Council not profit-making venture
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I am thoroughly disgusted with the apparent contempt the Eurobodalla Council has for the ratepayers.
It was reported in the Narooma News that the council budgeted for an $800,000 deficit but ended up with a $3.5 million surplus.
Who is responsible for this incredible anomaly?
Who is the accountant, the treasurer, the financial controller that they have no idea on the funds available to the council.
But regardless of their inability to assess and budget, they insist we need a 26 per cent compounding increase on our land rates. Land rates that are already exorbitantly high, given in Sydney the Blacktown Council rates are more than $500 a year less than Eurobodalla’s so called pensioner subsidised rates.
And ratepayers in Blacktown Council are entitled to 12 hard rubbish collections per year as and when they would like to have rubbish removed, as against one only for Eurobodalla rate payers and only at a time specified by council.
These proposed increased rates are going to force pensioners out of this Shire. We cannot afford increase after increase, on top of the Federal Government’s changes to pensions and Medicare.
How incompetent is this mob running the Eurobodalla Shire Council, they seem to have no idea how much money they have, let alone how much they need. And I suppose they all decided they deserved a bonus for making a profit.
The council is not a profit making machine, it is supposed to be providing services for the ratepayers, not, as will happen to us if we can’t find the money for rates, forced out of our homes.
And the water rates, why do we pay $3.40 per kilolitre and Sydney Water charges $2.2330 per kilolitre.
Bev Bensley
Narooma
Can’t have it both ways!
One cannot help but sympathise with councillor Leslight(article Moruya Examiner Wed 14th Jan).
It is so frustrating when council consults the community and then ignores their input.
Councillor Leslight says that ratepayers must be listened to, but “councillors feel that they know what is best and they just aren’t listening”.
In light of these statements, Councillor Leslight should think back to Nov 25th 2014, when he, together with councillors Burnside, Schwarz, Innes and Pollock ignored the 81% of ratepayer submissions opposing the Huntfest amendments to include the sale of guns etc.
Instead, these councillors chose to consider supportive submissions from non-ratepayers that resulted from an online campaign by hunters. But the online petition containing 40,000 signatures opposing the amendments was ignored.
Councillor Leslight is absolutely correct when he says, “The community is finding there is no point in arguing or raising issues with our council because they aren’t listened to.”
I’m sure there’s an old saying applicable to Clr Leslight’s statements - something about “practise” and “preach” I think!
Patricia Gardiner
Deua River Valley
Princes Highway a death trap indeed
Just before Christmas, my wife and I were at our Brogo farm listening to NRMA Director for the South Coast NSW & ACT, Mr Alan Evans, describe the Princes Highway on the far South Coast as a death trap. We strongly agree with what he had to say.
Whilst we currently live in Queanbeyan, every two weeks we travel to our Brogo farm along the Princes Highway either south via Batemans Bay or north via Bega.
Either way, we have found the Princes Highway to be woeful in terms of surface maintenance, safe overtaking lanes, narrow and outdated bridges with poor access, and a lack of rest stops with toilets.
The state of this road is shameful given that it is the major National highway along the East Coast linking Australia’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney.
Over the last 10 years, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of trucks and caravans travelling this road, yet there are very few safe overtaking lanes and rest stops with toilets along the way. We have also noted far more accidents and deaths, many of which appear to be near narrow bridge entrances.
It is not just the Princes Highway which needs improving as just a couple of years ago, Brown Mountain was closed for almost two months due to a major landslide.
During that same period, Clyde Mountain was periodically closed over a number of weeks for significant maintenance works. Both highways have had numerous partial closures since.
All these major South Coast highways urgently need funds to make them safer.
The Federal and NSW State Governments often cry poor and emphasise how “much” they have spent on small sections of the Princes Highway on the South Coast but it is a pittance of what is spent elsewhere and what is needed.
They cry poor when South East locals seek basic safety improvements, particularly to black spots and the bridges which we understand have exceeded their original use by date.
