Southern Highland News.28.4.08

Council to investigate chamber head's debt
8:50AM Wingecarribee Shire Council will investigate whether it can recover a $24,0106 outstanding debt from Highlands Waste Services, a defunct company formerly run by Mittagong Chamber of Commerce president Charlie Johns. [more]

Letter to the Editor.Southern Highland news. 28.4.08

Dear Sir

Thanks Mac for your appraisal of the Extraordinary meeting on Wednesday the 16th of April (SHN 18.4.08). You certainly put an interesting spin on the proceedings of the evening. Like you, I was very impressed by the 400 plus residents who actually got themselves motivated enough to come along and voice their protest at the totally arrogant attitude of the majority of Councillors. The block must be an incredibly thick one, as even the pleas of 400 plus residents and rate payers could wear them down. So much for listening!

I voiced my contempt on the night at the blatant disregard of public sentiment shown by the now gang of seven. The point was continually missed by my fellow Councillors who were always determined to push ahead under a smokescreen of promises and public consultation to manipulate their own agenda.

I still cannot and will not believe that those Councillors who profess to be listening to the community, in all sincerity believe that they are acting in a fair and democratic way. Even though they would have the community believe that they will listen to the poll, I am afraid that the deal has been done. The ink has all but dried on the for sale signs.

Why was I continually goaded by Clr Malcolm Murray to commit myself to go along wit the Poll when he himself has so blatantly ignored and insulted the will and the intelligence of the community?

I did agree to abide by the result of the poll as Mac Cott pointed out, but this was conditional on the magnificent Seven showing the integrity and sincerity that comes along with their own commitment. In other words, my agreement was based on fair play, that is if they had agreed to be honourable and " taken no action in relation to the reclassification of the land" until after the polls.

They of course did not. I believe their sincerity was tested on the night and from where I sat, they failed the test. This may be because they had already made up their mind.

The deal is done. If not, they would have shown their sense democracy by holding back until the results of the poll were known, not thumbed their collective noses and continued with their double speak and attempts at patronising the crowd.

Mac, I think people know where I come from. I do not and have not ever sold this community out, nor will I try to deceive the people of the Wingecarribee, nor bamboozle them with platitudes and patronisation.

Also Mac, I would see a number of advantages in playing the popularist, rather than the unpoularist, particularly when you believe, like others, in what you are fighting for.

Faithfully yours,

Clr Larry Whipper

dont be like this!

Join us in our campaign to bring sanity back into the community decision making process. Don't believe that you cannot make a difference. You are the only thing that can.

If you have had enough of being ignored by Council. Consider supporting the Community Action Team. I will be calling a special meeting to seek support from those of you who care about the shire and want to see some commonsense and community minded local governance returned to the shire. Please email your expression of interest in attending an informal meeting via email and I will contact you closer to the time of the meeting and provide all the details.

Remember we are all in this together!

letter to the editor.

Dear Sir,

Re: Can we afford leisure centre? (SHN. 11.4.08). The simple answer is no ! The honest answer is no! And the responsible answer is of course no! Why then are we persisting?

I don't really think that any one would object to a leisure centre if we could in fact afford it. But given we can't why do some Councillors ignore this fact? Maybe the answer can be found in the election jargon of the "time for a change" team at the last election. What cannot be found in that jargon however, is the promise to sell your land or close public pools.

What can be found there in that election blurb, is a promise to listen to the people, not ignore the fact that around 90% of submissions to the LEP have been relating to and opposing the reclassification and sale of public land.

I think Mr Brewster in his letter to the editor makes some very pertinent Points and asks some very relevant questions. There will be an enormous maintenance cost accompanying this proposal as well. Nobody has spoken about that yet. How will we be able to pay for it? Even though no fault of our own, some Council investments have gone sour. Until recouped, we have to acknowledge the fact that there is an uncertainty surrounding council finances.

Don't be seduced into thinking your local pools will be safe from the eyes of our current Council Entrepreneurs (particularly if the same mind set prevails on your new council). It seems that anything that isn't tied down may be seen as collateral to fund pet projects.

