Media pain!
Sue Brooks July 7th, 2008
Just a quick note to clarify the story in the Chronicle on Saturday. I have not ’backed’ any group of people in any ‘opposition’ against any development since I have been elected to Council. I always offer advice and assistance to anyone asking me how to write a submission either against or for a development. A Councillor can not pre-judge a Development Application. I take my responsibility seriously and I make decisions on reports received by Council which are assessed against the Planning Scheme. No decision can be based on personal likes or dislikes but MUST be based on Planning Scheme criteria. My comments as a resident quoted at the end of the article are correct and made in general terms. Cheers, Sue
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- Comments(9)
Sue,
Please answer my questions re: council cars, coffee and accommodation.
Cheers,
Sadman
For someone who has “not backed” any group in opposition against any development, this entry on your blog seems rather confusing. So much for not pre-judging a development…
“I think I speak for the majority of Dundowran and Craignish residents when I say that most of us have chosen to live ‘out here’ because we enjoy ‘peace and quiet.’ We don’t want such intensive development on our doorstep. We are happy to travel the short distance ‘into town’ for these type of facilities. “
Sadman. I am not sure of any expenditure on coffee machines (I have forgotten to ask this specific question)but can assure you that Council has not paid for accomodation for a Council Director nor any other staff to my knowledge (and yes I did ask that question).
There are various types of cars in use by both staff and Councillors and these are purchased under agreements from suppliers at the most advantageous conditions possible. Some of the cars used by Council are obtained because they have a better resale value etc than others do. I advise you directly ask Council the question via our web site if you prefer more detail. I am personally confident that our fleet review this year will ensure we get the very best value for money when purchasing fleet vehicles. I have a Council owned Prius myself as it saves the community more money than paying me to run my privately owned car for Council business would.
Patricia. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am a private person as well as a Councillor. I hold private and personal views and opinions. I know that some residents at Dundowran would be happy for a Tavern to come here but at the public meeting I attended the great majority of people were against it. When in Council I do make decisions based on what I perceive to be what my community wants. This doesn’t preclude me however from having strong personal views and opinions. I am careful to always be aware of when my personal views are intruding on the ‘public’ view and do my very best to support the public view at all times within Council.
Lastly if people don’t take the time to tell me what they think it is hard to represent them, so yes at times, the vocal minority may hold sway!
Thanks for the explaination, and I do agree with your final sentence. But in fairness, the meeting held at the Dundowran Hall was called to oppose the proposed development, not to gauge public opinion, so it was always going to be a one-sided afair.
Patricia,
I attended the meeting at Dundowran Hall. The meeting was to discuss the proposed development and anyone
could attend. People were ask at one stage to show their support for the project, I did not see one hand raised!!
People where also asked to show their disaproval, about 150 hands went up!!!
It was only a “one-side affair” because that was how most people felt. No one has held a meeting supporting the
development!!!!!! I wonder why?
Sadman,
It just nature to hold meetings to oppose things, but not to support them. I don’t see people with placards lining the streets outside Dennis Ferguson’s house saying they would welcome him in their suburb, but the fact remains, he has to live somewhere – just not in my or your backyard right? Because this tavern and shopping centre will not go ahead, the 1500 households in the immediate area have to travel an extra 10-15 klms each way to go shopping etc. Eventually the area will grow to the extent that it will need some shops etc, but just not in my or your backyard right? Well, like Dennis Ferguson, it has to go somewhere too.
And as for the meeting being a “one sided affair”, what do you think would happen if somebody DID go outside DF’s house holding a placard saying he is welcome in their suburb? Perhaps this is the same reason supporters didn’t attend the Dundowran Hall.
Maybe I can shed some light on this issue.
The proposed Tavern, shops, petrol station etc was to be located at Anson’s Rd between Sempfs Rd and the Burrum Heads Rd. I am unsure of the current status of the application but if it has been ‘withdrawn’ that would not be because of submissions. Submissions would only apply if a decision by Council, as Assessment Manager, had been made and to my knowledge this has not occurred. A decision against such a development can only be made based on Planning grounds (ie zoning etc) and most definitely cannot be made based simply on public opinion.
The many submissions and public meeting were organised by a local resident who had recently moved to the area and was not wanting a Tavern on her doorstep. I had offered her advice on what to include in a submission in terms of addressing Planning Scheme criteria. I offer this advice to anyone in relation to any submission for any development anywhere. Offering information and limited advice is how I think I should behave in terms of best representing the community. I also always advise people to contact Council staff directly for ‘professional’ advice.
The Craignish Store has approval to expand and is currently doing so. Soon we will have more shops there. The Craignish Golf/Country Club can develop and there is/was a proposal for a Tavern on the cnr Burrum Heads and Hervey Bay Maryborough Rds next to Harvey Norman and opposite the United Petrol Station there.
I am confident that ‘this end of town’ will see a Tavern/Club type of development some time in the future. I moved here nearly 10 years ago now and thoroughly enjoy being 10 minutes away from town. When we came there were no newspaper deliveries or pizza deliveries and everyone in town thought we lived ‘out in the sticks’. We chose Dundowran Beach because we enjoy a Park Residential lifestyle that is peaceful and close to nature. Sue
Patricia you seem to control both sides of the debate.
If the residents held a meeting and the developement
was voted against 150 to none that is definately public opinion. We had the same problem but the other way round . Do you have a vested interest regarding this debate or lack of it. We had a public meeting and voted 250 to none for the IGA shopping centre at Howard yet councillor **** said they would take it into consideration and get back to us. **** listen to the ratepayers who pay your wages. We want an open and accountable Council and if there are enough ratepayers with the guts to stand up to these politically correct socialists this is what we are going to get. If we want open and fair local Govt. we have to get off our butts and organise a protest to voice our opinion and be heard. If we have a yearly rates bill I think we shall not pay any rates as a protest and make them listen. Without the rates they wont get paid and I think that they would come to the party very quickly and listen to us. Without a quarterly rates notice I am literally “stuffed” as I havent got the money. There will be a General Meeting on Aug 6 at 9:30 at council chambers Hervey Bay for public input of sorts. If you feel as I feel then turn up en-mass and let us be heard or they will tread on us every time. It is sad to say that democracy is quickly dying. The snotty nosed kids just out of school who defended this democracy and died on the Kokoda track would have been all in vain If we dont stand up and be heard.
Sue writes – In the interests of respect for each other I have removed a personal reference. I don’t want to stifle debate but do want to maintain a good professional relationship with everyone. Thanks, Sue
Apologies to the moderator sorry for the duplicate this is new to me and I am learning