What's happening with Dark Mofo?

Click image to enlarge.

THE Derwent Valley Council has collaborated with Mona and Dark Mofo in partnership with Detached for the Asylum installation and Entry by Mirror Only performance by Mike Parr at Willow Court as part of this year's Dark Mofo Festival next month.

New Norfolk will come alive with local and international supporters of the arts. New Norfolk businesses are invited to participate with later opening hours to cater for the expected increase in the number of visitors over this period.

When?
Thursday June 9–Monday June 13
Saturday June 18
Sunday June 19

Entry by Mirror Only by Mike Parr will be open to the public for 72 hours straight, starting at noon on June 9. The venue for Entry by Mirror only will be the former Alonnah House/A Ward, in which Mike Parr will be drawing for the duration, or as much as possible. The site will be open to visitors 24 hours a day during this time. The cost of admission to the site during the performance is a mirror, of any kind, to be left behind.

Mike Parr’s Asylum is a one-off installation at Willow Court, in which the Australian performance artist will create works in response to the site of an historic mental institution dating from 1827. Asylum will occupy different buildings including the Barracks (original convict hospital), Carlton House/C Ward (former male maximum security), Alonnah House/A Ward (former female maximum security), and the Occupational Therapy building, with video, sound, photos, objects and an interactive piece.

The exhibition and performance contain disturbing content and themes, and may not be suitable for children. Curated by Jarrod Rawlins, the project is presented by Mona and Dark Mofo in partnership with Detached and the Derwent Valley Council.

• Entry by Mirror Only: From noon Thursday June 9 for 72 hours. Entry price is a mirror, which you will leave behind.
• Asylum: Entry is free, register online. Open Thursday June 9 to Sunday June 12, 24 hours (by appointment after dark; register online). Monday June 13, 12-4pm, and Saturday 18-Sunday 19, 12-4pm.

Can I participate and how?
Yes, from Wednesday, June 8, to Sunday, June 19, everyone can join us in Painting The Town Red by theming your home or shop red. Face all the mirrors in your house out to the street - share mirrors for all to see – let the town reflect through you.

Local business owners can take advantage of visitors coming through the town.  Feel free to stay open later, create specials or do whatever you’d like to make your business intriguing. Let us know what you’re doing and we can ask to add you to the website of participants. Take a look at the Paint The Town Red flyer (above) and see what prizes you could win by participating.

Who do I talk to about participating?
You can use the contacts on the flyer, or for Council questions contact Jess on jdallas@dvc.tas.gov.au or ring 6261 8517 during business hours.

What can’t I do?
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to share the best of New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley.

Your ideas wanted for the budget

THE council is once again seeking public submissions for the next budget. Written submissions for the 2016/17 financial year will be received until the close of business on April 7, posted to PO Box 595, New Norfolk or emailed to dvcouncil@dvc.tas.gov.au. All submissions received will be considered before the new council budget is finalised in late June.

March advertisement

BELOW is my councillor update published in the Derwent Valley Gazette last week.

Click image to enlarge.

No workshop this week

THERE will be no council workshop this Thursday night. This follows a council decision last year that no workshops be scheduled on the Thursday night prior to Good Friday.

The next workshop will be held in the New Norfolk Courthouse at 6.30pm on March 31. The format starts with an open session which the general public is invited to attend and this is for the first half hour. There are no agenda documents for council workshops.

We're heading your way, Westerway

THE Westerway Community Hall will be the venue for the monthly council meeting this Thursday, March 17.

The evening will start with a community forum at 6.30 and this is your opportunity to come along and ask any questions of concern, have a chat with your councillors, or let us know what you think about the idea of a footpath through the town. The formal council meeting will follow at 7pm.

Please join us - and if you would like any assistance or information about the meeting or community forum, please do get in touch. The meeting agenda is available online and in hardcopy from the council chambers.

No, No, No?

ON the face of it, it seems pretty disappointing to hear that three good ideas failed to gain approval at last week's council meeting. There are many who agree that a temporary mall in High St, food vans in our central business district and major parks, and a council presence on social media are no-brainers, but none gained a majority vote at the council table.

