OUR FAVOURITE MARTIN:

What a wonderful word York’s CEO, Paul Martin, appears to have come up with- it is ‘MULTIYEAR’. Good one champ!

It covers a MULTITUDE of sins dating back to the year 2006 and probably well into the next decade, even century.

MULTIYEAR actually means as long as it takes, totally time non-specific, totally time generous, totally no foreseeable end-result focussing. To put it even more succinctly in means more than one year- right up to Armageddon.

It covers anything and everything.

This includes the 3 years it has taken the Shire to find out that it will not be recompensed for the highly controversial purchase of St Patrick’s Convent. This being money that was inappropriately lent by State Treasury for the purchase of this property at twice its market value.

And of course any idea of taking Commissioner James Best to court (on what charge?) will probably end up in crocodile tears because he may say he burrowed the money from the state with the required authority to do so, all done in good faith, and if you want it, don’t even bother because,’ good luck- he cannot afford to pay it back’.

The best court case scenario is that it buys a bevy of lawyers that new Porsche 911 and a new set of golf clubs to throw in the boot, courtesy of York ratepayers, with the decision possibly taking MULTIYEAR’S with a dead end result.Regarding the collapsing convent it must be said that an incredible Shire of York Agenda statement has been made about this almighty imbroglio which goes to the very crux of the problem that ratepayers have with the Shire of York.

It is an absolute beauty regarding all the costs and potential stuff-ups involved. ‘Officers have proposed to be entirely transparent on this matter’.

Firstly this infers that Officers may not have not been entirely transparent in the past on any other matter, including this one!

Also PROPOSED means a SUGGESTION- not that anyone is actually going to be transparent.Does this mean a new enlightened era where truth and honesty prevail?

Not with the current Local Government Act 1995 and the Department of Local Government and the West Australian Local Government Association’s interpretation of it.

WALGA’s, own role, responsibilities and abilities, including its training methods, some could argue may have inadvertently allowed, even enticed a CEO, Dacre Alcock, to steal $600,000 from the Shire of Dowerin. 

A great assistant of the Shire of York and its past problematic auditing procedures, Dominic Carbone, is listed as a financial trainer with WALGA.

MULTIYEARS also does not sound so bad as the number of years the YRCC has, and will continue to, destroy the Shire of York’s finances, ensuring that the ratepayers are charged more for their rates than many City Councils and most Shire Councils- until hell freezes over.

Some silver tongued soothsayers will claim that this is not true.

The alleged exploding debt of up to $13 million is just a drop in the ocean in comparison to over (an initial) $100 million spent by a few other regional councils, through Royalties for Regions, on massive, not needed, local entertainment facilities, without due diligence, creating a never ending, massive debt problem.

Compared to these York’s Beer (Pork) Barrel Polka Forrest Tavern/Bar/Café repayments could be chicken feed- other than the fact that the Shire of York cannot afford it- and neither can the ratepayers.

Fixing future problems is just all too easy. The Minister for Local Government, David Templeman, could prevent further Local Government Council financial missmagement in an instant by changing the Local Government Act (Regulations) 1996. He has the personal power as me, myself, I.

Despite the current financial largesse furore, massive Local Government Council financial problems are not entirely the responsibility of Royalties for Regions and Brendan Grylls.

It was  just a cookie jar offered to incompetent CEO’s and councils who had no expensive community project management accounting skills whatsoever. They had no projections on annual running costs or whole of life maintenance costs. It was pure greed, pure self-aggrandisement within the local community- assured through pure stupidity!

Many Local  Government Council’s’ do not have an accredited finance officer. Some that do-have an incumbent that did not pass Grade 3 Math and graduated as a shoe salesman, or a barperson.

To the best of anybody’s knowledge, the Shire of York’s current Finance Officer has no degree, no qualifications, no accreditation and no certification at all pertaining to controlling finances. Neither does any other Officer within its offices.

Now here is a list of unanswered questions put to David Templeman by someone who has the University Degree qualifications to do so.

Why has not the Minister invoked the following or at least signalled that these changes will be occurring forthwith?

All that is needed is a change to the LG(Financial Management ) Regulations 1996 which is in his power to action as opposed to changing the LGA 1995 which requires action by Parliament. Why has this not happened?

