‘Bushranger’ council

By Casey Neill
A KNOX councillor has compared his colleagues to notorious thief Ned Kelly, after they last week passed the city’s 2009-10 budget.
Baird Ward councillor Peter Cole joined Taylor Ward’s Darren Pearce to oppose the $130 million plan.
Cr Cole said the 5.94 per cent average rate rise was unjustifiable when inflation was about 1.5 per cent.
“I do not think the council has made any serious effort to control the increase,” he said.
“Councillors are like kids in a candy store, putting their hands up for their pet projects without thought for the cost to ratepayers.”
Cr Cole said the council was over-committed in areas outside its responsibility.
“We have no mandate to be spending money on environmental tokenism or public transport,” he said.
Cr Cole also objected to spending on the Eastern Recreation Precinct and said several budget additions were rushed through without proper analysis and debate.
“In the past the people who forcibly took your money wore masks and were called bushrangers,” he said.
“Today they wear suits and are called councillors.”
But Cr Adam Gill said the budget was strong, fiscally responsible and delivered results on the ground.
He said it would stimulate the local economy, create jobs and deliver on basics like infrastructure.
“Failing to deal with it would create debt for the future,” he said.
Cr Gill noted the rate increase, which equates to an average 5.35 per cent for residents, was the third lowest of the 14 eastern metropolitan councils and included the final instalment of a three-year infrastructure levy to clear a project backlog.
Cr John Mortimore said the final budget was ‘not the very best result’ possible and the council had fallen short in a number of areas.
“The sick and disadvantaged young are still struggling,” he said.
Cr Mick Van de Vreede noted ‘glaring omissions’ including protecting biodiversity and planting trees.
Cr Darren Pearce said the council had not wisely allocated money and could easily have cut $2 million from the budget without day-to-day impact on residents.
“We need to learn to work with limited resources like everyone else in this community,” he said.
Cr Pearce pointed to the council’s human resources department, environmental initiatives and community artists as areas to cut.
“A lot of their work is nothing more than legalised graffiti,” he said.
“And this is sustainability tokenism. It will make absolutely no difference.”
Cr Andrew Walter slammed Cr Pearce’s criticism.
“What everyone forgets about is all the wonderful things council is doing,” he said.
“I’m really disappointed in you, and your negativity towards the process.”
Councillors referred unfunded projects for consideration in their mid-year budget review.
The council will spend $16.1 million on asset renewal, up almost $2 million on the previous year, and $39.5 million on capital works.
The council has also increased its pensioner rate rebate from $30 to $50 and will continue to deliver more than 200 essential services.