Bordreline Albury Wodonga

Is there no end to the hypocrisy that seems to permeate just about everything the executive overseen by the general manager Les Tomich seem to try their hand at. Les and his minions are very accommodating when it comes to development. Not that development is a bad thing - far from it. It's just that you would be inclined to believe that all developers are able to operate on a level playing field.

This is not so. Not by a long shot.

The level playing field some developers have to operate on is about as level as the South Summit approach to Mount Everest - and just as treacherous. Especially if you outside the tent so to speak - on the outer. There are a few developers that are - suffering there own personal Coventry. Not many people could keep a strait face and say Albury was a level playing field for developers. Still I suppose they're not alone in New South Wales. It just that the game is played on a smaller still unleveled playing field. Still one could suppose the intent is the same. The mantra of the current mayor, Councillor Glachan is that Council must never introduce a policy that will scare developers away. Even when the Albury City Council granted a deferral of developer fees to Dunlec Pty Ltd in 2009 of which Cr Duncan-Strelec was a director, Cr Glachan made an impassioned plea that not to agree to Dunlec request would send the wrong message that would permeate the minds of every developer in the land that you can't do business in Albury. Such a shocking revelation would cause anguish and resentment. That's when Cr Glachan's impassioned plea became a strident dictate. Cr Glachan is very good at vociferous dictates especially since she became mayor. 'We must not scare developers away,' she said bringing to mind long queues of penurious developers at the Albury Airport desperate to make their exit from this wretched place.

Now it seems Albury is hell-bent on adding to the list of disenfranchised developers muttering dark incantations against the powers that be in Kiewa Street. Threatening to turn their displeasure into legal proceedings.

Cr Glachan did send a message to developers when she ranted about acaring developers away. Unfortunately for Cr Glachan it was the wrong one. A bit like using the services of a singing gorilla to inform the householder that hubby was currently laid up in Intensive Care at the Albury Base Hospital. Soon a few other developers were clamouring at the gates of Kiewa Street asking for a similar favour. It seemed for a time that the floodgates would open. Just to be sure the Albury City Council in early 2010 put an end to the this highly dubious practice of deferring developer fees - for the timebeing no doubt. Cr Glachan like the GM Les Tomich are fierce protectors of developers - as if they fashioned in the manner of an endangered species. Whether the development is inappropriate for the site is usually not a consideration although they do pay a modicum of lip service to the dissenters - those desolate souls who oppose inappropriate development in Albury. They can do this either by a letter or a presentation at the Community Forum. Borderline mentions this because it would like dissenters to heed a warning. Borderline has seen Community Forums at first hand - even spoke at one and has come to the conclusion that are of little benefit when the Council make their final deliberations. Why? Because by the time some well intentioned citizen has made a heartfelt presentation to the assembled councillors most of the councillors (usually by caucasing) have made up their minds anyhow. It doesn't matter how articulate the presentation might have been - that's got nothing to do with it. Making a presentation against an inappropriate development is a waste of time and could lead to accusations of scaremongering and frightening developers away. They have even been known when they gather for a few drinks after a Council meeting to indulge in spirited ridicule of those who have made presentations in the Community Forum.

Back to the chase. Recently Borderline noticed that the Charles Sturt University was as the agenda said   (Planning & Development Committee -Monday 9 August 2010) was instigating a CSU Masterplan to ...to (sic) facilitate the disposal and redevelopment of the CSU Albury Campus , whilst at the same time remaining sympathetic to surrounding land uses and heritage items. A noble aspiration indeed after all some of the buildings on the Charles Sturt University are remarkable for the integrity of the architecture and construction. Borderline thought that such a residential development was in good hands - after all CSU had the runs on the board.
There were only three objections development submitted to Council, one from Chris Morrow asking that the Council buy the Nowik Theatre for 'small group cultural activities' which failed to garner much interest from the staff or councillors (the theatre is to be demolished as part of the residential development). The objection of Mr C Knight was to do with the modern design and height of the buildings, traffic and that the area should be kept open space.