What makes us angry is that the NSW and Federal Governments seem to find significant funds to spend on optional local roads which are not of National/core importance.
An outrageous example in our electorate is the proposed Queanbeyan CBD by-pass (Ellerton Drive Extension/Edwin Land Parkway).
This route is unpopular with a significant number of residents as it will take heavy vehicles out of the main street of Queanbeyan (the Kings/Monaro Highway) and divert them either through or along the back fences of many of Queanbeyan’s residential areas.
Regardless of the merits of that proposed road, we found it remarkable that in June last year, John Barilaro MP (NSW Member for Monaro) and Peter Hendy MP (Federal Member for Eden-Monaro) pledged $50 million ($25 million state and $25 federal) towards the road.
At the time, this was spruiked as covering the cost of the road which has since increased to $75 million.
Prior to the State and Federal Governments’ funding pledge at taxpayers’ expense, developers were to fund around 75 per cent of the road.
If $50 million is so readily available in such circumstances, significantly more should be available to improve our “national” highways in the same electorate.
If such money cannot be found, our local members should redirect their $25 million pledges to the South Coast and let the developers pay for the local road in Queanbeyan which will allow them to expand their developments. If your readers agree, we urge them to contact their local members and ask them why Queanbeyan and not the South Coast?
Peter Kontis
Brogo/Queanbeyan
Politicians lacking a sense of reality
Not much sense for reality from our politicians before an election.
I believe that most of the voters should have learned that there has to be a reality factor when a party is getting into power, a sense of what they really can do.
Having a plan is not good enough.
We rather have a party in power, doing an acceptable job.
In case they are already in power, then why did they not do those things then?
For instance in Queensland, Campbell Newman had time enough to leave a good impression, did he? No, he did not, he took lots of jobs away in the service sector and wants to give them back now.
It is a cruel way of power abuse, they openly put on display that money is more important to them than the voters.
Running a country takes cleverness, creating a sense of stability, this was not what they got of him.
He was putting a lot of people into a spin over there and he has little substance.
The Federal Liberals were oblivious to reality, when they were in opposition.
Labor was unable to keep promises, which they should not have made.
We had a hung parliament. If that would have been understood, maybe the difficulties the Liberals are having now would be less.
In opposition one has to wait until one is getting the steering wheel, this was missing.
I hope they can make us see soon that politicians are there to work for us, not for themselves.
That’s what we taxpayers are paying them for.
At the moment they are insulting our intelligence, we know that money to them is power.
Could it be news for them that it is for us too?
Our standard of living is going backward.
We want them to lead us into a safer future.
This is missing, this government is looking rather aggressive.
What is in it for us? I feel that it will wear us out having one war after another.
Those wars are usually very costly.
Australians developed a good looking electric car by Holden (General Motors), a technology again going overseas, why?
Ignoring climate change now will also haunt the Liberals sooner than later.
Restoring infrastructure after disasters again and again makes planning impossible.
The fires, heavy downpours, heat waves, storms and so on are impacting on the public as much as it is on the government's economics.
We want to live with reality and clever management "not with promises". Don't forget we the voters will be the judge and jury.
K. Kruger
Central Tilba
It’s a good system in the ESC
We vote in councillors to represent us. Council employs staff to serve us. They deliver us policies that most don’t want, like a 25 per cent rate rise!
In 2011 ESC proposed a special rate variation. Despite spending tens of thousands of dollars to support their case their survey found “very few are prepared to accept a rate increase of greater than 7 per cent (Micromex). Thousands more were spent taking their cast to IPART who knocked back their application for failure to show ratepayer support for the rise.
Move on to 2014 and try again. This time they try every trick in the book and throw enormous resources toward getting their way. Consultants are hired to get a yes vote and used all their guile to confuse voters by clouding the issues with red herrings.
Council’s propaganda team bombarded ratepayers with numerous press releases and flyers highlighting council achievements.
New steps, paths and mulchy areas appeared everywhere whether needed or not.
Consultation began where council heavies pushed the case for a rate increase at poorly advertised meetings.
