Back in 2003 Michael Hale
was announcing his success at getting permission for a resort at Cowaramup. At
that time he was fronting a group called Augusta Enterprises.
(I love Michael's the use of "due process" phrase, wonder why he was happy to accept "random process" in Karridale?)
Fast forward 10 years and
the Cowaramup Transfer Station has to move because we need something different,
reasons are given and explanations of why this move must happen – because the
developers want it. They cannot attract people to a site adjacent to a transfer
station.
Why does the transfer station need relocating?
The State Government through the SWDC has asked the Shire
to shift the transfer station to allow the Resort to proceed. The resort
developers report that it is difficult to attract operators with a transfer
station on the doorstep of the proposed resort. Working with the SWDC they have
offered to buy land in the Cowaramup LIA worth approximately $300,000 to house
the transfer station and to rehabilitate the existing site. From the shire’s
community update – undated but circa April 2012
It all sounds so generous
and simple – but wait, haven’t we heard something like this before? We must
have a look and see who it was lobbying for the SWDC to spend on this project. “The
State Government” doesn’t tell us much. Was it all of them? All in agreement
that Michael needs our help.
Is this a new transfer
station?
Did the shire just pop a
transfer station in alongside the land where Michael had already gained permission
for a resort? And he didn’t create a fuss, until now?
Michael is a close chum of
Brian Burke, so close that he was prepared to mislead a Royal Commission. Would
he have stayed quiet all this time if the transfer station moved in after he
bought a piece of prime real estate? I have no idea when the transfer station
appeared in its current location but either it was there when Michael made his
plans in 2003, or he didn’t notice it going in. I think the former.
There are so many
interesting parallels with what has happened elsewhere that our councillors
need to be very concerned.
Back in the day when this
state lost hundreds of millions through the scams perpetrated by WADC the
excuse might be used that nobody had realised what was going on. Today they
cannot use that excuse.
Remember the Perth Technical
College debacle?
Well get yourself a good friend
who can explain the zig-zag circle to you. How in a few short years the public
can move from a position of owning an asset to a position of having parted with
huge sums of public money and having no asset. You do need to understand how that
worked, and a number of other techniques for relieving the community of their
land and asset holdings entirely for the benefit of developers.
There must be questions as
to the wisdom of favouring Michael Hale and his chums yet again. It was the
Bond, Horgan, Connell, Dempster et al gang who worked out these schemes back in
the 80s and 90s. The WADC was eventually scrapped, but now we have the SWDC
prepared to spend large amounts of public money on assisting a group of people
who will undoubtedly protect the identities of the beneficiaries, always hiding
behind a corporation and using a lobbyist for any negotiations.
There must be a red alert
over Tourism WA now that we have had a suppression of any information relating
to the Gourmet Escape. It was the subject of discussion in parliament because
public money was spent, again in large amounts, with no accountability.
What are the benefits?
A Tourism WA commissioned study estimates the direct
impact of the construction of the resort ($62.86 million) translates into a Gross
Value Added of $14.1 million, the generation of 89 full time positions and $5.8
million in incomes. This generates a range of flow-on impacts. The total impact
of the development of the resort on the Augusta-Margaret River local government
area is $149.5 million in output, $54.3 million in Gross Value Added, 447 full
time positions and $47.5 million in income. Once operating there will be
employment for 64 full time employees, generating a output of $10.6 million,
including $3.1 million in incomes. This will again have
a range of flow-on effects for the whole economy. The
total impact of the operation of the resort on the Augusta-Margaret River LGA is
$21.7 million in output, $10.7 million in Gross Value Added, 112 full time
employees and $6.0 million in income. From the shire’s community update –
undated but circa April 2012
We can ignore the
estimates from a Tourism WA commissioned study because we know that Brian Burke
and his associates are prepared to use consultants that will provide whatever
answers they want. (as evidenced in covert surveillance tapes available within
the Smith’s Beach CCC enquiry.
The money the SWDC
will spend is your money, and the land being discussed is currently public
land. If our councillors make any reckless land swaps or agreements that
involve transactions with people who are known to engage in less than ethical
business practices then they will be doing this shire a great harm.
Tourism WA can spew
out masses of high value numbers but this does not impress. It was by such
methods that WA Inc, and Waneroo Inc managed to dupe so many people. Most of
those involved knew what was happening but there were a few drawn into the
scams who were innocent. Their only “crime” was that they were too stupid to
really understand what was being presented, and too proud to admit it.
The Emperor’s New
Clothes trick continues to work.
It worked with
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. A very large number of financial consultants and
advisors, who should have known better, could not understand the most basic
fundamentals of the swaps and derivatives markets. But they were prepared to
play, usually with someone else’s money. About as sensible as playing Blackjack
without knowing the rules of the house.
A few sensible rules
for our councillors.
Rule 1 - Only deal
with people you know.
Gary Evershed has allowed
his administration to publish a report prepared by a corporation wherein Michael
Hale is described as local developer. He
is not.
Ilya Hastings, Nick
Logan and Jenny Tattam all claim that they have never met Michael Hale, could
not recognise him, and they can only communicate with him via a Redfern, NSW
address. He is allegedly the developer currently carving up Karridale for the
Juventus corporation.
Insist on full disclosure of the men behind the corporation, and drill down if there are subsidiaries.
Rule 2 – Be very cautious
with our money
Whether the money
comes from our rates, SWDC or Royalties for Regions it is public money. Never
lose sight of that. If the project cannot attract private funds ask why? The
transfer station may be a problem, but surely the price paid for this piece of
real estate will have reflected the location?
Rule 3 – Refresh your
memories of WA Inc and Waneroo Inc
This rule is not for
Cr Smart who does not like to look back, but others on Council will hopefully
understand that the public will not be forgiving if we experience another scam
resulting in the public purse being emptied into the pockets of a few tricky
businessmen. Leave all the excuses of mental degeneration to Alan Bond and his
ilk and sharpen up your capacity to transfer the lessons of the past onto the
issues of today.
Rule 4 – Never cuddle
a corkscrew
Don’t be groomed into
thinking you are playing on a winning team, don’t let yourself be impressed by people
who have grand schemes for public spending that will generate private profits. However
charming the corporate front men are they are most certainly not about to let
the hicks from the sticks win.