Local Government is required to comply with AAS (Australian Accountancy Standards) and all financial responsibility is vested in the office of CEO when there should be a separation of responsibilities between the CEO and a Chief Finance Officer . Why has this not happened?

Internal Audit function is none existent in many LGs and not well understood. The DLG should be able to issue Instructions which have the same statuary authority as the Act and Regulations. Why has this not happened?

Finance training is carried out by WALGA and the above should have been picked up.

The membership of WALGA is conflict of interest and the role of the Association, which is funded by the public purse, should be investigated and rationalized.

Why has not this happened?.

Then comes WALGA.

Why does WALGA not insist that each Local Government Council has a Chief Finance Officer to meet Department of Treasury instructions and Australian Accounting Standards?

That to be fully financially accountable, there should be clear mandatory delineation between the responsibilities of any department CEO, finance staff and purchasing staff?

In Local Government all financial responsibilities are placed with the Chief Executive Officer. In York’s case Paul Martin, who is not known to be a certified practicing accountant or have any similar qualifications.

No other staff have any accounting qualifications, so it may be the case of a partially blind guide dog leading the blind?

(This could be very interesting if a demand is made of the Auditor General to ensure that no extraneous payments have been made by the Shire of York to possibly three, maybe more staff members in the 2017-18 Financial Year. This will happen.)

In fact what is WALGA?.

How many people at WALGA are needed to change a lightbulb? What are their salary packages, motor vehicles supplied, allowances and credit cards? What is its annual running costs, does it own its offices and other properties? Does it have an extensive investment portfolio? To whom or under what Act is it accountable, the Associations Incorporations Act?How much revenue does it receive per annum from ratepayers and what services does it provide that is of any benefit to ratepayers, other than to those who leach off them? It could be claimed it perpetuates a failed system for its own benefit.

And the biggest question of all -what good is it?
Last but not least this is a question for Wallace & Martin (it sounds like a bit like funeral director partnership.)How many MULTIYEARS is it going to take to turn  the monstrous black lagoon back into the Avon River?

And

How many MULTIYEARS will it take to re-erect the tumbling tombstones to honour York’s ancestors.

The answer may well be ‘we have proposed to be entirely transparent on this matter- it will be MULTIYEARS’.

David Taylor.

STILL LIFE:

THE RIVER AVON - YORK, 2018

                                        

This magnificently poignant photograph has taken the international art world by storm.

The New York Bulletins Art Critic says, “This image is superb. A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words but this one says everything in just six.

The juxtaposition of a decaying man-made object amid ugly slimy green ooze makes this a modern environmentally inspired masterpiece.

The pallid colours suggest a primeval, dystopian world of the future, almost an ‘image noir’.

This glorious art work could just have easily been called ‘No Life”.

The London Gazette says ‘it is a harrowing, yet soulful example of the neo-apocalyptic earth phase.

It suggests the destruction of one of the planets greatest assets, its waterways, by mankind, complete with the reminder of our throw-away society rearing its ugly, singular assemblage from the cloying algal scum.

You can talk about modernism, cubism and all the other ‘isms, this is a paragon, a tour de force encapsulating man’s inhumanity to his world.

It is pure creative genius”.

President Donald Trump’s Spokesperson says

“Forget the fake news, arty-farty crap and build a wall that critics can’t jump over.

The President feels that this is pure creative genius in the development of a new money-making venture ‘Grunge Tourism’.

You can allow the environment and history to decay around you, at no cost, and then rake in the dollars as busloads of tourists pore in to view the stinking mess.

He would love who thought of this one to be on his team.

He’s met your Prime Minister, Mal Turnbill, and he says that this is Aussie local government entrepreneurship at its very best.

David Taylor.

OF GRAVE CONCERN: -

Ah yes- the wondrous pontifications called bullshit that inveigles its way into Local Shire Council’s mantras.

These are unaccountable, impossible to substantiate hymns of collective personal praise in honour of what is actually a lack of local council ability and endeavour.

It is what is also called chutzpah, a Yiddish term for gall, brazen nerve and unfettered arrogance.

York’s little gem is “To build on our past to create our future”.

