I just love it!! In the agenda items for next week's clowncil meeting to table and pass the Annual Report, there are the following observations (and I quote verbatim)!!
"We reduced consumption of mains water from 310 million litres in 2002–03 to 130.3 million litres in 2007–08 — a decrease of 193 million litres or 61 per cent."
Reading the above one would really think that this 'reduction' is the result of our wonderful environmentally conscious clowncil. Nothing could be further from the truth and nothing could be more designed to disguise the truth. Were there any water restrictions in 2002? Isn't clowncil and the community simply abiding by legal requirements - ie these water restrictions? So how dare they claim credit for something that has never been the result of their initiatives or their thoughtful and far sighted planning. The 'we' in this paragraph is an insult!
Another quote: "A major agreement with Melbourne Racing Club will see a better balance between horse racing, community sport and passive recreation at Caulfield Racecourse." Yes, an 'agreement' that is so full of holes, that sells the glen eira community so short, that it is nothing but disgraceful. Also, who first started agitating about the racecourse? It sure as hell wasn't the administration. and if people can be bothered to read the minutes from the last council meeting, they will see how 'successful' our councillors have been in 'donating' a good parcel of land to the racecourse trustees.
More still: "Only 2.7 per cent of town planning decisions were appealed against by residents." What of developers? what's the percentage of their appeals and how much is this the fault of clowncil's inadequate planning structures and mechanisms? Of course resident appeals are small - how many of us have the time, money, and expertise to front VCAT and argue a case?
Again, I urge all residents to read an earlier blog about annual reports and their shortcomings. Glen Eira remains a prime example of what the auditor's review discovered - lack of real information, and lack of relevance to ordinary ratepayers.
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2 comments:
Canineclub, the Councillors and Administration are just demonstrating what Council Watchers have always known....
They love to take credit for any good news, missing a couple of dots in the process...and plainly ignore that which is "bad" news....
One thing I've noticed about this Council is that it doesn't move forward in providing anything much - actually new, of a tangible nature for residents.
Years later the Council's letter head 2004 and 2008, informs residents of:
80 MCGs of Parkland (still - no increase whatsoever in spite of the Open Space tax placed on developers of significantly sized jobs. However!
the drains have moved from Swan Hill (2004) to Mildura (2008)
and wait, there's more!
$150 mill in Town Planning is up to $170 million
Carspaces have increased in 4 years by 100, 3300 to 3400 at a time when the population has increased by perhaps 10,000 with multi unit complexes replacing single dwellings.
Council has acquired an additional 600 elderly up from 4200 to 4800.
6200 immunisations have not moved.
School Crossings have increased by one. That would be the one that the Member for Oakleigh, Ann Barker initiated on behalf of the Glen Huntly Primary School!
The street trees have increased from 35,000 (2004) to 46,000 (2008)
but watch this space.
45 sports grounds have not increased but watch out Booran Road past Reservoir development
also the children's playground has increased by two, from 43 to 45
Now all we really need is the number of toilets bowls available for the public use that were in place in 2004 to 2008. I have seen the evidence before my eyes of their demise but where are the official records....oops toilets are not that important to a community really are they? really with an ageing population...stiff!!
I am writing now to comment on the physical presentation of the document known as the Annual Report.
I believe residents of Glen Eira would be better served with a Report that is white paper and black writing for easier reading.
The book has used recycled paper but has undone any good by being unnecessary thick pages and glossy. Ill chosen colours in reference panels with black writing on dark colours make reading very difficult.
One has to wonder who, within the Administration, makes the final decision on the physical presentation prior to printing of this tome.
Less pictures, lighter paper, and no gloss, would make more room for the vital information that the Victorian Auditor General advises is missing. Also the book although well bound would be much easier to hold reading if it had a spring back spine. One needs a brick on one side of the book in order to be able to read the Financial Section....was that a design fault or deliberate?
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