Editorial: Not Even Trying

THE response of the Mayor to Councillor Watts’ questions about the rail overpass on Monday night (see story: Where is the Overpass?) highlights an ongoing issue with the current Upper Hunter Shire Council of not even trying to lobby for proper funding for major projects in the Shire or not fundamentally understanding what their role in local government actually is.

Three key infrastructure projects spring to mind where the Council should be lobbying state and federal government for more funding: the revitalisation of the main streets after the bypass, local water infrastructure and the rail overpass.

But instead it seems the Council has opted to apply for a 20 percent increase in rates to pay for the revitalisation, increase the costs of water rates and let the rail overpass be brushed under the carpet.

They make it seem like it is all just too hard to represent local residents and easier to ask local residents to cough up or go without.

It is also easy for Council to throw the Roads and Maritime Services under the bus by complaining that they are difficult to deal with, but they are playing in the wrong sandpit.

The RMS are public servants who are directed by politicians to do a specific task and work within specific parameters, so there is little point in Councillors asking them for a rail overpass, it’s not their decision!

The role of the elected Councillors is to lobby other politicians at State and Federal level, who have the power and the cheque book to make these projects happen.

In a recent radio interview about water rates, the Mayor said going to state government to lobby for more funding for water infrastructure would be a waste of time, but with that attitude perhaps local Councillors have become a waste of space.

What is interesting is that rate payers clearly don’t think lobbying for proper funding is a waste of time and they have started taking matters into their own hands, bypassing the local Councillors and reaching out to state politicians about water rates with a petition. (see story: Signatures to Address Water Rates)

It is a sorry state of affairs when Councillors think lobbying for these issues is a waste of time, but the people who elected them think it is worth their time.

Of further concern was the Mayor’s comment to Cr Watts at Monday night’s meeting that “we’ve discussed this”, indicating the over pass matter had been discussed in closed Council meetings before the open meeting.

Thankfully Councillor Watts insisted her questions be placed on the public record on Monday night and her fellow Councillors be accountable for the progress or lack there of with the rail overpass and didn’t allow the issue to be swept under the carpet which some clearly want to do.

Elizabeth Flaherty

Editor of scone.com.au