Kafka comes to Canberra as TAMS takes issue with displays on City Walk

TP3000, I think you hit the nail on the head but take it further – QIC unveiled their master plan for the city centre. They want these stores out of there so they can take over, redevelop etc.

My money’s on TAMS obeying orders suggestions which ultimately will lead to further trade loss and inevitable moving on of the stores there. Perfect pickings for QIC to move in and restructure the city centre how they wish; in line with their Canberra Centre expansion.

Given that Garema Place is dieing because the over-large Canberra Centre is killing off all its shops, it makes no sense whatsoever for TAMS to give the retailers there another kick. Surely no-one has complained about the rack of CDs out the front of Landspeed or cheap shoes outside Redpath…

Clown Killer said :

I think that this is too cack-handed to have been dreamt up by a bureaucrat. It’s got Katy Gallagher’s incompetent fingerprints all over it.

Try Queensland Investment Corporation. If people walking through the City on there way to the Canberra Centre & something outside another store catches their eye on their way. They ain’t going to go to the Canberra Centre. Also I’m sure QIC would love for these stores to move into the Canberra Centre.

AstralPlane said :

This month will be remembered as “Grey August”.

The month when the government decided that anything colourful should no longer be allowed. Fireworks? Too much fun. Too colourful. People doing it on their own in a non-government sponsored way. Merchandise on the sidewalk? Too interesting. Too much like there might be something going on. Makes the place look like some kind of actual retail precinct where people might congregate. I mean, you just can’t have it.

Those two are a good start. Can anyone think of any other stuff that we should get rid of to make this place conform to proper orderly standards?

Yes, cloudy the future is. I’m personally concerned about the plethora of vehicles that aren’t Brittish Racing Green, off-white, or black. Perhaps a ban on any colour other than the above would be in order. Furthermore, I think it’s high time our fearless leaders take a stand and do something about cyclists with cable ties attached to their helmets to prevent magpie attacks. These are very distracting to other road users. A large fine? A permit system? Perhaps we could confiscate their treadlies and force them on to our fabulous bus system. That’d learn ’em.

Gobbo said :

Actually, TaMS does already issue permits for this thing. I guess the bloke was lucky to not have recorded a complaint against him for so long, or for an authroised officer to check the records.

Still, it only takes one complaint ot upset the apple cart.

There is currently a determined charge for a person to use a public area by displaying various bits and bobs, such as tables, chairs, bins, motorcars and other items that are not the aforesaid.

The Fees Determination under the Roads and Public Places Act [Sections 15E and 15F of the Act (Grant of Permit, Cancellation of Permit)] designates a fee of either $3.75 per m2 per week, OR $2.45 per m2 per week for placement of objects in a public place generally.

From what I’ve heard from the department gobbo they’re only set up to issue permits for cafe/restaurant seating. It’s not legislation, it’s internal bureaucracy.

Yeah, I’d forgotten the bill posters. And the fringe.

Why stop there? There’s heaps of stuff we could ban. Bicycles. They’re fun, but a tiny minority occasionally cause inconvenience and annoyance to others on the road. We should therefore ban them all. Dogs too. They’re fun, but sometimes they kill children. Surely the tiny percentage of dog owners who aren’t responsible should be the cause of the whole of society losing the right to own a dog?

Actually, TaMS does already issue permits for this thing. I guess the bloke was lucky to not have recorded a complaint against him for so long, or for an authroised officer to check the records.

Still, it only takes one complaint ot upset the apple cart.

There is currently a determined charge for a person to use a public area by displaying various bits and bobs, such as tables, chairs, bins, motorcars and other items that are not the aforesaid.

The Fees Determination under the Roads and Public Places Act [Sections 15E and 15F of the Act (Grant of Permit, Cancellation of Permit)] designates a fee of either $3.75 per m2 per week, OR $2.45 per m2 per week for placement of objects in a public place generally.

If RiotACT has annual awards for stupido TaMS decisions I nominate this one.

Great time to be kicking small business owners in the shin.

AstralPlane said :

This month will be remembered as “Grey August”.

The month when the government decided that anything colourful should no longer be allowed. Fireworks? Too much fun. Too colourful. People doing it on their own in a non-government sponsored way. Merchandise on the sidewalk? Too interesting. Too much like there might be something going on. Makes the place look like some kind of actual retail precinct where people might congregate. I mean, you just can’t have it.

Those two are a good start. Can anyone think of any other stuff that we should get rid of to make this place conform to proper orderly standards?

Not certain it’s August but I certainly read about it in Aug – Bill and all his colourful Posters went wayward too!

Indeed Clown Killer – the less colour, movement and fun she allows out in the real world, the more likely it is that Canberrans will remain catatonic indoors at the pokies …

This one’s really weird. For as long as anyone can remember shop keepers have popped a few goods outside their store – often some sale items. Now it seems that it’s been illegal all along and that it’s time that shop keepers coughed up for the privilege of taking up a square metre or two of public footpath.

It’s not like these people are in the same boat as cafes and restaurants who double or triple capacity of their establishment with outdoor seating and, justifiably pay for the privilege.

I think that this is too cack-handed to have been dreamt up by a bureaucrat. It’s got Katy Gallagher’s incompetent fingerprints all over it.

I dont agree or disagree with TAMS. However if this is the stance they are taking, I hope they also have in their legislation/law/policy the same stance for prospective politicians standing on the sides of our main roads at election time. Bet they dont.

This month will be remembered as “Grey August”.

The month when the government decided that anything colourful should no longer be allowed. Fireworks? Too much fun. Too colourful. People doing it on their own in a non-government sponsored way. Merchandise on the sidewalk? Too interesting. Too much like there might be something going on. Makes the place look like some kind of actual retail precinct where people might congregate. I mean, you just can’t have it.

Those two are a good start. Can anyone think of any other stuff that we should get rid of to make this place conform to proper orderly standards?

JB, common sense is not a TAMS hallmark these days.
What’s the fine for occupying sidewalks without permission? Doesn’t TAMS have a massive budget blow-out to claw back?
Small, petty steps and all that…