Livid as rate notices arrive
GLENORCHY CITY COUNCIL
WE received our new rates notice today. Absolutely livid! Why should we have to pay for the acts of councillors? They were voted in by the people. They should have been made to pay. Let’s hope once the “debt” has been repaid the rates are reduced to what they were. Hang your heads in shame for making innocent hard working people liable. Disgraceful.
Paying for mistakes
I AM not happy with the Glenorchy City Council. Why are the rates going to rise 12 per cent a year when it was not the ratepayer that caused the problem in the first place. Some of the former council are to blame. But we the ratepayers have to foot the bill for their mistakes. But it seems they have got away with it. I believe they should be made to answer some questions about why they let it get out of hand.
DEC questions
IT’S all very well and good the Glenorchy City Council telling their members of the public that they are selling the Derwent Entertainment Centre to help cover the costs associated with cleaning up the mess left behind by past councils. If it is apparently costing council $1 million a year in running costs, why haven’t they disclosed how much profit they have been making from it? If they sell off something that is making the council money just for a quick dollar in the long term no one will be better off. In the event that a private enterprise buys the DEC will there be a guarantee that the people already employed there now will have any job security in this already unpredictable shaky economic times? One can only hope.
Sale shocking
THE Derwent Entertainment Centre sale is shocking. Whose money built this great structure? My memory was government grants and Glenorchy City Council as the custodian owner. David Bartlett is part of taking over this multi million-dollar site for private investment, to be lost to the public forever. Why did the administrator and previous council permit it to operate in the red? Does this mean DEC premises letting is below break-even? Why not a $2 or $5 ticket levy to recover losses over, say, five years plus charge a new letting price, then it’s up to show promoters to add their profit to the ticket. Cover the deck in solar panels and cut energy use. Rent above the carpark to build low-cost accommodation. A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. Make a caveat it cannot be sold on privately or have pokies, with rights to be repurchased by councils or government. Private investors will want at least 33 per cent profit plus land behind the DEC. Feel sorry for the workers involved.
Merger plebiscite
IN 2007 a plebiscite was held on whether Queenslanders supported amalgamation of 156 councils into 72. In the end the majority didn’t, but the government forced amalgamations, with perceived economic benefits outweighing parochialism. October elections present a unique opportunity to ask Tasmanians if they support amalgamation. A plebiscite held at the same time would save money. A strong showing of support would encourage a bipartisan approach which is probably essential for these reforms. Wishful thinking perhaps.
Only just wide enough for a bus
WHAT a brilliant idea. A bike lane in Huon Rd between Strickland Ave and Pillinger Drive ( Mercury, July 9). The road is only just wide enough for a bus. There’s no room for bikes, cars and buses. Is traffic supposed to crawl behind the cyclists? There is nowhere to overtake. Cyclists seem to think they own the roads and everyone should pander to them. What about the safety and enjoyment of other users?
Footy promise won’t work
SORRY Bill, pledging $25 million for Tasmania to have its own AFL team won’t get you a Labor seat in Braddon. We may have two heads but neither is stupid.
Sewage plants
WHY would the State Government be in a hurry to fix Macquarie Point or Cameron Bay sewage plants. The old adage applies, buyer beware.