Right of access
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Heavy trucks have from time to time totally block our right to access Tilba street by parking directly in front of our residence/business.
We have advise the council that if for any reason we need to be serviced by fire or ambulance due to the front being the only level access there maybe a serious medical issue.
We have had to have the ambulance and rural fire attend and stretcher people out of the building, several times. If we do not have the right of access then those responsible for the blockage may need to be held accountable.
Kerry Challis
Narooma
Claiming our power
At present we locals pay upwards of $1.38 a day just to have power available to us.
Friends in Canberra pay 60 cents. In 2006 we paid zero for this component of our account.
We paid only for the power we used. Now we have increased choice from among a number of suppliers and this competition is supposed to ensure we can choose the lowest price available to us. Not so.
It is far from a level playing field in this power struggle. Having done my research I decided to change companies having analysed cost of supply, cost of electricity used per KW, off peak rates and returns from our solar panels.
When I negotiated the deal with the chosen company I found I would not receive the low income/pensioner rebate because I resided in NSW and not Victoria.
I would forfeit $270 of rebates each year if I went with the company I had chosen. Yet again the low income folk of the community have restricted choice in choosing the most favourable company to supply their power needs.
Who gives this power to the power companies? Governments. Andrew Constance here is something really significant you can do for those most in need in your electorate. Exercise your power for these folk. How grateful they will be.
Noel Davis
Narooma
The missing ‘S’
Sssorry guysss. There definitely will be more than one artist playing at the Shelter Box fundraiser on May 17 at Club Narooma from 12noon.
Unfortunately last weeks ‘Across the Universe’ ad left out an all-important S.
So to all those wonderfully talented artists who have offered their time freely – Shanna Provost, Bob Pickup, Bev Long and the Tilbaleles, Merinda Hurren and the community choir, Glen and Christ Mood, Chris Young, Peter Vulo, Pete and Libby from Tuross, Chris O’Brien, Michelle Morrison, Nik Nightingale and the Nashberries – sssoo sssorry.
Looking forward to a fantastic, fun afternoon.
See you there
Lyndy Drury
Narooma
Council poor service
After corresponding with infrastructure director Warren Sharpe and Clr Neil Burnside about why it took a month, two mails and two phone calls to get a simple water valve outside my house fixed I sent them a message that read in part:
“I have to add that your responses in no way inspire me to believe that there is a competent responsive management of Eurobodalla in place. I got bureaucratic diffusing answers from both of you.
You both attempted to answer my comment by blaming a computer system 'fault'. I am very computer literate, both in business and private activities, and your answers do not ring true. They smack of the convenient 'blame your tools' mentality.”
I had to phone up and personally chase them and luckily I found a genuine 'public servant' in the local Narooma Depot who got the work done the same day.
Having made comments on a particular example of negligent service, I went looking for comparative data on the performance of Eurobodalla compared to its peer type councils to see if my basic judgement about Eurobodalla would withstand scrutiny.
It would seem that Eurobodalla has staffing 40 per cent higher than its peer grouping...an extraordinary level.
I would suggest that the council reflect on its core functions to provide basic good value services efficiently to the people of Eurobodalla as its primary function... and restrain its self-generated mission for the type of 'community' services referenced recently and contributing to the proposed obscenely gross increase in rates over the next few years (8 per cent per year for three years!) designed to feed your appetite to grandstand and spend.
You need a total reform to get some core focus back into your administration and provide cost efficient services. It is not your money and you should reduce the rate increases considerably.
Neil Ferguson
Narooma
“Get real Neil”, nothing has changed
Councillor Burnside has finally announced his defection from the Eurobodalla Ratepayers Association (Narooma News, 6 May).
It is apparent from the latest ERA newsletter that their focus has returned to representing the ratepayers of this shire. Is it coincidental that this welcome change coincides with the departure of Crs. Schwarz and Burnside from their ranks?
Clr Burnside claims success in reforming Council’s executive structure, the transparency of decision making, and the “can do” attitude of staff.
Get real Neil. Nothing has changed!
Councillors are still receiving their riding instructions from the same executive staff, Council continues to treat the public like mushrooms, and if you think this Council has a “can do” attitude start speaking to some of the business people who have to deal with them on a regular basis.
As Clr Burnside reported, I did act as secretary to the Eurobodalla Business Group that met in Batemans Bay in January.
I don’t think the Fairfax press would be interested in printing over 100 names, but let me assure your readers that each and every one of them, from every corner of this shire, voted unanimously on the resolutions that this Council has voted to ignore. Including a “no confidence” motion.
Clr Burnside is now critical of his ex-colleagues Clrs Liz Innes and Milton Leslight for not telling the community what they would do. Leslight has been so vocal on demanding council reform that council staff have tried to muzzle him with code of conduct complaints.
Innes has been equally outspoken, and between them, they are now the only councillors representing this community.
I do agree that the State Government has a lot to answer for, but the ESC cannot blame the State Government for its disastrous LEP, punishing sea level rise policy or its bio-diversity certification experiment.
It is broke because of its own mismanagement and failure to support the local economy.