It is still my belief that the construction of a leisure centre at this point in time, is an investment in financial loss. In the current economic climate of council, this will remain a drain on the resources and rates of the residents of this shire.

I believe that Councillors should to listen to the people who have entrusted them with their civic role, all the time, not just at election time! Remember there were a number of promises made at the last election. The sale of community, land was not one of them. The closure of public pools, was not one of them, nor was ignoring the community.

So it may now " Really be time for Change". Change back to a form of representation that favours the mums and dads, children, retirees and families of this shire. Time to focus on the bigger picture and Community over the personal pursuits and narrow vision of some whose actions do more to prop up the big end of town, than cater for the rest of us!

I for one have heard the message and will continue to fight not only to save your land, but to empower and save your future.

Faithfully yours.
Clr Larry Whipper.

Don't miss the line up on Wenesday the 16th of April

No it is not April Fools Day, Council are actually going to vote to reclassify and sell your public land. There is a motion being put forward by Clrs Malcolm Murray and Paul Tuddenham. I believe this to be directly in response to the public outcry on this matter. Of course they say it is because they are listening to the people! And maybe they are, but only to save their political necks. If we were not only 6 months out from an election, I do not think the community would be getting this concession!

Even with the concession there still remains around 20 blocks up for grabs, including Bowral Pool. There is also a proposal to sell the Old Sewage Treatment Plant site at Mittagong, which is behind the Big W.

Some say that the land sale proponents have devised a strategy to divide and conquer the opposition. I still believe that the community will oppose this fire sale mentality on principle. It is essential that we stand together. It is also important to remember that we are are not far out from an election. You must ask yourself "can I trust these Councillors, who are proposing and continuing to support the reclassification and sale of public land? What will they come up with as a money making strategy and entrepreneurial venture in the in the next term. And can the community afford it?"

I am proposing to move an amendment at the meeting. It will probably come after the land cited by the ruling junta has been given as a gift gift to the community and the 30 or so lots have been removed from the list. Having then proven that they ahve listened, you may then find that they again choose not to listen. The proof is always in the pudding. Lets see what eventuates. My amendment will be this:

1) That Council not proceed with the reclassification of any community land as identified in the LEP, including Bowral pool

2) That Council endorse the sale of the old STP site in Roscoe Street Mittagong.

3) That the proceeds of the sale be invested in the upgrading of Mittagong and Moss Vale Pools and the covering of Bowral Public pool to create an all year round swimming centre for the shire.

From the Whisper: Councils Newsletter.

Latest on land reclassification.

The Whisper
No. 544 Thursday 3rd April 2008
A weekly publication for Wingecarribee Shire Council staff

The next step with reclassification of community land
The residents have spoken, now it is the Councillors turn
Following the exhibition period of the Draft LEP Council will now conduct two extraordinary council
meetings in the Bowral Memorial Hall on Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 30 April commencing at
3.30pm. The first meeting will consider the reclassification of community land in the Local
Environmental Plan, while the 30th April meeting will consider the final endorsement of the LEP. The
Bowral Memorial Hall will to allow a greater number of
community members to observe the process, catering for 400
people, while the Civic Centre Chambers can legally cope with just
100. It is stressed that these will be formal special extraordinary
council meetings, so only councillors can debate the issues – that is
the procedure at extraordinary council meetings. Members of the
community have had their turn at all the public meetings and in
their submissions, but these meetings are for Councillors to have
their say and vote on the matters.
Parks proposed to be removed
from the reclassification list
A Notice of Motion will be considered at the extraordinary council
meeting on 16th April, proposing to remove thirteen parks and
seven properties from the reclassification list in the draft LEP.
Following the democratic and extensive public consultation
process undertaken by council, the notice of motion proposes to
remove the following parks and properties from the list;
Parks
Yeo Park in Yarrawa Street Moss Vale, Ritchie Park in Suttor
Road Moss Vale, Thwaites Park in Twickenham Place Moss
Vale, Broughton Park in Broughton Street Bundanoon, Acacia
Park Janice Crescent Moss Vale, Rotary Park in Old Bowral
Road Mittagong, Venables Park in Una Street Bowral, Apex
Park in Price Street Bowral, Westwood Park in Westwood Drive
and College Street Bowral, Henderson Park in Pine Street Moss
Vale, Waratah Park in Street Colo Vale, Waratah Park (Jasmine
Street) Colo Vale, Mineral Springs Reserve at Mittagong.
Properties
Soma Avenue in Bowral, Rytina Place in Moss Vale, Dyson Place in Moss Vale, Ben Nevis Circuit in
Bundanoon, Meryla Street in Robertson, Wilson Drive in Balmoral, Tulip Close in Bowral.
Land proposed to remain on the reclassification list
Provided the Notice of Motion is adopted at the extraordinary council meeting on 16th April, the
following land will remain on the reclassification list in the draft LEP.
Queen Street in Moss Vale, Argyle Street in Moss Vale, Mylora Street in Hill Top, Mylora Street in
Hill Top (2), Harold Street in Hill Top, Davy Street in Mittagong, Stanley Terrace in Moss Vale,
Woodbine Street in Bowral, East Kangaloon RFS site, Old Hume Highway in Berrima, Anembo Street
in Moss Vale, Drapers Road in Braemar, Lackey Road in Moss Vale, Cherry Tree Close in Moss Vale,
Bevan Place in Bowral, Oxley Hill Road in Bowral, Woodville Road in Moss Vale, Bowral Pool,
Oxley Street in Berrima, The old STP site in Roscoe Street Mittagong.