I voted against all three and I know that has disappointed some people. Others appreciate that I have applied my usual scrutiny and consideration to each motion. Having a good idea is only the start of reaching a good decision of council. To my mind, you also need to know who it will affect and what it will cost.



TEMPORARY MALL
Proposal, that:
1. A temporary mall be introduced in High Street, New Norfolk (between Burnett and Charles Street) each Sunday from 10am until 6pm for a trial period of three months;
2. The views of  retail traders in New Norfolk, together with the views of  members of the public be sought in relation to the merit of continuing such a concept following the conclusion of the trial period above;
3. A report be prepared summarising the views received and the cost implications of continuing the concept for the 2016/2017 financial year.

My comments at the meeting:

 

A temporary mall in High St is not a bad idea. It has been done before, on Christmas Parade days, special markets and retail promotions, and at least one Targa Tasmania lunch break. But there are a couple of problems with this proposal. The first is that it seems to be a mall without a purpose.

 

The suggestion is to close High St between Burnett and Charles St, for eight hours every Sunday for three months. What for? What will happen in those hours? Who will organise it? How will it be promoted? My feeling is that some of the traders in High St will not welcome the proposed temporary mall and they will be even less impressed if they find that the street is closed for no reason.

 

The general manager in his advice has pointed out that there will be a cost involved in closing and reopening the street. He estimates this to be $2000. The general manager also suggests that the council may need to take direct responsibility for providing entertainment and activities - and that will cost money. None of this has been budgeted for.

 

The other problem is the absence of formal consultation with the people this will affect most - the traders in High St. I do not doubt that the mayor has spoken with some of the businesses, as I have, and I believe some other councillors have too. The suggestion that the views of the traders and the general public be sought AFTER the three month trial is unacceptable.

A temporary mall in High St is not a bad idea but it needs a better plan than the one put before us tonight.

• The vote: Lost 5/3

FOOD VANS

Proposal, that:

1. The council encourage itinerant food vendors to trade in specific locations in High Street, the Esplanade and Tynwald Park by providing a licence at no cost for a trial period of three months;
2. The locations, times and vendors permitted to trade for the trial period above be determined by the General Manager;
3. A report be prepared following the trial period, to include feedback from the itinerant traders, retail food providers in New Norfolk and the general public.

My comments at the meeting:

 

I appreciate the idea behind this proposal but it has the same fundamental flaw as the motion for the temporary mall. It suggests taking action that will directly impact on some of our local businesses without seeking their opinion until after the fact.

 

Since last month this motion has expanded from a trial in High St on Sundays, to now encompass the area in or near High St, plus the Esplanade and Tynwald Park, on any day of the week and at times to be approved by the general manager.

 

Supporting the existing shops in High St and helping to fill the empty ones should be our priority, not bringing in itinerant vendors who don't pay any rates, probably don't employ local people, and under this version of the proposal, will not pay any site fees either.

 

Most of our traders are family businesses and nearly all of the local cafes have tried extending their hours into the evening and on weekends but have not found the level of support needed to continue. They also need a day off now and then.

 

It is a shame that the Esplanade and Tynwald Park have been bundled in with High St in this motion, as I would have had no problem supporting a trial in those locations, with an appropriate site fee, and perhaps including Willow Court too.

• The vote: Lost 5/3

SOCIAL MEDIA

Proposal: That the council introduce a Facebook and Twitter page.

 

My comments at the meeting:

 

I am all for improving council communications and have been doing so in my own way since my election. Facebook is not necessarily better communication. In fact, if it is not done well, it could be worse than not having Facebook at all.

 

If we are going to use Facebook we have to be serious about it and that involves staffing it. Unless we can be sure that an answer can be provided to a person asking at 11pm on a Saturday if the tip is open the next day, we are better sticking by the council's existing position of not having Facebook.

Our priority should be to launch the new council website which as far as I am aware is paid for and practically ready to go.

• The vote: Tied and lost 4/4

Council meeting coming up

THE next council meeting will be held at the New Norfolk Courthouse in Circle St this Thursday night, starting at 6.30pm and you are very welcome to join us. If you would like any assistance or information about the meeting, please do get in touch.

The meeting agenda is available online and in hardcopy from the council chambers.

Next month's meeting will be held at Westerway on March 17, starting with a community forum at 6.30pm followed by the council meeting at 7pm.