Visionaries knew that the State Government would seek early intervention to swiftly deal with sub- standard councils prior to having to hire a potentially inept commissioner -and be able to sack individual incompetent councillors thereby averting the need to put an entire council to the sword.
It had to happen. Over the past two decades twenty-one councils have been investigated, including the recidivist York council twice, with eight now being examined by various authorities. Four of these are from Rural, Regional and Remote areas.
The latest article in the July 28th edition of The Weekend West has a less than flattering title ‘Early action bid on Dodgy Local Councils’ with ‘dodgy’ being a fair summation of how many ratepayers across the state consider the abilities of councils that represent them.
In particular there are the massive rate hikes with no corresponding increment in the extent and quality of services, the never-ending breaches of governance and local by-laws that stifle development.
Local Government Minister, David Templeman, appears to subtlety admit that the underlying reason for the discovery of increased levels of malpractice is that local community groups are more effective in raising issues through the dramatic rise of an inquisitive, investigative Social Media sites which know more about local government affairs than he does.
It certainly is not related to any obvious improvement in effective control of local government by his department over shire and city councils and WALGA since he took over the portfolio.
Recently Mr. Templeman rejected the advice of the Minister for Regional Development, Alannah MacTeirnan that some regional council’s should be amalgamated.
Unfortunately for Mr Templeman, Ms. MacTeirnan, who has spent 25 years in politics, both in the State and Federal arenas, has far more credibility within the Labor Party hierarchy than he has. So her idea may well be revisited in the not too distant future.
So where exactly does the Shire of York stand as the new legislation inexorably draws to the end of submissions and towards deliberations.
It may well have a problem regarding the interpretation of the Local Government (Audit) Regulations Act 1996- Reg-17. It may also have some explaining to do regarding a criminal case currently being proceeded with in the Perth’s Magistrates Court relating to work-place issues.
Then, of course, there is the unexplainable financial largesse that is the Forest Bar & Café, a jumbo white bull elephant filling an empty convention centre conference room that may happily live there forever.
Now some tips on a tip.
Arguably the biggest problem faced by the Shire of York, the ratepayers and the community in general is the potential devastation that any approval of the Allawuna Farm Waste Disposal Project may deliver to York’s battered Real Estate market and what little tourist industry it has left.
It is perceived by the authorities concerned in this tips future is that the past and current Shire of York Council has never outlined any significant ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES as good reason why the project should not proceed.
It also appears that ALKINA may be eager to get their machinery engaged in the major excavation required to bury Perth’s shit at Allawuna.
The problem they face right now is heavy rainfall and the raised water-table level that would appear to any environmentalist to be sufficient reason why ALKINA should not be digging there in the first place.
But then the experts from the Department of Water and Environmental Protection say that is not a problem. So let us pray they do not fall victim to Mesothelioma- or from chloride not fluoride after drinking toxic waste in their tap water.
Nor does the potential for road carnage on the Great Southern Highway between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s appear to be a worry because this not an environmental issue.
And the sun appears to be about to set on any ‘Sunset Clause’.
David Taylor.
Arguably the biggest problem faced by the Shire of York, the ratepayers and the community in general is the potential devastation that any approval of the Allawuna Farm Waste Disposal Project may deliver to York’s battered Real Estate market and what little tourist industry it has left.
It is perceived by the authorities concerned in this tips future is that the past and current Shire of York Council has never outlined any significant ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES as good reason why the project should not proceed.
It also appears that ALKINA may be eager to get their machinery engaged in the major excavation required to bury Perth’s shit at Allawuna.
The problem they face right now is heavy rainfall and the raised water-table level that would appear to any environmentalist to be sufficient reason why ALKINA should not be digging there in the first place.
But then the experts from the Department of Water and Environmental Protection say that is not a problem. So let us pray they do not fall victim to Mesothelioma- or from chloride not fluoride after drinking toxic waste in their tap water.
Nor does the potential for road carnage on the Great Southern Highway between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s appear to be a worry because this not an environmental issue.
And the sun appears to be about to set on any ‘Sunset Clause’.
David Taylor.
