November 2017 has now passed us by, but sadly the frequently promised construction and sealing of The Esplanade East has again failed to materialise.
But at least the ratepayers of the Cove Community can feel comforted knowing that:
- our regular rates
- boosted by that Special Rate Variation
- together with those millions of government dollars supplied supposedly to soften the pain from the recent Council merger
- plus four million a year savings the merger has apparently produced
are being applied diligently to roads and bridges. Elsewhere.
Yesterday (December 1) Council's media release is headed Roadcare Program on the right track. It tell us that roadworks remain the number one priority for the MidCoast community and firmly in Council's spotlight.
The special rate variation (SRV) was introduced on 1 July this year and is dedicated exclusively to addressing the condition of the region’s roads and bridges. It is anticipated that additional funding from the State Government of up to $50million may be secured off the back of the SRV, which if successful, will double the value contributed by rate-payers to improving local roads. The end goal, according to MidCoast Council, is to bring the region’s asset backlog back in line with the State Government guidelines which allow for a backlog of just 2% of the value of the total asset base.
We are told that we should see a marked improvement in local roads and bridges and I am sure Cove community members will appreciate the smoother ride the next time we head north to plead our case before Council. It is just a wee bit perplexing that when we follow the link to the capital works program for 2017/18 nothing is listed for North Arm Cove. Not even the Esplanade East for which Roads to Recovery funds were allocated back in 2014 and which just two months ago we were told work was scheduled to commence in November.