In this Shire of York’s case it means absolutely nothing. It is not building or creating anything, and appears to be in total denial and/or total ignorance of the fact.

It would come far closer to the truth if the motto was ‘to maybe try and rebuild our past- just in case   we have some sort of a future’.

Certainly the neglected, desecrated St. Patrick’s Convent could do with some obscenely expensive tender loving repair and the historic York graveyard is a disgusting ‘falling, forlorn tombstone territory’.

View the images and you will understand why!      

You could easily make the assumption that the Shire of York is actually destroying its past through a deliberate regime of pure neglect and abandonment.

Perth City Council’s, many who charge far lower annual domestic property rates than York, have $1 billion squirrelled away for the rainy day that requires improved public facilities for their communities.

Try and ask one of York’s Councillors what funds York has in a safe haven? It is arguably very little, to nothing, and they would not have a clue how much it is anyway.

To call York’s shire and community assets, few of which are saleable, a nest-egg for the town’s future would be farcical.

The current shire is not just moribund, it is going backwards.

It is well below Local Government Industry standards as a place to live, exacerbated by the fact that this council is considered even worse as a governing organization.

It has even plunged backwards in most standards since the reign of King Ray of Kalgoorlie, Chittering and York.

To cap this off, in the knowledge that King Ray and his cohorts totally ignored York’s history and the meaning of historic, the councils 2016-17 Annual Report mentioned the word history only twice in a 98 page, nondescript document.

One of the Shire’s few relative strengths is claimed to be ‘how (its) history is preserved and promoted’.

This is obviously some sort of rather humourless joke and begs the question does this council know what the word history means and the concept of community value in the word historic?

That--- is highly unlikely!

Strangely enough the Shire of York does have a local in charge of so-called ‘Arts and Cultural Heritage” the meaning of which should include the preservation of one of the state’s oldest and most historic graveyards.

Unfortunately it looks like a rubbish tip for headstones. So what does this woman do for a living and what history is being preserved? Can she learn to be a monumental mason?
Also the Shire has a Community and Economic Development Officer presumably to develop the economy by promoting the town through its rich history.

So what bit of richness has been promoted in the town, successfully, in the past 4 years?   

Then there is the other awkward conundrum.

The Shire President is a multi-generational member of the York community.

The dead relatives of his peers must be turning in their graves as their monuments collapse above them through neglect.

As York staggers from one impending disaster to another, it should be remembered that “Our Beloved Leader” may remain in office for another long 44 months and the CEO even longer.

David Taylor.
 

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT A CONVENT.

From the attached letter from Minister Templeman, unfortunately, despite the original circumstances of purchase, the Shire of York is still considered to be the owner of St Patrick’s Convent School and therefore financially responsible for any restoration demanded. (That means the ratepayers!)

Although the Heritage Bill 2017 has yet to be passed, it certainly has a clause allowing Repair Orders to be issued against the owners for what is termed ‘demolition by neglect’.

It appears that the Heritage Council will be charged with both negotiating with, and pursuing  if necessary, these owners to ensure that a State heritage listed building is made secure , structurally sound and weather tight.

It is admitted that the convent is listed on the State Register of Heritage Places as (#02879).

The term safe for public access has been omitted , but to ensure that the old convent building is secure, structurally sound and weather tight, independent experts claim will cost at least $1million.

Mr Templeman was never asked to speculate about punitive action against the Shire of York. He was advised that the convent was currently in a state of unacceptable and possibly dangerous dilapidation and definitely structurally unsound.

In his role as Minister for Heritage, Templeman made a press statement that fines for non compliance would be $1 million and in addition, $50,000 per day for ‘demolition by neglect’ being for every day the building remains untouched.

As to be expected once again the Minister tries to place the onus on ratepayers and residents to ensure that their Shire Council appropriately cares for places considered important- like the convent.

That is not a responsibility which any community should be asked to undertake unless it is adequately informed, by the Minister for Heritage, of what is considered under the Heritage Bill 2017 to be places of importance.

And even more importantly-actually trusts its’ Shire Council to act in accordance with its wishes.

It is Minister Templeman’s duty to enact his legislation and ensure that the Heritage Council pursues all owners of buildings that that are being demolished by neglect. This also means being punished to the full letter of the law no matter who the owner is- if they fail to comply.

