BURDEN OF BRIDGES

I HAVE serious concerns regards elected council representative policy making and costly financial mistakes leaving horrendous debt hanging over ratepayers.

These councillors do not have to re-reimburse we ratepayers for this debt. We, the rate-payers are held to account for re-payment or to honour the debt.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council is a classic example of how such questionable actions place a heavy burden of repayment.

When the council accepts tenders for the design and construction of about six to eight defective concrete bridges “as constructed”, where selected bridges now have to be repaired or re-constructed, is mind boggling.

The repairs or re-construction is estimated to cost several million dollars.

The council is desperately applying for grant funds to remedy this unacceptable situation.

LVR council has been denied the latest request for funding to re-construct the defective Carpendale Grantham Scrub Road Bridge, which was supposedly constructed to 70 tonne load limits and is restricted to 35 tonne limit because of defects.

These defects were in-built, yet the council accepted and paid for this defective structure.

Councillors of the “old guard” make excuses for this serious, costly situation. The remedial works will take years to correct.

BOB FOWKE, Regency Downs