The interim reopening of Boggo Road recently took another unwelcome turn when an independent recommendation to install new interim management at the old prison was ignored by the state government.
The recommendation was one of a number made to the government by a consultant who had been engaged by the site developers. He met with a wide range of stakeholders back in April-May of this year, after the end of the initial trial reopening period at Boggo Road that saw community stakeholders denied fair access to this heritage-listed public asset by the small business that had been installed there without a tender process.
The recommendation was one of a number made to the government by a consultant who had been engaged by the site developers. He met with a wide range of stakeholders back in April-May of this year, after the end of the initial trial reopening period at Boggo Road that saw community stakeholders denied fair access to this heritage-listed public asset by the small business that had been installed there without a tender process.
After years of amicable co-operation between Public Works and Boggo Road community stakeholders, the newly-elected government held a series of private meetings with a small business in 2012 about reopening part of the historic prison. These meetings were kept secret from community stakeholders for three months before being unwittingly leaked on social media. By that time, certain decisions had already been made.
Back in April I stated my opinion that the interim opening had been a failure. The small business in question, 'Brisbane Ghost Tours', had a long and bitter history of attacking heritage groups and individuals that 'posed a threat' to their business interests by engaging in similar activities. Indeed, these sometimes resulted in police and court involvement. The Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society had received extraordinary legal threats over their web address! It was inevitable that Ghost Tours would use control of access to squeeze out other stakeholders, and that is exactly what happened. High prices and restricted access saw community activities fail to happen at Boggo Road. Historic and creative communities and the Queensland public had lost out in the name of personal profit.
Back in April I stated my opinion that the interim opening had been a failure. The small business in question, 'Brisbane Ghost Tours', had a long and bitter history of attacking heritage groups and individuals that 'posed a threat' to their business interests by engaging in similar activities. Indeed, these sometimes resulted in police and court involvement. The Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society had received extraordinary legal threats over their web address! It was inevitable that Ghost Tours would use control of access to squeeze out other stakeholders, and that is exactly what happened. High prices and restricted access saw community activities fail to happen at Boggo Road. Historic and creative communities and the Queensland public had lost out in the name of personal profit.
A subsequent community campaign attracted thousands of supporters and unwanted publicity for Boggo Road. Investigating journalists were denied access to basic official information. Questions were asked in parliament.
The consultation process was no doubt intended designed to alleviate the situation. A large number of meetings were held over two months with a number of stakeholders, including local schools and arts organisations. The consultant eventually came up with a range of recommendations, and although the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society did not agree with all of them, they were quite prepared to work within the new framework.
The most significant recommendation was that control of access to Boggo Road be taken away from the private business and vested in a new committee for the remainder of the interim opening. This change of management was to take place without an Expressions of Interest phase.
The findings were clear. Despite the marketing spin, privatised access to Boggo Road had failed.
After all, as the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
The final decision on the recommendations rested with Public Works, who were expected to make a decision within weeks. That decision came three months later when, completely out of the blue, they called a snap 'Expressions of Interest' phase - just two weeks long. The report had been ignored and hidden. Why? What was the point, after three months of silence, of having this sudden and unnecessarily rushed process? The workable solution that had been crafted during the consultation process could have been finalised during that time.
The findings were clear. Despite the marketing spin, privatised access to Boggo Road had failed.
After all, as the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
The final decision on the recommendations rested with Public Works, who were expected to make a decision within weeks. That decision came three months later when, completely out of the blue, they called a snap 'Expressions of Interest' phase - just two weeks long. The report had been ignored and hidden. Why? What was the point, after three months of silence, of having this sudden and unnecessarily rushed process? The workable solution that had been crafted during the consultation process could have been finalised during that time.
It's a bit like getting one day's notice to do a university assignment. Sure, you could do it, but you would produce a more solid result with a month's notice. It was all the more galling as it had taken three whole months to come up with this announcement.
We can only speculate as to the reasoning behind this decision.
So another two months of our lives had been wasted in participating in the consultation. With most of the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society committee either overseas or interstate on family holidays when the EOI was called, they were in no position to put together a submission (for something we never wanted anyway). They were in a position to do so last November, when calls for a tender process were ignored, but after months of being kept in the dark and having goalposts shifted, a lot of people had simply lost faith that this interim opening process was ever going to be coherently managed .
So another two months of our lives had been wasted in participating in the consultation. With most of the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society committee either overseas or interstate on family holidays when the EOI was called, they were in no position to put together a submission (for something we never wanted anyway). They were in a position to do so last November, when calls for a tender process were ignored, but after months of being kept in the dark and having goalposts shifted, a lot of people had simply lost faith that this interim opening process was ever going to be coherently managed .
The snap timing of the EOI, and the fact that the BRGHS were denied access to basic data that the incumbent was privy to, meant that the EOI process could never be equitable. Instead of a solution, it could only create further controversy.
As it was, only Ghost Tours and one former prisoner even put a submission in. This was the same Ghost Tours who had failed so utterly and spectacularly to meet their promises in managing Boggo Road that they would have been sacked if they were public servants. Still, with practically no competition, the result was inevitable.
The current situation is that only a small part of Boggo Road is now open, the failed privatised system is still in place while taxpayers fork out for maintenance, and that the old prison is going to be closed again next year anyway before reopening permanently and properly in the future. We in the community have turned our focus to that reopening and putting together a carefully crafted plan that makes sure the public get full value from this public asset.
The current situation is that only a small part of Boggo Road is now open, the failed privatised system is still in place while taxpayers fork out for maintenance, and that the old prison is going to be closed again next year anyway before reopening permanently and properly in the future. We in the community have turned our focus to that reopening and putting together a carefully crafted plan that makes sure the public get full value from this public asset.
Boggo Road Gaol was supposed to form part of a community-integrated development. When you install an anti-community businessman in there, it's just not going to work. The shelved report should be ringing some loud alarm bells in Public Works. We cannot be expected to be part of protecting a failed project that works against community interests, and a new public campaign will be launched next year.