That is end of story.

David Taylor.

WHO GIVES A RATS?

It is an idyllic scene captured in a photographic image- featuring lush green grass with the stylized rocking horses of a children’s playground in the background.

Hang on, OMG is that a massive rat in the foreground, as dead as the leaf next to its nose?

Actually even more dead having passed the pallor, algor, rigor and livor mortis stages, it is now appears putrefied, almost petrified.

An accurate colloquialism is that it is totally ‘cactus-f--ktus.

Located at the southern end of Avon Park said Corpus Rattus Rattus is just a toddler’s hop, skip and jump from a see-saw.

It is just as close to a crematorium, otherwise known as a public barbeque.

So how did this 30 cm long beast end up at York’s ‘grey nomad’ Mecca?

Did it gorge itself once too often in a gourmet lunch bar otherwise known as an overflowing rubbish bin?

Was that last mouthful of stale crepe-suzette one gobble too many?

Or has the Shire of York finally, yet secretively, hired a Youth Officer, formerly employed as a Pied Piper in Hamlin Town?

I suppose dead rat soccer, hide and seek the rat or forensically examine and name the genus science experiment for first term will keep the kids off the streets.

Who knows? The rat isn’t saying anything!

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! AND WHERE IS YORK GOING?

Russian wheat exports to Indonesia increased to over 330,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2017, up 320,000 tonnes from the total exports of 2016. Projected over four-quarters- 1.28 million tonnes of Black Sea wheat could have been the total volume delivered in 2017.

That is a very big, frightening market-share increase indeed for any wheat farmers in the Avon Valley!

The Indonesian’s now know how to mill inferior, cheaper grain.

But, CBH has it all under control with highly qualified, elderly farmer Board of Directors members stationed on their farms at Pingerup, North Yelbini and Bruce Rock who are more than capable of ensuring that CBH can out-deal the Kremlin in Moscow.

It was just a public relations glitch that these three were considered part of a controlling regime that was accused of a lack of direction, no vision and a lack of any comprehensive strategy in moving forward and meeting any competitive threat head-on. And they are still there.

Now this board is assisted by former BHP executive, Jimmy Wilson, who still, allegedly, faces qualified homicide charges in Brazil over the 2015 Samarco Mine disaster. If convicted the sentence will be 54 years that could technically curtail his future with CBH- forever.

The charges, whether proven or not, relate to the deaths of 19 people and strangely enough, in 2016 Mr Wilson left BHP after a management restructure.

As the only Australian charged with murder it could be argued that there is the possibility he was unceremoniously shown the door by the BHP Board of Directors.

Yes –some farmers really know how to rule and how to choose their senior executive officer- OK!

Upon reflection, through much of this century farmers have been the dominant ruling class and power lobby on the Shire of York Council, as a group, or singularly as is the current Shire President.

And, of course, they have been extremely significant figures in choosing the Chief-Executive Officer.

Since 2000 this council has seen numerous executive officers disappear, has itself been sacked, reprimanded, suspended and, through recent actions and change of government policy, may suffer a clinical and forensic local government compliance review in the next 12 months.

The question is- has it recently behaved and/or performed so badly that it could be amalgamated into a Super-Shire of Northam? If this happens it will be sooner rather than later, before the next State Election.

Has the current Shire President shown a clear direction, a positive vision for the future, is clearly moving forward and is meeting any competitive threat head-on, because 27- months is a long time to be in charge with no substantially positive result?  (The CEO could be asked the same question having been in the job since early 2016.)

Possible threats include is York competing strongly enough against other tourist towns in a highly sophisticated and complex industry that is becoming more and more cut-throat and target market specific?

Also this year should see whether the Shire of York brings forth:-

a) A budget under control?

b) A final settlement with Settlers House York over allegedly unpaid parking bays?

c) Money paid for the Catholic Convent back to York?

d) A restoration to this building to a decent standard for human habitation?
   Thereby not receiving a $1million fine for not doing so?

e) The end to the Forest Bar & Café financial fiasco,

f) An undertaking to complete local road maintenance to meet required standards over this financial year?

g) Financial restraint in both the hiring of new staff and contractors?

h) A positive outcome for all concerned from a necessary out-of-court settlement?