The mail out brochure failed to clearly state that the rate rise was actually 26 per cent after three years.
The Micromex survey found, after trying their best to promote a year vote, that two out of three ratepayers don’t want a special rate variation.
Thousands of ratepayers signed petitions and yet council decided to pour more money into proceeding with their rate rise to IPART.
The process was cunningly held over the Christmas holiday period hoping it would slip through unnoticed.
During this period council announces a 3.5 million operating surplus for 2013/14.
Since their push for a rate rise they have been spending like drunken sailors. New tilt tray trucks – hundreds of thousands of dollars to be used a few hours a week.
Also putting out of business ratepayers who had been providing that service. Thousands of dollars wasted ruining Carters Headland without any consultation with ratepayers. A treated pine stairway was all that was needed.
If we have a surplus and money to waste why are we looking at rate rise?
Councillor Milton Leslight is to be congratulated on his tireless efforts to represent rate payers when our Narooma councillors do nothing.
January 23 is the cut off for submissions to council. Please act immediately and let council know once more that ratepayers oppose this special rate variation. Even though they won’t listen!
B. Rapkins
Kianga
Wallaga Bridge fishing
In response to Harry Bate’s letter in last week’s Narooma News, I can certainly shed some light on this matter.
I am an 81-year-old disabled pensioner and I’ve been fishing off the bridge at Wallaga Lake for the past 24 years.
During that time I was never told not to fish from the bridge by RTA, Fisheries, Council or Police until I was booked on Christmas Eve and again on New Year’s Eve 2013 for “Fish from bridge in contravention of notice” ($165.00) and “Stay on road longer than is necessary to cross” ($67.00).
According to police records, I was the first person to be charged with this offence since the bridge opened in 1894.
Over my 24 years fishing from the bridge, both Fisheries and NSW Police officers regularly stopped and had a conversation with me before wishing me luck.
I chose to go to court to publically air my disgust at being booked for these offences so that others could be warned of this apparent change in policy. The magistrate reduced my fines to $10.00 on each count.
I believe that overzealous action by one police officer brought about this change in policing policy.
Hans Schrooten
Narooma
Changes to Medicare
As doctors in the local area, we believe that the community we serve should be advised of the effects that may arise from any Commonwealth Government changes to Medicare.
Medicare has been with us for 41 years and has provided the basis for universal access to health care.
From January 19, 2015 the present government had by regulation intended to start the disassembling of Medicare.
General Practice in providing a service to the community needs to be supported by a viable business model, which can be conducted on the basis of various billing types.
In Narooma practices we have examples of the various billing methods.
Under the prosed changes from January 19 the introduction of new regulations would force changes to all models of practice. Some of these changes would have resulted in financial stress on patients.
We as local doctors suggest that the people to whom we provide services, contact their local Federal Member and voice their opposition to dismemberment of Medicare or changes without consultation.
Subsequent to advice that the ill-concerned regulation changes will not proceed is good news for general practice.
There is no doubt that the cost of Medicare does need to be considered and excessive service minimised. Changes should be made in consultation with active providers and the people they serve.
Dr Ken Doust and
Dr John Brown
Narooma
Blind eye no more on Wallaga Bridge
Further to the letter of Harry Bate (NN 14/01/2014), I can say that I’ve fished from Wallaga Lake Bridge for over 10 years, including alongside serving police officers on a number of occasions, after being told by RTA officers that the prohibition signs were erected to avoid departmental liability should anyone be injured.
I’ve had my licence and catch checked there by Fisheries officers who have also applied stickers about size and catch limits to the bridge timbers.
I’ve also been asked by police officers to move off the bridge until the sun sets as it’s difficult for drivers to see us with the sun directly in their eyes in mid-winter.
Over those years I’ve shared many memorable moments with fellow fishers, drivers traversing the bridge and pedestrians out for a walk and met some wonderful people including Hans, an older Dutchman, who taught me how and where to catch flathead in those early days.