It may not be known by the good folk of Albury that open space is an anathema to Les Tomich. To Les an open space is something you put something on - a building. This message relayed telepathically to his subordinates (those with telepathic non compliance shields to Mr Tomich don't last long at Albury City Council)is that open spaces look better with something on them. Look at Fromholtz Park. The good thing about it is there's still enough open space to put something else on. It could be argued that Albury has too much open space, and open space requires all types of maintenance thus draining Albury of council funds urgently required for other capricious follies. Still the proposed development on the CSU Albury Campus seems like an excellent idea.

The other objection was from Nicholas Little who objected wrote a letter rather than appear in person at a Community Forum for reasons that will become apparent he concluded his objection; in (sic) summary, a good quality residential development is supported but an access road from/onto Wilson Street running next to our property is seen as an inappropriate and detrimental aspect, which if implemented would require considerable careful design in terms of safe traffic access and mitigation of negative effects on our own property.... he continued. We would like to be involved in the next stage of this important development proposal.

You see Nicholas Little is the husband of the mayor Alice Glachan and they live in Wilson Street - that's why he would have resisted the temptation to appear at a Community Forum and address the councillors in person. Still opportunities do exist Community/Council interactions. Such an occurrence could precipitate a bit of humorous banter - Nicholas: 'What time will you be home dear I cooked a nice curry?' Alice: 'I think I should prefer a nice omelette dear.' There are countless configurations that would quite possibly have Alice's fellow councillors rolling in the aisles.

Obviously Cr Glachan contributed to her husbands objection especially to the Wilson access road. That's where the hypocrisy sets in because Cr Glachan has to Borderlines knowledge never objected to any development - even the extensions to the brothel in Drone Street, because if Borderline's memory is correct she, like most of her fellow councillors didn't want the matter resolved in the Land and Environment Court. They had no choice the councillors in turn noted grimly. Of course most of them made a moral objection. They're a very moral lot the Albury City Council and if you're prepared to listen they'll tell they'll tell as much. Fair enough. When Mr little says we would like to be involved in the next stage of this important development proposal - well that surely gave the game away - alright then Mayor Glachen absented herself from the Council chamber while the matter was discussed. Cr Angus took up the cudgels on the Glachan's behalf and according to reliable sources produced an argument was was made remarkable by the incoherence of his deliberations. Perhaps he wasn't paying attention when he was being briefed by Cr Glachan - it's perfectly understandable that sometimes being briefed on a Council matter can cause the mind to wonder. Nicholas no doubt on the pretext of offering an olive branch stated we (sic) would like to be involved in the next stage of this important development proposal. It was quite obvious the game they were playing and that was that Cr Glachan favourable outcome in the planning process especially the increased traffic volumes in Wilson Street. Let's face it if the majority of residents asked if they could become involved in a developmental outcome they'd be shown the door in no uncertain manner. A letter or appearance at the Community Forum might lead one to believe that their wish for involvement in a particular development would be carefully considered. Unfortunately to believe this you may well be inclined to believe anything.

As one 'Council Watcher' told Borderline. 'What a hypocrite Angus and Glachan are Alice has supported all developments including all the multi storey DA's that have come before council since being elected two-and-a-half years ago, and now that a development threatens to impact on her quality of life she gets her husband to put his name to a objection that has her hallmark all over it.   And Angus being the lackey that he is does her bidding and objects on her behalf which was made obvious when he said that he would leave the wording of the objection motion until full council meeting. No doubt this would give Alice enough time to get the wording of the motion right and convey it to Angus so he could rehearse it sufficiently enough to give fellow councillors the impression that it was all his own work. '

In our last issue Borderline published an article about how the residents had been short changed by Albury City Council in the proposed Volt Lane development. We also published a letter from a director of Enersave with Anthony Gould (who spent close to $400,000 on his bid)complaining that the that the selected developer, David Harper had his bid 'stumped up'. Presumably Anthony Gould was referring to the $8 million Albury City Council was giving to Mr Harper to provide parking. It must have been nigh impossible for the other contenders given that Mr Harper was given such a financial advantage. It wouldn't have helped the other developer's tenders given that the land was sold to Mr Harper several million dollars below its market value.

Now another developer Verde Property (Aust) has engaged Corrs, Chambers, Westgarth - heavy hitters in the legal business with a threat of legal action. Talk about scaring developers away. We also include letters from Kell Moore Lawyers who act for Albury City Council. If you haven't read the article on the Volt Lane development it is in the archives section (April,May,June Edition).