Then there is ‘D-Day’, being January 19, 2018, when the CEO of the Shire of York should have received hundreds of forms, complied by Kay Davies, from both locals and Greens politicians giving many valid environmental reasons why the Allawuna dump should be dumped.

One valid reason is that two major household insurance companies consider York, and its surrounds, as a place of ‘INUNDATION’- having an overwhelming abundance of potential causes for NATURAL DISASTERS including flooding and earthquake.

YUOI INSURANCE refuses to insure York properties at all.

VIRGIN MONEY has a $500 per annum earthquake levy.

Therefore some in York could see their future home insurance premiums skyrocket when their insurers realize how a 220,000 tonne rubbish dump could impact on York during a flood or earthquake.

It should be recognized here that a local farmer, on council at that time of initial negations with SUEZ, was a strong advocate for the plan to go ahead.

This beggars belief when the quality of life, lifestyle and positive farm business development for farmers surrounding this site could be destroyed for at least two decades by one of their own.

As well as putting the whole future of the town of York at risk.

President David Wallace, and CEO Paul Martin, should put themselves on notice that to be in their positions, if this desecration goes ahead, will be well and truly remembered by all opponents -and grace their epitaphs!

They have yet to be seen by many to be strong advocates for anything- other than what could be considered shire self-protection.

Is it poetic justice that CBH, run by farmers, has allowed the Russians to sneak into its own backyard and sell 320,000 tonnes more wheat than it has ever done before? Is this just the tip of the iceberg and has CBH been caught with its pants down-again?

You can look at it this way. Russia could have dumped 1.28 million tonnes of wheat in Indonesia in just one year.

There will be at least 220,000 tonnes of Perth’s putrescible waste dumped at St. Ronans each year for the next 20 years. A total of 4.5 million tonnes, by 2038 creating a rotting, stinking, putrefied hell hole.

That is if the amount of rubbish delivered per annum is not allowed to be increased as Perth’s population does.

I assume York farmers are hoping the Russians do not dump 25.6 million tonnes in their backyard in the next two decades. That is 9 million tonnes more than WA’s current annual wheat yield!

Or that at least 4.5 tonnes of Perth shit is not dumped just 17 kilometres from the centre of their farming community town-site?

So what do York farmers actually stand for?????

David Taylor.

NATIONALLY BUGGERED-UP NETWORK

As York Council staggers into the second month of 2018, when it actually has to hold a public meeting, news has broken that Jenni Law and the DLGC have parted. 

This means the last of its terrible trio, involved in the demise of Matthew Reid, Jennifer Matthews, Brad, Jolly and Law have all left the building.

Brad Jolly’s doppelganger, the former Mayor of Joondalup, Troy Pickard, has been charged by police with assault and the Minister, David Templeman, has suddenly found out that 1,100 local government city council employees in Perth and surrounds have an annual salary above $100,000- and the question is why?

Rural regional and Remote Shire Councils may well be asked the very same question.

The Shire of York had three executives well above this mark and still has two.

This year will prove once and for all whether this remaining dynamic duo, on in excess of $450,000 per annum between them, is actually worth it.

York is now changing to the National Broadband Network, also lovingly known as the NBN Co Limited network. (This is when the fun starts- when you can decide that the Shire of York is not as inept as you think, or rates the same as the NBN.)

Unfortunately you could be one of the many unlucky ones who find out that Limited is what you, as users, get in both service and customer service. In fact, how limited, is the yet to be a fully answered question.

When you nominate TELSTRA as your NBN service provider, brush up on your Tagalog, as you could be on the phone, at your expense, for many hours and many times trying to make someone in Manila understand that you have a serious communications problem.

On the other end of the phone is a TELSTRA outsourced customer service provider who speaks very poor English with an American accent. (Even worse is their inability to comprehend what you are talking about.)

At the end of an incredibly frustrating telephone conversation, where you are trying not to harm international relations through using the word’s ‘f…ing moron, you are told that your complaint cannot be acted upon for 72 hours because their computer system has either crashed, and/or being upgraded.

Maybe their excuse to you will be that a local volcano has just erupted!

Or you may hit the jackpot and get TELSTRA Mumbai.

