Engage Salt for growth advice

In an article last week by Keith Anderson the key issue for me that emerged from the rapid growth of Warragul and Drouin is that Baw Baw Council is not addressing the issues we face as a community but instead focusing on side issues.

Bernard Salt AM is a regular contributor to The Australian. He writes with knowledge that few in Australia possess, predicting the impact of population growth. It is pleasing our “local” picked up on the article; drawing attention to the fact Warragul/Drouin is the fastest growing town in Australia. What does that mean for Baw Baw Shire?

In answer to questions on notice last year council advised traffic congestion and parking, town planning policy, planning and building permits were not identified as a key performance area in the Council Plan 20212025 to be included in community surveys. I raised these questions believing they were important indicators in planning for our future. Not so according to council.

Sadly, Baw Baw Council is not prepared to put in the hard yards, now only meeting once a month with the first two meetings at just over two hours and the third at three and a half hours. So far this year at the three meetings not a single issue raised by Bernard Salt on future growth has rated a mention at the council table.

Former councillor Joe Gauci proposed council establish a town planning committee. This would have been a great start to addressing population growth. Defeated by one vote.

So where is council expending its energy one is place names where some councillors seek to link the naming of streets to domestic violence, arguing increasing the number of female gender place names is going to have a positive impact. Show me the evidence.

Council conducted a place naming survey which drew seven responses – five supported gender equity in naming of places, two opposed; hardly a base to launch a new policy.

Many issues impact on domestic violence and it is not the name of the street in which you live. Under the current Labor federal government we are experiencing family pressures not witnessed since the Keating era increased supermarket bills, high inflation, interest rates on mortgages at their highest for decades, gas and electricity charges at record levels, more to fill your car with fuel, people having to take second jobs to pay the bills – all issues impacting on our wellbeing.

As well there is alcohol abuse. Whatever the trigger for domestic violence it is totally unacceptable. No question, we have some ultracrepidarians sitting at the council table.

The only part of the Bernard Salt article where I disagree is to consider sending the mayor and chief executive officer to Wagga Wagga or Hervey Bay to see what kind of services might be expected in a town with a population base of 58,000 to 61,000, which is where Warragul-Drouin could be headed by 2033. That would be a waste of ratepayers’ money.

A far better investment would be to invite expert Bernard Salt to our shire, conduct a community seminar with a follow up report on future directions and how to deal with rapid growth. If the skills are not in-house engage experts. Whatever the cost this is the man for the job.