Ongoing action by the city council to remove attendants from local swimming pools continues to irk many ratepayers, particularly families with children.
While Corrimal residents are most active in protest, Dapto too, also has an interest group with both bodies aiming to fight the council decision to install vending machines that, according to the protesters, will not be able to distinguish between children, parents and attendees not actually swimming.
Currently, I am told, entry fees vary for each type of attendee, but the mooted installation of vending machines raise a number of issues.
If, for example, parents find they have left something in their cars collecting these items will require a second entry fee, and parents attending to watch their kids at swimming squad training will be asked to pay a higher entry fee.
The same rules it seems will also apply to carnivals and swimming lessons.
And when you consider there are some children who train at least twice a day the added expenses will hit the pocket where it hurts.
All of which will mean that less affluent families – those already facing higher petrol and food costs – will spend less time at our public pools.
It’s also been suggested to me that the Dapto pool will suffer most as it is located in one of the city’s less prosperous suburbs.
When you take the above into account and add to the fact that most, if not all ratepayers, have been asked to pay more in council rates this year everyone’s worse off.
Come on Mr Farmer and company sitting there in your cosy offices at city hall, I thought the public pools were a service to ratepayers not an extra drain on those who use and up till now have enjoyed them.
Next thing we’ll be asked to pay to drive on the city’s roads!!!
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> Watch for Pete to emerge
Latest talk among local Liberals is that former treasurer Peter Costello may soon make a run for his Party’s beleaguered leadership.
Seems that while Peter has avoided much of the public limelight since the recent federal elections there is in fact a groundswell within the Party in support of his comeback.
The other name being bandied around is Joe Hockey, but any such move would surprise me.
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> Our bees are in more strife
Last week I mentioned the fall off in bees buzzing around our gardens and that many are now being exported to the United States to boost dwindling numbers over there, well now our bees are causing other concerns.
Seems the dominant supermarket chains are forcing the price of honey produced by bee – keepers down, down and down, and many of the local suppliers face going out of business.
What’s of more concern is that apiarists may have to cut the delivery of hives used to help pollinate crops with the most severe effects to be felt where pear and almond crops are concerned.
Unfortunately, it seems that what will BEE will BEE!!!
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> Really coming to a head
Just where the NRL is going in the future has now become a real public issue.
Former champion and respected commentator Phil Gould let fly in Sunday’s “Herald” when he suggested “our game seemingly has no direction or plan for the future”.
He went on to question who really runs the NRL and asked where was the plan for progress in the next five, 10, 20 years.
What’s more Gould pointed to the fact that six Sydney – based clubs are on their financial knees and country and junior clubs are suffering through inattention from the NRL.
And yet, in the same edition NRL boss David Gallop airily seemed to dismiss Gould’s claims and waffled on about a bright future.
You already know what I feel about Gallop, and after Sunday nothing’s changed. The truth of the matter is it’s time for him to GO.
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> Keeping abreast of the times
Local businessmen Steve Beard and Paul Beckett from Flagstaff Industries have left for Germany to attend a week – long printing and associated activities conference where they expect to see the very latest in print technology, including 27 new developments on one overseas company’s stand alone.
Also, while in Europe they will meet with government bodies to discuss how they manage the employment of impaired and disadvantaged people.
As Steve suggested to me “they do things a bit differently to us and maybe there’s a thing or two we can bring home and introduce in Australia.”
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> It’s on again
BHP retirees will gather at the Illawarra Yacht Club on Wednesday 4 June for their annual half yearly lunch and the numbers are looking good, so I am told.
It seems there’s a good mix of blokes from across the old BHP Steelworks with quite a few travelling from outside the region to attend.
I just wonder how much steel will be made on the day???
Your Opinion Counts. Click Here >>>> | 
