It is interesting to note that there is general tone of dissatisfaction with Councillors and the Executive, such that we don’t seem have trust or believe that our local government is working in the best community interest and in any meaningful way and certainly not sustaining best value for our dollar.
The Shire organisation is considered slow, reactive, generally undisciplined, uncooperative in its dealings with any individual or community orgsanisation with differing view to those of the Mayor and CEO.
The missing link is the opportunity for open discussion and debate even Councillors seemingly are gagged, refused meaningful access to the communities they have been elected to represent.
Democratic government and governance at this level has it appears ceased to exist.
The vast majority if not all projects for Lakes Entrance over the past ten years or so have been late on delivery, over budget and/or incomplete against original specification. There is a history of poor budgetary control, incomplete transparency on the tendering process, loose contracts, coupled with apparent poor choices made regarding materials and/or design.
The CEO has it appears side stepped Lakes Entrance public meetings for 36 months.
If the above lack of fiscal control and discipline is reflected through all Shire business it is easy to assume a significant saving could be made on council rates.
There is an ineffective audit and risk committee controlled it appears by the executive - not by independent ratepayers(both domestic and business). The committee's own attrition rate is confronting.
As a community based roughly on the geographical boundaries of the old Tambo Shire we need to discuss, debate and present to Council what we need them to adopt and execute for the whole of our community - no more no less.
The latest Land use plan is considered a disaster for anywhere in the Shire other than Bairnsdale and Paynesville actually crippling development of any sort in the remaining 45,000 sq km to the East – what has our community reaction been ? – nothing.
Are we all asleep at the wheel? Has it all become too hard to handle? Has the apparent apathy been born from repetative attempts for open debate and subsequent change being cast aside?
Why do we need change ?
If you haven’t experienced the ever increasing financial squeeze, it would be surprising. It is easy to see this is just the beginning. The effects will be with us for at least 10 years.
We need all levels of government to spend our tax and rates dollars extremely carefully to ensure all the priority items are fully serviced while discretionary expenditure where necessary is carefully monitored and controlled eliminating not just reducing waste.
Recently the extent of Government influence on Aussie GDP was advised as 36%. rise of 20% over 30 months. Government with all its inefficiency, incompetence and influence is rapidly becoming out of control.
Democracy is the government by the people for the people. Priorities for expenditure need to be effectively influenced by us- you and I not decided for us, and especially not decided by unelected bureaucrats.
Agree or not? Post your comments and ideas below. It is a start.
Images copyright John Munns
Text is copyright of Bullock Island Developments Inc