Learn to handle our success
DARK MOFO AND TOURISM
IT has been fascinating to watch the reaction to Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie’s comments regarding Dark Mofo and, more broadly, the effect tourism is having on our capital city. Perhaps the condemnation is a reflection of how new we are to the space of success our state is enjoying. A wiser and older city might have welcomed Ron’s comments as a catalyst for debate which, with the passage of time, I’m sure is how they will be remembered. Calls for his resignation are shortsighted at best. Whether you agree with him or not he is a leader and it is his job to voice the not-so-popular side of the story. I certainly applaud him for making comment when it would be far easier not to. That’s what makes strong leaders and strong communities. Tasmania is charging into the unknown at a rapid pace. Now is when considered decisions need to be made about how we handle our success, both to sustain our economic advantage and protect our social values.
Family business boost
OUR businesses Hellfire Bluff Distillery and Daly Potato Co were lucky enough to have a stall at the Winter Feast. We employed five to six people every night plus had a team of about five the week prior to prepare. It is a great chance to show our products to the wider public and test new products we may be thinking of commercialising (potatoes in duck fat were a huge success). We also do very well at our Salamanca stall in the three weekends either side which in the dead of winter would normally do minimal trade. Thank you so much David Walsh and the Dark Mofo team who give family businesses like ours an opportunity to show our products to thousands of happy visitors.
Spin-offs aplenty
WITH the Winter Feast having drawn to a close, nude swimmers packing away their red bathing caps for another year and the Festival of Voices tuning up for its turn in the midwinter sun, it’s time to think about all that a Hobart winter is. This year’s A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. Winter Feast was spectacular. Red neon crosses inside and strings of glowing red bulbs outside set the scene. Stalls co-ordinated by curator Jo Cook fused flavour and variety to showcase the best Tasmania has to offer. Yesterday I spoke with a stallholder. Every night she had high turnover. And she’s already heard from a mainland company interested in distributing her produce, exposure for a fledgling business that is gold. She and her colleagues had nine people working the family-owned stall. It was obviously busy but enjoyable for their team and customers.
Conservative estimates suggest Dark Mofo injects $50 million into the Hobart winter economy. That has spin-offs, not least getting people out enjoying winter nights. Artists, roadies, venue workers and stallholders also gain. The call for no funding needs to be measured against the benefits. I look forward to that discussion one wintry Monday evening at council.
On the barricades
MY congratulations to the Lord Mayor for his courage in coming out and saying what a lot of Tasmanians are thinking. Namely that this inordinate concentration on bringing more and more tourists into our beautiful city is actually doing more harm than good. We have world-class industries, shipbuilding for one amongst a host of others that do more financial good than all the tourists in the world can do. Go for it Alderman Christie, you have my full support and admiration. I most certainly join you on the barricades.
Don’t gag others
I AM no fan of Alderman Christie but I’m even less a fan of people who think they have the right to gag others. This is still, despite political correctness, a free and democratic country.
Over to you, Albert
WE have had Sue’s Christmas trees, now Ron doesn’t want tourists in our city. Where are we going? I am sure Albert van Zetten is rubbing his hands and smiling.
Walsh for king
DAVID Walsh and his team should replace the Hobart City Council. Mona Tasmania Council. Just imagine what he could get done. He has already turned Tasmania around from a backwater. Further, could he be nominated as a king, ie King David of Tasmania?
If not the weather, what?
IN response to the northern supporters who always say they draw bigger crowds than Hobart, something obviously kept the crowds away in Saturday’s AFL clash between Hawthorn and the Gold Coast Suns in Launceston. It certainly wasn’t the weather. Hobart can draw a bigger crowd on a cold Saturday night game!