Tom Sharp's
Blog
28-05-2020
SHARP COMMENT 4 - A lot of you will recall the Queensland racketeering game known as “The Joke”
A lot of you will recall the Queensland racketeering game known as “The Joke” that went unabated during the 1950s, 60s, 70s and was brought to a head by the Fitzgerald Inquiry in the late 1980s.
Well, a “joke” has prevailed in the Scenic Rim region since 2008, although not relating to racketeering, gambling or prostitution.
Looking at the new Scenic Rim Regional Council’s agenda for its first ordinary meeting one can only conclude we are a long way from restoring governance to the people, an issue that has dogged the region for so long now.
In relation to roads, streets and bridges there were only three items listed – Duck Creek Road, Sarabah Road, and Burnett Creek Road, all of which were requests by the Federal Member, Scott Buchholz, all lacking support by way of council comment and offering little in terms of respect for the support and funding that has been extended by our Federal Member to the people of this region.
The balance of substantive items, for want of a better word, was surrounding disaster management, which are State and Federal Government initiatives and responsibility.
With specific regard to fire hazard management, there is nearly a quarter of a million dollars proposed designation for a Bushfire Resilience Officer and a number of information and education programs. One can only ask why this is required in light of the 1991 Disaster Management Plan handed down after those very fires addressing all issues mentioned.
What has become of that plan? How was it managed and where has it all gone so horribly wrong? Maybe answering these questions first and reviewing the current capacity and responsibilities should be the starting point with proper engagement of those directly responsible i.e. the RFS, SES and other responder services?
It has been 10 weeks since Council last met – one has to ask where is a summary of capital works completed; and capital works in progress and to be commenced; together with their individual cost analysis.
Not one report contained any matters relating to the works program, and even if the new councillors have been briefed, no information has been made available to the public on such matters.
No maintenance program was put forward summarising the quarterly program ending 31 March and no program was presented covering the quarter to end on 30 June this year.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that State (Main Roads) and local government have always held their re-sealing in abeyance to the last quarter. In the area of good management re-seals should be carried out every 10 years.
The reason for holding off on re-seals until the last quarter, along with associated costs, is to allow those funds to be diverted to flood damage should it occur during the normal flood season – January to March.
Additionally, there was no library report, no building maintenance and capital works report, and again no parks and gardens maintenance and capital works report, just to name a few.
Where is the opportunity for our councillors to address the works program that they will be expected to fund in the 2020/21 financial year and to put their programs on the board room table?
Where is the preparation report for the emergence from COVID-19 for Scenic Rim? This alone will require specific initiatives beyond what State and Federal Government have already provided to Council to ride on the coat tails of. Given our location there will be a desire for the populations of Brisbane and the Gold Coast to emerge from their restrictive local isolation and “stretch their legs”. This will come in the form of day trips and short stays including camping. There will need to be a host of disciplines to effect in preparation.
Lastly, where is a “litigation report”? How many millions of dollars of ratepayer’s money is being wrapped up in solicitors’ fees and provision for potential claims? Where are we at with Oaklands Estate and is Bandit going to celebrate yet another birthday in the council pound?
What has Council been doing in the last 10 weeks? Hello, is there anyone there?
Is this a sham? Is Council incompetent or does it simply have nil respect for the elected representatives and those whom they serve, we the public. How can councillors develop strategy and direction without the very basic of information?
I doubt the newly elected representatives in Derek Swanborough, Jeff McConnell and Marshall Chalk will tolerate this inept attempt to totally disregard “core business”.
It is time to ask your local representative: “What the hell is going on and what the hell are you going to do about it?”.
I have every confidence that these councillors will not be taking such matters lightly and equally encourage all constituents and ratepayers to take the same stance and get in touch with your local representative and ask what will be done with regards to:
Getting core business back on the agenda
Transparency of such business to the people, and
Eliminating the inefficiency and waste of delivering that very core business.
Contact your local representative or other divisional representatives if you do not have the confidence in your own representative.
I urge everyone to email all local representatives and feel free to refer to this article or attach a copy. Enough is enough.
Email address for your elected representative:
Division 1 – Councillor Derek Swanborough – derek.s@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 2 – Councillor Jeff McConnell – jeff.m@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 3 – Councillor Virginia West – virginia.w@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 4 – Councillor Michael Enright – Michael.e@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 5 – Councillor Marshall Chalk – marshall.c@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 6 – Councillor Duncan McInnes OAM – Duncan.m@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
It’s is time to end “the joke”.