It is not prepared to work with the people, and is now preparing a “fit for future” submission without any community input.
Instead of looking for staff savings in our tourist offices that do contribute to the local economy, Clr Burnside and his new best mates on council should focus their attention on the bloated salaries and overstaffed planning and environment departments in Moruya.
Ian Hitchcock
Dalmeny
Mayor's say… Have your say on plans and budgets
Our annual budget and plans are currently on exhibition and this week and next, we will be out in the community to seek your feedback as we do at this time every year. You will also hear about our Fit for the Future plans and be able to ask questions on this as well.
I hope that those of you who have the time and interest to get involved with Council will be able to read and consider our plans for the year ahead and let us know your views.
You can talk to us at one of the three information sessions including at the Narooma Library on Monday, May 18 at 6pm.
You will also hear about our Fit for the Future plans at these sessions and be able to ask questions on this as well.
You might like to let us know your thoughts on the mix of services we plan to provide? The projects we are delivering? The capital works schedule? How we can improve our financial situation?
This year we are presenting our draft plans and budgets with two scenarios – one with a rate variation and one without as we won’t hear if our application for a special rate variation is successful until later in the month.
In the 2015-2016 financial year and if IPART approve a special rate variation, council’s total income will be $99 million.
Our draft budget shows that we plan to spend almost $50 million on our capital works program with renewal and maintenance being a strong focus, to meet the needs of our community, and this will include almost $14 million on transport infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and pathways, and around $20 million on sewer services and waste management.
Providing a clean water supply will cost almost $3.5 million and managing community spaces will cost around $5million, with almost half of this coming from the proposed rate variation.
The plans show where the road and pathway upgrades, reseals and renewals will take place, and the works planned to maintain our sporting and recreational facilities such as parks and reserve and undertake the upgrades that the community has asked for.
We detail works needed on stormwater and sewerage infrastructure and some much needed bridge and rock wall renewal projects.
We explain the how we we’re travelling with our aim to reduce our expenditure on energy and water usage, how we will deliver the many grant funded community projects and services that contribute to the wellbeing of our community, and how we will support economic growth.
There are many other services and projects explained in the plans and I encourage you to see if you agree with the priorities. If you want to add sometime new in, please also let us know what you suggest we take out so we can balance the budget.
Please let me know if there are any issues that council can assist with. You can contact me at mayor@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or phone 0418 279 215.
Clr Lindsay Brown
Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire
Congratulations
Congratulations are in order for Clr Neil Burnside.
It would seem after many, many years of relentless and at times savage attacks on the management, staff and workings of the Eurobodalla Shire Council it has become apparent that Neil Burnside has changed.
Since being elected as a councillor he has made new friends and become a ‘champion’ of all things council and is now leading the charge deploring council bashing.
Who said a leopard never changes its spots…well done Neil
Neil Mumme
Narooma
Anzac display great
Congratulations to the Tilba Anzac Committee on their wonderful Anzac service and historical display.
The hours of research and preparation, and the pride and care taken with the district's military service history were demonstrated by this impressive exhibition assembled by these civic-minded volunteers.
Through acknowledging the sacrifices of the young descendants of original Tilba pioneering families and retelling the stories behind the 'names' on the war memorial, the efforts by the committee was inspirational.
I also applaud the generous financial support provided to the Anzac Committee by the Tilba Easter Festival Committee and the Narooma RSL Club.
However, to my dismay, I learnt that these kind donations were needed because the Tilba School of Arts Trust Inc. used the occasion to charge the Anzac Committee with ‘hall hire fees’ for their exhibition.
I find it beyond belief and unacceptable, that for the first time in 100 years, the Trust would entertain the idea of fund-raising from an Anzac commemoration, let alone that these fees were asked of such a civic-minded committee attempting to organise an Anzac event benefitting the whole community.
Indeed, what would the WWI ex-service persons and their families have made of this opportunism, especially when those who returned from the war were so warmly welcomed home in this very same hall. What a way for the Trust to commemorate the centenary of remembrance!
While the RSL contribution was undoubtedly very much appreciated, the money may well have otherwise been used to support ex-service persons and their families. I understand the need for building maintenance, but surely, using an event commemorating the lives of the Tilba Anzac heroes as a fund-raising opportunity, was inappropriate and shameful.
Our service men and women give to us the ‘gift’ of freedom. Surely we owe it to them to live our lives in a way that is worthy of their sacrifice.
Lest We Forget.
Kaye Sackett, Burleigh Waters QLD
A descendant of six servicemen on the Tilba War Memorial
Renewable Energy Target
Just to be clear; the so-called native forest “waste” that is the sticking point in current Renewable Energy Target negotiations is not sawdust or tree stumps or branches.
If the industry gets its way it will be thousands of living, breathing trees in State Forests, homes to wildlife, many of them already threatened species.
In NSW these trees can already be classified as “waste” for the woodchipping industry - now desperate to get renewable energy subsidies to prop up its pariah trade.
The industry views the RET as its lifeline to a whole new round of subsidies and survival.
Harriett Swift
Bega