Tea Gardens, 17 November 2014
In the first of a series of planned community sessions to be held this month, General Manager Glenn Handford and senior Council Management presented a Council Update and responded to many questions from the audience. Present at the meeting were the Mayor, Jan McWilliams, Deputy Mayor, Len Roberts and Councillor Carol McCaskie plus community members from Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Allworth, Bundabah, Pindimar and North Arm Cove.
Balancing the books?
Glenn Handford began by addressing the long term financial position of Council. Currently Council are tracking well on balanced budgets but this has been achieved by sometimes deferring projects. The long term model suggests some surplus may be possible after 2022 but the model is sensitive to what projects are initiated and changes in such things as interest rates.
Satisfied customers?
An independent "satisfaction" survey of some 400 community members selected from across the Council area revealed some improvement in overall satisfaction with Council since the last survey two years ago. Director of Engineering Services, Ron Hartley addressed those issues relating to Council Assets with particular emphasis on roads. Overall forty percent of survey respondents thought more should be spent on roads. The survey did not identify which other projects they thought Council could reduce funding for, to provide for this.
Upping the rates?
Council would be applying for a "Special Rate Variation" in early 2016 which if approved would take effect for the 2016-17 rating period. This would help Council address some of the backlog particularly on roads.
Council merger?
Glenn Handford then address the "Fit for the Future" blueprint initiated by the State Government with a view to cutting red tape, investing in reform and helping councils to work smarter together. The earlier Government proposal to proceed with County Councils received much opposition, so the Government has changed tack instead requiring Councils to begin discussions with neighbouring Councils regarding the possibility of a merger. This is being encouraged with the Government offering some financial incentives.
Great Lakes Council's financial outlook been assessed as moderate which makes it one of the better performing councils in the state. In contrast, Taree's outlook was "distressed" and Gloucester's "very weak". Gloucester has been told it is not viable and needs to merge. Discussions will take place with Gloucester and full assessments of the implications of a merger will be made. Gloucester has a very much larger backlog of works than Great Lakes although Glenn Handford felt that it was essentially a well-run Council. Currently the State Government "incentive" of a $5million injection of funds seems inadequate to cover the administrative costs of amalgamation let alone addressing the backlogs of works. The issue however needs to be fully explored or the Government may make a decision regardless.
Cove matters
Some issues specific to North Arm Cove were mentioned in the presentation and more were raised in the subsequent discussion.
- Sealing of Eastslope Way south is still scheduled for the current financial year.
- What happens regarding The Esplanade East depends on the Community Protection Plan and the outcome of discussions with the RFS.
- Some funds have been allocated to beginning work on the NAC drainage project, which emerged from the investigations in 2013, but at this stage the priorities have not been finalised by Council.
The general discussion also addressed communication issues with Council. Glenn Handford advised those present that correspondence, including emails, should be responded to in a timely manner and certainly with two weeks.
A special community meeting will be called by Council in the near future to discuss the various issues relating to Jimmys Beach.