Tom Sharp
Well, a “joke” has prevailed in the Scenic Rim region since 2008, although not relating to racketeering, gambling or prostitution.
Looking at the new Scenic Rim Regional Council’s agenda for its first ordinary meeting one can only conclude we are a long way from restoring governance to the people, an issue that has dogged the region for so long now.
In relation to roads, streets and bridges there were only three items listed – Duck Creek Road, Sarabah Road, and Burnett Creek Road, all of which were requests by the Federal Member, Scott Buchholz, all lacking support by way of council comment and offering little in terms of respect for the support and funding that has been extended by our Federal Member to the people of this region.
The balance of substantive items, for want of a better word, was surrounding disaster management, which are State and Federal Government initiatives and responsibility.
With specific regard to fire hazard management, there is nearly a quarter of a million dollars proposed designation for a Bushfire Resilience Officer and a number of information and education programs. One can only ask why this is required in light of the 1991 Disaster Management Plan handed down after those very fires addressing all issues mentioned.
What has become of that plan? How was it managed and where has it all gone so horribly wrong? Maybe answering these questions first and reviewing the current capacity and responsibilities should be the starting point with proper engagement of those directly responsible i.e. the RFS, SES and other responder services?
It has been 10 weeks since Council last met – one has to ask where is a summary of capital works completed; and capital works in progress and to be commenced; together with their individual cost analysis.
Not one report contained any matters relating to the works program, and even if the new councillors have been briefed, no information has been made available to the public on such matters.
No maintenance program was put forward summarising the quarterly program ending 31 March and no program was presented covering the quarter to end on 30 June this year.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that State (Main Roads) and local government have always held their re-sealing in abeyance to the last quarter. In the area of good management re-seals should be carried out every 10 years.
The reason for holding off on re-seals until the last quarter, along with associated costs, is to allow those funds to be diverted to flood damage should it occur during the normal flood season – January to March.
Additionally, there was no library report, no building maintenance and capital works report, and again no parks and gardens maintenance and capital works report, just to name a few.
Where is the opportunity for our councillors to address the works program that they will be expected to fund in the 2020/21 financial year and to put their programs on the board room table?
Where is the preparation report for the emergence from COVID-19 for Scenic Rim? This alone will require specific initiatives beyond what State and Federal Government have already provided to Council to ride on the coat tails of. Given our location there will be a desire for the populations of Brisbane and the Gold Coast to emerge from their restrictive local isolation and “stretch their legs”. This will come in the form of day trips and short stays including camping. There will need to be a host of disciplines to effect in preparation.
Lastly, where is a “litigation report”? How many millions of dollars of ratepayer’s money is being wrapped up in solicitors’ fees and provision for potential claims? Where are we at with Oaklands Estate and is Bandit going to celebrate yet another birthday in the council pound?
What has Council been doing in the last 10 weeks? Hello, is there anyone there?
Is this a sham? Is Council incompetent or does it simply have nil respect for the elected representatives and those whom they serve, we the public. How can councillors develop strategy and direction without the very basic of information?
I doubt the newly elected representatives in Derek Swanborough, Jeff McConnell and Marshall Chalk will tolerate this inept attempt to totally disregard “core business”.
It is time to ask your local representative: “What the hell is going on and what the hell are you going to do about it?”.
I have every confidence that these councillors will not be taking such matters lightly and equally encourage all constituents and ratepayers to take the same stance and get in touch with your local representative and ask what will be done with regards to:
Getting core business back on the agenda
Transparency of such business to the people, and
Eliminating the inefficiency and waste of delivering that very core business.
Contact your local representative or other divisional representatives if you do not have the confidence in your own representative.
I urge everyone to email all local representatives and feel free to refer to this article or attach a copy. Enough is enough.
Email address for your elected representative:
Division 1 – Councillor Derek Swanborough – derek.s@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 2 – Councillor Jeff McConnell – jeff.m@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 3 – Councillor Virginia West – virginia.w@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 4 – Councillor Michael Enright – Michael.e@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 5 – Councillor Marshall Chalk – marshall.c@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Division 6 – Councillor Duncan McInnes OAM – Duncan.m@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
It’s is time to end “the joke”.
Tom Sharp