Elise Archer MP

It appears the State Government is quick to sell off community assets without realising their value to the community.

Take the suggestions that the State Government is still planning to sell the Henry Hunter designed state school and former Adult Ed heritage building in South Hobart and, in recent weeks, there have been numerous letters to the Mercury with similar concerns about the old kindergarten in Mt Stuart and the Claremont Primary School site. Each of the suburbs’ local progress associations want the publicly owned sites for multi-purpose community use.

The suggestions of selling these assets without adequate consultation and assessment of their value to each community are disturbing and show signs of a Government that is clearly being short-sighted. It disappoints me that the best excuse the Government can come up with for selling the South Hobart site is that it can no longer afford to cover operational costs such as insurance, repairs and maintenance. No doubt a similar excuse will be given in relation to the other sites too.

Regards

Elise Archer MP
Liberal Member for Denison