Borefield Environmental Assessment on Exhibition

The exhibition period for the Kangaloon borefield extractions has commenced. At this stage it is anticipated that it will be on exhibition from the 2nd April 2008 until the 5th of may 2008. I have included a few links for those of you who may be interested.

The community reference group are still opposed to the extraction and believe that given the Governments priority should be the de -sal plant, particularly given their commitment to the project. Of course the UNGCRG have always supported recycling, water efficiency and harvesting of stormwater as the first defence against Sydney's water crisis.

Council's Environment Committee along with Councillors will get a presentation from the SCA. We are also asking for an extension for the exhibition period. the UNGCRG w are preparing a submission. I will ask Council to support the stand of the reference group, as they have done in the past.

The EA is now available on the website of the Department of Planning http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/major_projects.asp under (Part 3A Major Developments - on exhibition)

As we now, it has been declared critical Infrastructure.

There are other documents on the project accessible through the link http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/06_0331.asp

Donna Sowry is the Public Relations person for the project. She is extremely helpful and available on the following email.

Donna.Sowry@sca.nsw.gov.au

The project overview is available on the following link.

http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams-and-water/metropolitan-water-plan/groundwater-investigations-community-consultation

Beware of Nick's bearing Gifts.

Hi All,

It has been confirmed that Malcolm Murray will move a motion ( a possible vote getter) Nick who will not stand again, will second it. The motion will be to remove all parks from the for sale list. The Plan is to move to sell of the old sewerage treatment plant in Mittagong instead. Motion will be moved at the meeting of the 16th. Looks like Nick has been worn down. He did tell me a week or so ago that he was getting too tired to
tired to fight and would consider removing parks, but leaving
reserves. He must have thought further on the matter.

I , am very suspicious about this latest strategy. I have seen some councillors, still intent on getting their own way, manipulate public sentiment and, as Cam Ford from the Moss Vale Action Group has said, use this to divide and conquer!

My feeling is that the public land sale proponents are getting overwhelmed by what they call the noisy minority and are running scared. This strategy is designed to put up yet another smoke screen and confuse the community, while allowing them to continue to build the White Elephant that will still cost enormous amounts of rate payers monies in maintenance. It will not stop the sale of Bowral Pool, nor will it stop the possible closure of other pools to pay for the ongoing maintenance costs.

Nick indicated to me after the Stateline taping, that he was getting tired and would probably take the parks of the for sale list. He said we would have to sell the Mittagong sewerage site however. Question: are these his to sell??

Be very careful of Greeks bearing these type of gifts. I am trying to think of a significant amendment t raise at the meeting in an attempt to expose this move for what it is (i.e) a self interested strategy, rather than the response to public concern that the land sale proponents will try to push down every one's throats. Let me know if you have any ideas.