intent of the WCCSC and the

DVC is to achieve tangible and measurable outcomes

• There is an opportunity for community involvement
• It provides a focus for discussions regarding future use / tenancy of both the

Barracks building and the others in the DVC precinct.

• It provides a focus and ’showcase’ for future funding initiatives
• It is unlikely to be a controversial decision.

Threats / negatives

• A perception that greater priority is being given to the convict history of the site without regard to the longer and more significant history of the building /precinct. This needs to be countered with careful communication that the conservation of the building recognises this continuing use and that the Barracks is but one component in a broader heritage landscape.
• The loss of immediate ‘opportunity’ in terms of the use of funds elsewhere.

(c) Stakeholders

Willow Court Conservation Special Committee and Derwent valley Council

Proposed Community Consultation, Public Relations and Media Issues

If the recommendation of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee are adopted by Council a joint press release should be developed by the Mayor and Chairperson of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee.

Budget/Financial Issues

The funds required will be sourced from the Royal Derwent Hospital Development Reserve.

Policy Implications

Code of Public Tendering.

Recommendation

1. That a priority and immediate project for attention and funding is conservation works program for the Willow Court Barracks Building.

2. That a brief be prepared to engage an appropriately qualified heritage practitioner to progress this works program.

Decision:

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