It must be said that nothing has been announced officially, as yet, but the signs are all there.
In fact it’s more a matter of when and how much, which begs the question: “Is there anything ratepayers can actually do, or do we just grin and bear it?”
In Wollongong residents have virtually no chance of a reprieve with three newly appointed state administrators focused solely on breathing life into a bloated, scandal ridden bureaucracy already burdened with decades of seriously under funded infrastructure.
Other YOC communities such as Parramatta and The Shire have differing, less publicised, issues but none is in the position to rule out the usual increases and some commentators are already suggesting the State Government will grant them all the right to strike a rate higher than is automatically allowed.
That’s because local rates are based on State Government valuations and any recent dips in land values have automatically locked in a reduction of income meaning the councils will have to hike rates, just to stay where they were for the last round.
Of course, when land values do finally recover (and they always do) the councils will receive an additional boost to their coffers - but that’s in the future - and in the meantime how do struggling families survive the seemingly endless price rises which are affecting nearly all aspects of their daily lives?
Inflation is at the root of all our current financial problems and it must be acknowledged that handling systemic inflation is taxing the minds of a lot of people both in Australia and around the world. What’s more, the so-called experts who should know, economists, are conspicuous by their absence in the media which says to me they haven’t really got a clue and certainly don’t have an easy answer.
It has always seemed to me that in situations of great complexity (how to fix inflation) the best strategy (at a personal level) is to concentrate on simple solutions, after all you can’t usually influence the big ticket items even if you think you know the answer.
So here goes: two things - either increase your family’s disposable income (get another job, work overtime, even sell some surplus items) - or reduce your outgoings, and preferably both.
And if you can do this (say $100 a week) put the savings in one of the big banks and steadily build it up.
Over time (probably 4-6 months) this strategy will build a small buffer and increase your ability to handle any more bad economic news down the track and buy your family time to make the best out of any unforseen situations that may arise.
The virtue of this approach is that it builds on what strengths you already possess and also positions your family above all the others who just sit there and do nothing constructive (and will ultimately suffer any dire consequences before you have to).
Remember, if enough ordinary people suffer financial hardship all popularly elected governments, and particularly Labor ones, will finally act. You just have to make sure you and your family are still standing!
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Free newspaper pollution
HI Andrew, Well said buddy.
What a waste of paper and as stated such pollution in 2008?? Now think as you drive why you are polluting OUR atmosphere more than you need to and wasting FUEL??? You know of FITCH??? You have no excuse??
Kindest regards,
BILL
fitch fuel catalyst sthn nsw
Banning free newspapers is like insulting motherhood.
I have no beef about local newspapers - in fact I need the Advertiser to check the WCC notices, though it is not always delivered on time and sometimes not at all.
I sometimes wonder why papers are not delivered to me, but lobbed outside empty houses (and even 2 blocks of flats) with for sale signs outside.
Junk mail, on the other hand, is another matter. However, it does give someone gainful employment.
P Ferguson
Council Community Consultation
It is good to see that the council administrators are considering the re-establishment of the neighbourhood committees as the conduit between ratepayers and council. Even though the Local Area meetings replaced the NCs.
The current LAM of Ward 1 in March was pleased to see our two ex-councillors Dave Martin and Alice Cartan in attendance. They were warmly greeted all round. Even though some of the residents may not see eye to eye over local issues, everyone heartily endorsed Dave and Alice as local co-conveners. Dave Martin was one of the main instigators in having the original neighbourhood committees established. His 21 years in wealth of knowledge in council matters, along with Alice, will provide invaluable insight.
Dave Martin spoke of the intense gathering of evidence by ICAC. Cameras, recordings, etc. The ability of resources to do so much, more than any councillor with suspicions could do.
He also spoke of the frustrations of not even being able to achieve the simple accountability of recording who voted for or against at council meetings, an issue he raised over 9 years ago, passed but never instigated. No wonder residents wondered why there never seemed to be objections against controversial developments in council minutes.
Alan Bond
Questions can be asked
It was good to see MP Sylvia Hale raise further questions in Parliament regarding the former players in Wollongong City Council. This time former Mayor Alex Darling.
If something is not mentioned in a case or an inquiry like ICAC, as much as you would like too, you cannot talk about something that is not relevant to the subject at hand. If people are not tarnished in one thing, doesn’t mean they are not tarnished in something else. Most people understand that rumour and innuendo are not facts of evidence. But questions can be asked if something doesn’t appear to be what it seems with public officials.
This latest ICAC may be almost over, but that certainly doesn’t mean there won’t be more if people are brave and supported enough to come forward. Over things at least 20 years back. Corruption is corruption and a crime is a crime, no matter when.
Alan Bond
All councillors are responsible and should go
I would take issue with the writer’s statement in the opening paragraph “or council officer mentioned trying to do the right or proper thing.”
Didn't the ICAC hear that a number of senior planners had left the council because of the interference from the CEO. They surely are the ones who came forward but would not be heard and put their careers on the line and paid the consequences of having high moral standards. It's easy to sit back and criticise on a popular stance, please give them a fair go.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion on the content of your article.
Michael Kelly
Michael – I don’t want to sound like a nitpicker but what I actually said was:
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the ICAC inquiry is the almost complete absence of any Wollongong City councillor or council officer mentioned trying to do the right or proper thing.
The operative words being ‘almost’ and ‘mentioned’.
ac
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