With iiNet you end up in a Soweto ghetto where Afrikaans is the official language that contravenes the normal comprehension of the English language.

Or if you are really lucky you get the dulcet tone of a New Zealander who tells you may have to wait a ‘wee sux’ days before anything at all could happen.

So where do the actual NBN staff live, breathe and sort of work? It is probably in the middle of the Great Sandy Desert where communication networks do not exist, in some-ways similar to their NBN.

Some suburbs in Perth have had their telephone system clarity reduced to snap crackle and pop through the NBN rollout. The lucky ones have the same service quality as two jam tins connected by string. Others wish that Alexander Graham Bell had never invented the bloody thing!

A letter of complaint to the Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield, received a response faster than you can get on your landline.

Fifield’s response through Consumer Broadband Services (that basically does not exist) is highly illuminating regarding what you can expect in the future.


There is a copy of this letter and what the underlying response actually was that were supposed to placate the complainant.

Date January 14, 2018

Dear Senator Fifield

Your ref: - DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS .

(Q)What has occurred in the roll-out of the NBN is truly disgraceful and begs the question how poorly functioning the electronic communication development system in this country really is.

(A) Do not expect a world class broadband network using best practices and technologies that places it at the forefront of international communications quality assurance. It is a service to be delivered in the most cost-effective manner only.
Do not expect equality of service delivery, you punters will get the broadband speeds we care to deliver in the most cost-effective manner.

(Q) It also raises the question of the quality of its major telco, TELSTRA, which is represented by a customer service delivery/ complaint staff located in cities like Mumbai who have little ability in understanding basic communication failures and English.

(A) The decision by Australia’s telco’s to pay overseas monkeys in local peanuts to deliver cheap, but not cheerful, customer support is their commercial decision.

The customer service you will receive will be the most cost-effective to the telco’s and be at the most ineffective and infuriating to the customer.


(Q) So as Minister for Communications do you personally have staff that can answer questions lucidly on the NBN system and query the customer service compliance of TELSTRA and its alleged proper customer support mechanisms?

(A) Yes S. Kearns, Consumer Broadband Services.

These are the questions:-
1.The NBN connection device used at these premises to connect to the new NBN Service is a TELSTRA UL ® Listed 48s5 Communications Circuit Device
that is decades old.

NO COMMENT.

Can NBN management explain why there is no difference, and or improvement in the technology used, and the delivery systems used, compared to the fibre optics cabling connected 25-years-ago?

NO COMMENT.

Should this have been replaced as part of the NBN roll out with a new connection device? If not? Why not!

NO COMMENT- but was certainly cost-effective!

2. The landline service number is ………………..  In the past it has been used
for Foxtel Service delivery and one domestic telephone service only using a base station telephone and one additional handset.

The NBN service works in Foxtel Service delivery and the base station, but not on the additional handset that is located 16 metres away.

The telephone set being used is TELSTRA EASY CONTROL-202.
We have had two sets of these and neither additional handset has worked to provide clarity of reception acceptable in the 20^th Century, let alone the 21^st Century.
You mainly hear static and this is totally unacceptable. We were led to believe the range of the additional handset delivery service was up to 25 metres.

Is this true?  If not- why not!

NO COMMENT – however the quality of the NBN service is causing the problem, but it is TELSTRA’s problem in providing this service linked to crap devices.

We have complained continually to TELSTRA service representatives located in Manila or Manchuria. Finally they stated that we had a line fault and the matter would be up-scaled and prioritized.

NO COMMENT- however it should have taken at least 2-weeks to receive
assistance.

An actual living, breathing TELSTRA service representative attended the premises and tested the landline number by dialling it 4 metres from the additional handset using a mobile phone and found the clarity of the service to be acceptable.  This, at best, is a stupid test that TELSTRA tried to charge $175 for.

NO COMMENT

What is blatantly obvious is that the NBN landline service does not provide the quality of service provided in the past by the hardwired system. And an electricity power failure will see the service outed.

WE never promised you a rose garden. Do not rely on the NBN, get yourself a Mobile phone.

I would be interested to hear the response, if any?


Got a problem? Why not call the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and join a queue of 200,000.

You never know-York might be NBN lucky! If not please do not self-harm.

Yours sincerely

David Taylor