ANOTHER TYRESOME FAUX PAS
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| Santa Clause, Peter Murray far right wearing yellow vest |
For
more years than anyone cares to remember, the Shire of York allowed the Shell
Garage block to be a fetid wasteland, a Soweto Ghetto of rotting tyres, decaying car
batteries and rusting car bodies.
All this time Easterly Winds blew this potentially carcinogenic cocktail up the nostrils of those cruising up and down Avon Terrace, locals and tourists alike.
That was until the Shire CEO, Michael Keeble, was warned of possible Chernobyl-like chemical compounds developing. Lead, battery acid and a host of other elements combining to make- “Holy Shit”! (Mr. Keeble appears to have had a problem with using bad language!)
So on October 6, 2014, the Shire took it upon itself to do a Christmas in October for Shell
Global and Vitol, a massive Swiss conglomerate, which has purchased all of Australia’s Shell Garages for $2.9 Billion. This includes “Smith’s Shell Service”.
Despite the Shire categorically stating, on its website, that Council WILL NOT remove tyres and batteries, Shire Works Supervisor and ersatz Santa Clause, Peter Murray, some Shire elves, two Shire sleighs and a lovely red Shire tractor, removed an ugly black mass of Michelin, GoodYear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Yokohama et al from said service station premises.
All this time Easterly Winds blew this potentially carcinogenic cocktail up the nostrils of those cruising up and down Avon Terrace, locals and tourists alike.
That was until the Shire CEO, Michael Keeble, was warned of possible Chernobyl-like chemical compounds developing. Lead, battery acid and a host of other elements combining to make- “Holy Shit”! (Mr. Keeble appears to have had a problem with using bad language!)
So on October 6, 2014, the Shire took it upon itself to do a Christmas in October for Shell
Global and Vitol, a massive Swiss conglomerate, which has purchased all of Australia’s Shell Garages for $2.9 Billion. This includes “Smith’s Shell Service”.
Despite the Shire categorically stating, on its website, that Council WILL NOT remove tyres and batteries, Shire Works Supervisor and ersatz Santa Clause, Peter Murray, some Shire elves, two Shire sleighs and a lovely red Shire tractor, removed an ugly black mass of Michelin, GoodYear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Yokohama et al from said service station premises.
The
ugly black mass of used rubber can now be found at White Gum Farm, 12kms East
of York.
According to Shire financial records its assistance to Multi-National Companies and the local owner was gratis, or if you prefer-“free”. And it’s a lot of free, 5.5 man hours for one Santa and four elves, 5.5 hours hire of two sleighs and the lovely red tractor, plus the usual on-costs such as fuel and depreciation.
This “freebie” is recorded in the Shire’s, Works Depot Monthly Report- Private Works October 2014.
But it gets way better.
Santa Claus (Peter Murray) acted illegally. Under Part 3, Division 3 of the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations, 2004 you must have a licence to move controlled waste- and old tyres are controlled waste.
Has the Shire got a licence? You guessed it-no!
What did CEO Keeble have to say when told, "I can’t seem to get anything f…….g right, can I".
According to Shire financial records its assistance to Multi-National Companies and the local owner was gratis, or if you prefer-“free”. And it’s a lot of free, 5.5 man hours for one Santa and four elves, 5.5 hours hire of two sleighs and the lovely red tractor, plus the usual on-costs such as fuel and depreciation.
This “freebie” is recorded in the Shire’s, Works Depot Monthly Report- Private Works October 2014.
But it gets way better.
Santa Claus (Peter Murray) acted illegally. Under Part 3, Division 3 of the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations, 2004 you must have a licence to move controlled waste- and old tyres are controlled waste.
Has the Shire got a licence? You guessed it-no!
What did CEO Keeble have to say when told, "I can’t seem to get anything f…….g right, can I".
Did
Santa Claus receive a Christmas bonus at either end of his sleigh ride ?
It's not what you know, it's who you know!
ReplyDeleteOn good authority - $500 one end and $200 the other!
Double standards yet again by the Shire Administration. The odd tyre put out by residents for curb pick up got left behind.
ReplyDeleteMoney changing hands for the deal photographed is definitely a case for the CCC.
How much more corruption can be ignored by Minister Simpson?
alleged corruption is a CCC issue, nothing to do with a Minister
DeleteI know an elderly couple who were charged an extortionate fee by the council for removing a fallen tree limb. I hope the council realise the council vehicles are municipally owned and council staff are paid with municipal funds. It is not fair to the ratepayers that some council staff are abusing their positions and benefiting by deals. I suppose when you look at the big picture it's been going on for a long time, unchecked. If RH spent municipal funds on things he should not have, it sort of paves the way for any council worker to benefit if the opportunity arises. Makes you wonder how much of the 16% rates increase goes towards covering these freebies?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful red Santa Tractor and Albino Deere in the picture!!
ReplyDeleteWas this instead of Christmas decorations in the CBD? Nice to see where our rates have gone.
ReplyDeleteHow come White Gum farm have stock piled them - if it was illegal for Smiths to stock pile them isn't it illegal for WGF?
Love the tyresome faux pas!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, too much corruption (there's a shorter word for it which I won't use) happens.
That's nothing, a few dollars changed hands recently with the water re-use project at the oval.
ReplyDeleteCorruption has a habit of coming un stuck, why do you think RH jumped ship?.
DeleteHe was hoping to get to shore before the storm hits.
I hear (on good authority) that there were many deals done regarding the Oval Sports & Rec Centre project. The Depot workers tell one story that only part truckloads of topsoil were delivered to the Oval site but that full load prices were paid -who to ? - dirty business!
DeleteA bird in the hand is worth two in the bush......
DeleteNo.....
A burden in the bush is worth two in the hand.....
or...
A back hand is worth two for bush .......
or even....
A bush in hand is worth two years in bird ?
Like it, like it a lot.
DeleteThat poem cracked me up.
DeleteSo good to see some humour being used. First time in years we have been able to laugh about things happening here in York.
During RH's time, that poem would have seen a summons issued and you would have been dragged off to court for something. Not sure what, but RH would have thought of something.
Do we still have some of RH apprentices operating in the system?
ReplyDeleteWonder what the explanation will be on this one.
It can featured on this site as the Easter Bunny story!
$1000.00
ReplyDelete