During the tourist season the bridge was lined from end to end on both sides with eager fisher people including children and we all took responsibility for those children when cars drove over the bridge. The presence of such numbers would slow traffic down to a nice crawling pace to ensure that everyone was safe.
It should be noted that although the bridge is one lane, there is enough room for two cars to pass when they do happen to meet in the middle and I’ve never heard of anyone being injured.
In the quieter times, many people would stop on the bridge and chat with us until another car came along, asking directions, getting fishing hints, enquiring about the area and the things to see here or just saying Hello. As your writer said “It has been a fascinating and amusing little feature of our area.”
Late in 2013 everything changed for us. A police officer began telling people to move off the bridge, threatening to charge us with an offence if we continued to fish from the bridge.
A bizarre result from this strange move is that we now have a “Give Way” sign at the entrance to the bridge with a sign at the bridge saying “No Stopping” (see picture) making it very difficult to give way without stopping if there’s a car coming the other way across the bridge.
The making of laws is fine but surely when these laws are made and then enforced, some consideration should be given to the impact that those laws have on real people and if they’re made to reduce risk, a proper risk assessment and management matrix should be undertaken where the likelihood and impact of the risk are properly and honestly assessed with appropriate action as needed.
Are we a society where people actually live the lives that give them nourishment or one where our actions are tightly governed by The State to protect us from injury? And is this the way we want to treat our elderly disabled people?
Seán Burke
Central Tilba
SRV – Confusion reigns supreme
There is now utter confusion in our community about the proposed special rate variation. The most recent propaganda titled " Council supports a Financially Responsible Rate Rise " dated 19 December 2014 admits that Council is applying for a 26% rate rise, but raises the cost of the associated transport and infrastructure program (the wish list) from $17m to $21.4m. The goal posts move again.
I would expect a professional and “financially responsible” council to supply accurate and financially responsible information to its rate payers.
On reflection, I recall the first notice/media release to our community members claimed a Special Rate Variation ( SRV ) of a modest 5% increase on the general rate. No mention was made of the compounding effect on the rate increase. Later we learned this equated to a 26% increase over three years. Interesting.
In Narooma, our first public meeting on the SRV, I am advised approximately 14/15 people attended and confusion reigned supreme. Neither the councillors or the Administration could put a figure on the "wish list", or give an indication of the additional revenue they expected to raise. I am also advised that the Administration advised that of Council’s $74m reserve, only $11m was uncommitted at that time.
In Moruya, our second public meeting with approx 13/14 in attendance, I am advised that the cost of the financially responsible "wish list" was declared at $17m. This amount was costed out to avoid further confusion. Again $11m was confirmed as the amount of unrestricted funds held in reserve. Release of the 2013/14 Audit Report in late November showed that the amount of unrestricted funds available to Council was in fact $26m. A $15m discrepancy. Again very interesting ?
In Batemans Bay, our third public meeting, with approx 70 attendees the "wish list" remained at $17 Million. Emotions ran high however when the attendees discovered through questioning the Administration that the SRV was to be used to finance a larger loan.
In December a community meeting was held at Long Beach and approx 100 people attended. At that meeting a vote was taken opposing the SRV and the motion was passed unanimously by the attendees. Serious concern was also expressed about the commitment of the administration to this community.
Is it any wonder our community is in total confusion. One could ponder if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing or are they both confused and going into the WRONG pocket. God only knows.
As for this most recent communiqué dated 19 December I am embarrassed to be associated with this unsigned /unauthored notification that carries our council logo/letterhead. This example of unprofessional conduct is indicative of the inconsistencies displayed throughout this whole sorry saga. I suspect that this communique would have cost our rate payers somewhere in the range of $15,000 to $19,000. Wasted money!
Putting the lack of professionalism aside and the total confusion with the dissemination of financial information, our community simply cannot afford this attack on their limited resources.
In my considered opinion, this SRV will increase hardship in the shire, and have far reaching ramifications for Council and the community at large.
Clr Milton Leslight
Batemans Bay