DORSET councillors at their meeting last week supported a Notice of Motion by Cr Dale Jessup to submit a motion to the 29 October 2015 Local Government Association of Tasmania General Meeting regarding Parks and Wildlife Service priorities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The following motion will be put at the LGAT meeting:
"That LGAT write to the minister responsible for the Parks and Wildlife Service requesting that councils are genuinely involved in the process of determining PWS priorities within local government areas, rather than being subject to token consultation process."
The motion is a result of perceived token consultation with the council by the Parks and Wildlife Service.
The council on December 11, wrote to the Parks and Wildlife Service raising a number of issues about lack of maintenance which was resulting in restricted or no access to a number of trails and beaches in the Dorset area.
Northern regional manager Chris Colley responded with a suggestion that it would be a good idea to seek the council’s input into determining its priorities in Dorset in relation to walking trails, beaches and the like.
The council invited Mr Colley to its May 2015 workshop, for an open discussion regarding priorities and other issues councillors had with works being conducted by Parks and Wildlife
The council formally wrote to PWS after the workshop requesting that the Cuckoo Falls walking trail be reopened in time for this year’s tourism season.
Parks and Wildlife replied that that it did not believe Cuckoo Falls should be considered as a tourist destination.
Councillors have since discussed the response and believe it was neither appropriate nor in the spirit of the intent of the May 2015 Workshop, in that while it asked for the council’s input, it ignored the council’s advice and request in relation to Cuckoo Falls.
Accordingly Cr Jessup would like a motion to be raised at the October 29 Local Government Association of Tasmania general meeting requesting that it lobby the relevant minister to ensure that council’s have a far greater say in determining such priorities in their local government areas.