More pork barrelling
Regarding the article "Give us share of $5 billion": When Dominic Perrotet innocently, or perhaps naively, declared on the eve of becoming Premier that he didn't believe that pork barrelling existed, despite ICAC suggesting differently, when rabbits, doves and taxpayer funds could be made to appear out of thin air magically, was he simply enabling Coalition waste and business as usual?
How else does one explain Georges River and Bayside Councils, which were also declared COVID red zone areas of concern, not getting a share of the sale of WestConnex?
Could this be a similar softening up ploy to that of amalgamations by redirecting attention, which pre-empts new state government development changes and rate rises in selected areas?
Georges River and Bayside Councils are beyond softening up now that residents are "harmonised", paying maximum rates, locked into above CPI rate increases for the foreseeable future, and returned developer funds.
Or else it could be non-existent pork barrelling
Richard Piech,
Sans Souci
Palm Court car park
Has Mr Chris Minns talked to the residents and the customers of Hurstville?
I congratulate Georges River Council for turning the Palm Court car park into a family-friendly space in the urban jungle of Hurstville. In a world where I don't need to leave my home to shop, giving my family a reason to visit or a reason to stay and play at Hurstville is vital for local businesses. Maybe the local business can offer a deal or incentive to encourage the families from the park in their doors. I was surprised to see Mr Minns, a father of three, standing up for a car park over a place to play. Hurstville CBD has many residents and is lacking in open space. Do the local businesses want people who live in apartments not to have access to parkland within walking distance of their homes?
Melissa Derwent,
Oatley
The other Georges River Council End of Term Report
The council delivered operating deficits for four consecutive years.
Its Operating Performance Ratio, which measures a council's expenditure against revenue, excluding capital items, is below the Office of Local Government's benchmark. TCorp regards this ratio as a "core measure of financial sustainability".
The council's $42 million capital works program for so-called "essential services" included a new pavilion at Hurstville Oval. Given one is already there, how can a new one be essential? Other "essential services" are a pavilion at the Hurstville Golf Course and Penshurst Park Sporting Hub upgrades.
On the environmental front, the council did not adopt its Environmental Resilience Strategy.
It did not plant as many street trees or sweep as many roads as planned. Only 50 per cent of its performance indicators concerning its "A protected environment and green open spaces" pillar were achieved in the final year. The council has provided significantly less public open space than other similar-sized metropolitan councils. The state of Dairy Creek and Poulton Creek was "poor".
The council has provided only 11 community halls (none in the Mayor's ward), compared to the group average of 22.
Given that 33 per cent of its performance indicators overall were not achieved, I give the council a big 'F'!
Anne Wagstaff,
Oatley
Georges River Council response
Editor's note: Here are responses from the Georges River Council to the above claims.
Operating deficits.
Response: The Council has adopted operating deficits consistently since 2012. Prior to the merger, the average adopted deficit was $8.1 million. In the last four years since the merger, the average deficit has been almost halved to $4.4 million - a significant improvement, especially given two years of COVID-19 related financial impacts.
Operating Performance Ratio.
Response: The results of 2020/21 have reinforced the success of the council's strict budget strategies applied since 2016. The operating performance ratio improved by four per cent, bringing the council closer to achieving a positive surplus in 2022/23.
The council's $42 million capital works program.
Response: Hurstville Golf Clubhouse, Penshurst Sporting Hub and the Hurstville Oval Pavilion are all projects identified by the community as priorities in the Community Strategic Plan 2018-2028 and also in the 10-year capital program. These projects are externally funded by government grants and/or developer contributions.
The council did not adopt its Environmental Resilience Strategy.
Response: The Environmental Resilience Strategy was renamed to the Environmental Resilience Action Plan and was funded in the 2021/22 budget and is on track for completion next year.
It did not plant as many street trees or sweep as many roads as planned.
Response: Georges River Council was declared "an area of concern" and was subject to lockdown, curfew orders and other restrictions to keep the community and staff safe. The NSW Public Health Orders disrupted the delivery of many of the council's programs and services and most residents accepted that the health and safety of the community should be the priority during the pandemic.
The council has provided only 11 community halls.
Response: Council rarely provides stand-alone community halls anymore as it is not consistent with our research that demonstrates the community wants more flexible and multi-purpose meeting spaces, clubhouses and community hubs. A significant number of these new spaces have been (or will be) provided within buildings such as Hurstville Golf Clubhouse, Hurstville Oval Pavilion, Harold Fraser Pavilion, Peakhurst Park Sports Amenities Building, Poulton Park Sports Amenities Building, the Mortdale Mens' Shed, Penshurst Park Youth Centre, Gannons Park Sports Building, Sans Souci Sports Amenities Building, Riverwood Sports Buildings to name a few.
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Proposal to build a Woolworths/residential complex
I am a former resident of Targo Road, Beverley Park. I lived at Targo Road for seven years until the townhouse I rented was sold. I can't emphasise how much I enjoyed living on Targo Road. It was a beautiful, quiet, community-minded street that was a suburban 'heaven'.
Unfortunately, I have been informed by my friends in Targo Road that there is now a proposal to build a Woolworths/residential complex at the intersection of Targo Road and Rocky Point Road. At first, I laughed, but then, of course, I witnessed the building of an apartment block on the adjacent corner.
Surely, common sense would rule that such a proposal is totally ridiculous, BUT, the local council seems to be in favour of these sorts of developments.
There is one shining light in this situation. I discovered a fellow called Lachlan McLean had started a petition to oppose the proposal at facebook.com/kogarahbay
People might say, I'm speaking for my friends in Targo Road, but the consequences of this proposal will radiate throughout the whole suburb.
Please, help save Beverley Park and sign Lachlan McLean's petition.
Robert Corra
Kogarah
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