Council Welcomes Auditor General’s Findings on LIVING CITY

MEDIA RELEASE
19 September 2019

The Tasmanian Auditor-General has today released the long-awaited report on his examination of the governance and procurement of goods and services by Devonport City Council in relation to its LIVING CITY project.
“There has been significant public interest in LIVING CITY and Council welcomes the findings of the Auditor-General’s independent review following what has been an extensive 18-month examination of the project dating back to 2013” Mayor Annette Rockliff said.
The Report confirms that the Council (with one exception relating to reporting of one contract in Council’s 2015 Annual Report) had complied with all of its statutory reporting requirements under the Local Government Act 1993 and Regulations.
The Report acknowledges that prior to entering into its contract with P+I Group, Council had considered issues around the commerciality of the agreement, however it is identified this could have been better documented.
“Council accepts there is a need to improve its documenting of any value or reasonableness assessment in the future when a contract is entered into based on the extenuating circumstances provision of the Local Government Act” Mayor Rockliff said.
The Auditor-General’s Report concluded the approach taken by Council regarding the sale of land on the waterfront for the hotel development to Fairbrother Pty Ltd, met all legislative requirements and expectations. “With construction about to commence in the Waterfront Precinct, it is reassuring that Council can move forward with the confidence that due process was followed” Mayor Rockliff said.
The Report highlights the extensive cost control and program reporting measures which Council applied throughout the construction of Stage 1 of LIVING CITY. “In part, it was these measures which contributed to the project being completed around $1 million under budget” Mayor Rockliff said.
A thorough examination of the lease arrangements relating to Providore Place was considered as part of the Auditor-General’s review. The Report found there were some short comings in relation to the development of the original lease agreement between Council and Providore Place (Devonport) Pty Ltd.
“Although at the time of entering into the lease there was a desire by Council and the Lessee for a non-traditional cooperative shared arrangement, this has proven to be ineffectual and has created a significant amount of angst between the parties and I acknowledge this has reflected badly on Council within parts of the community” Mayor Rockliff said.
“I accept the findings in the Report that Council did not fully meet good governance expectations in relation to the Providore Place lease, and I commit to ensuring the recommendations provided by the Auditor-General are fully implemented”.
The Report contains eight (8) recommendations in total. Of these, three (3) are for the Government to consider relating to potential changes for inclusion in the Local Government Act with the other five (5) specifically for Devonport City Council’s consideration. “I am committed to seeing all recommendations fully implemented” Mayor Rockliff said.
Council appreciates the detailed review the Auditor-General has undertaken of the LIVING CITY project. “Whilst there are certain aspects that could have been better managed, particularly relating to the Providore Place lease, the Report acknowledges that Council in the main met its statutory and reporting obligations under the Local Government Act” Mayor Rockliff said.
“I hope now the thorough independent examination by the Auditor-General of the LIVING CITY project has been completed, and the Report publicly released, we can all move on and look to a bright and positive future for our City”.

ENDS
Media Contact
Kym Peebles |Executive Manager Organisational Performance |Devonport City Council
03 6424 0597| 0477 296 059 |kpeebles@devonport.tas.gov.au

GOOD LUCK DEVONPORT MAGPIES

The Devonport Magpies will have the backing of Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff as they take on the Burnie Dockers in the clash of the Cities at Latrobe on Saturday for the
NWFL Grand Final.
“I am sure I speak on behalf of all Devonport residents when I say “Go Magpies” and we look forward to their victory over the team from that ‘smaller City’ down the road in
Burnie” Mayor Rockliff said.
In fact, the Magpies will be hoping to make it two wins on the day, as they are also in the Under 18 Grand Final up against Wynyard.

MEDIA RELEASE

New Indie School to open in Devonport 17 September 2019

The Devonport City Council has confirmed that, subject to approval from the Minister for Education and Training, there will be a second alternative education Indie School in Tasmania.

It will operate from the former Devonport Library, in Oldaker Street, from the beginning of the 2020 school year.

Council has worked closely with the Indie School, which began in Albury-Wodonga in 2006, for several months.

Indie Schools aim to help teenagers considered educationally at risk, offering an alternative senior-secondary option to help them through years 9 to 12.

Indie School is a registered non-government school which provides an alternative education for young people aged 15-19, with campuses located in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.

Their programs are based on individualised support and strengths-based learning to reengage students into education by increasing their self-esteem, confidence and academic achievement. Class sizes are kept small, with individual learning plans being the cornerstone agreement to re-engage vulnerable students.

Indie Schools have higher ratios of welfare support, use life experienced teachers/coaches and offer flexible modes of study.

“Generally, our students would be those who are disengaged from the mainstream education process, and they may not have been attending school for some time,” the Deputy Principal of Indie Schools, David Pickett, said.

Indie School has appointed Mr. Nic Page, former Program Manager of Space Devonport and Burnie to lead Indie School Devonport. Mr Page has taken up his position and has commenced his liaison with local school, community service agencies and youth groups.
The Mayor Cr Annette Rockliff said Council had negotiated a commercial lease of the former Library to Indie Schools.

She said it and hoped to work closely with the School to also encourage a greater level of assistance to young people in Devonport.
“It is acknowledged that children learn in different ways and some thrive better in a less traditional school environment,” she said.
“I am confident that this school will meet a definite need in the community and Council is pleased that it has been able to assist bring the concept to the city.”

The leasing of the former library to the Indie School, enables the use of the site for an important community service provider in the short to medium term, whilst providing Council with flexibility to redevelop the site in accordance with the LIVING CITY Masterplan in the future.

ENDS
Media Contact David Pickett |Deputy Principal| Indie Schools 0428 895 030

Kym Peebles |Executive Manager Organisational Performance |Devonport City Council 03 6424 0597| 0477 296 059 |kpeebles@devonport.tas.gov.au