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.
Power to the Avenue
Aurora’s activities today in the Avenue are working towards Willow Court having a good supply of electric power along with others in the Avenue, by the photos this is very close to finishing. The last photo shows a new power pole with a transformer in front of Bronte Ward ready and waiting to be connected. Connection will allow better security for the Historic Precinct of The Barracks, C & A Wards and Bronte Ward. Local businesses on the east side of George Street went without power for most of the day to cater for this connection, costing over $75,000.
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ABC Broadcast; Whose heritage is worth saving in Tasmania?
Is Tasmania preserving the right things and whose heritage is worth saving anyway?
This is ABC’s Louise Saunders and Sarah Gillman interview of a mixed group of Tasmanians about our Heritage and what is worth saving and at the expense of what other heritage sites? She starts with the question, what is Heritage?
ABC Radio Tasmania Heritage Audio 44 minutes.
A general discussion about Heritage within Tasmania with guest speakers Paul Johnston, Architect; Warwick Oakman, architectural historian and member of the National Trust; Briony Kidd, Hobart-based director and playwright who was involved with the Save 10 Murray Street campaign; Dr Dianne Snowden, chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council; Aaron Everett, Aboriginal Heritage Officer with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Adrian Kelly, President of the Tasmanian Real Estate Institute.
Dianne Snowden is an ex-officio member of the Willow Court Conservation Committee as well as being the chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council.
Tasmanian Budget tomorrow
The Tasmanian State Budget will be handed down by the Treasurer on Thursday 23 May 2013.
We are interested to know how the State Government will look after it’s State Heritage Assets after Port Arthur announced that it needs 6 million dollars for restoration and ongoing maintain of the current structures. Mercury article.
Willow Court is also in need of more funding for this new financial year if restoration works are to continue. We are interested in looking at how the Tasmanian Government lead the way in restoring and protecting our Heritage sites of Tasmania. The full cost of restoration for Willow Court is in the order of 9 million dollars.
It is unclear if the Conservation Committee, Derwent Valley Council or Heritage Council have been lobbying for any funding.
Friends of Willow Court Meeting
The Friends of Willow Court have a meeting this Thursday evening at the New Norfolk Community House. Mr Brett Noble (Project Officer of the WCCC) is believed to be attending and will discuss the access to Willow Court while restoration projects are underway. It is believe that works will commence this month and continue for 6-9 months.