Comments on: Black hole… I don’t think so.

By: Jacka

Jacka — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:03:44 +0000

Don’t expect Peter Chapman to respond to fact or reason.
His MOA is to play to community prejudices.
Councils are high on the Australian urban myth scale and most disliked form of government list so he considers them fair game.
He isn’t interested in doing anything but sell newspapers and what he hates most is a barren letters to the editor section because a large part of the Chronicle’s readership would turn to that section right after reading the front page.
Starve him out.

By: Janet Kenny

Janet Kenny — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:26:25 +0000

Sue,
Anyone who has been around as long as I have and who has some familiarity with media lickspittles knows how the machine works. I remember a Sydney editor who wanted to fell the bush around the harbour to build what he grandly characterised as “universities and libraries” thus appearing a man of culture while he supported the wholesale destruction of Sydney’s beautiful treelined harbour walks.
Oscar Wilde defined an auctioneer as one who “knows the price of everything and the value of nothing”. May we extend that description to some newspaper editors?

I greatly appreciate your presence on the council and your sane voice. I am sorry that I am an inadequate supporter too often busy with my own concerns. Thank you!
Janet Kenny

By: Sadman

Sadman — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:17:48 +0000

Happyman,
I don’t profess to know the impact of the GFC on other councils, but I would suggest the impact would vary from council to council. An old established council with minimal growth would handle a revenue loss easier the a place like the Fraser Coast Regional Council which is still establishing it’s infrastructure and experiencing the 3rd highest growth in the country.

As to the CEO’s comments, why can’t the Chronicle’s staff, like me read both the agenda and minutes of council? There is also a very fulsome media release on our airports, so why do they resort to hearsay?

I can only hope you find local government, as humorous as I do.

Sadman

By: fraserwatch

fraserwatch — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:27:24 +0000

An interesting if biassed and defensive post.
Suggest that as well as throwing stones at the Chronicle, you direct a few at some of your fellow Councillors.
It is a matter of public record that some of them accepted donations from businesses associated with developers, and other businesses who gain directly from all new development on the Fraser Coast, at the last Council elections.
It would be difficult to believe that they too were not endeavouring to push the developer’s barrow.

By: HappyMan

HappyMan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:58:51 +0000

It would help me to understand if I knew that other councils were similarly effected by the global financial crisis. To be honest, I don’t believe development sunk quite as far as $300,000 v $7,7 million would suggest.

However, having read the article, I’m more concerned about the final 3 paragraphs. I have never seen a major organization respond to a potential issue with “my media officer is on leave, go look at the website”. I would suggest that there was no better way to get a screaming headline than to advise that a business with a CEO, executives and managers could manage no better than to say that they couldn’t say until a media officer has said.

On the positive side, I now find myself engaged in local politics.

By: Ben Collingwood

Ben Collingwood — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:36:47 +0000

Sue, the answer to Peter Chapman’s writings and that of his people is down to one thing.

Dismal paper sales!! With the latest offerings of full page scandal stories such as ‘council is going broke’ etc of course he will be turning over copies. Sadly, what this is doing is reinforcing the negativity towards council within the community.

It would be great to have an alternative to the APN advertising-based Chronicle but sadly I can’t see it happening any time soon.

By: Sadman

Sadman — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:40:58 +0000

Centophobia,
Are you suggesting our council has reduced developers charges?
If your answer is YES !! Then ratepayers are buying jobs for many people who don’t even live in our region !!!
You also seem to be suggesting our council is acting in panic !!!! If this is correct, what a sad state of affairs.

Sadman

By: Centophobia

Centophobia — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:01:00 +0000

So to clarify:

The infrastructure charges are paid by developers to upgrade public infrastructure due to how much extra use that infrastructure will get. If they don’t go ahead with development, the infrastructure doesn’t need to be upgraded.

The $7 million black hole is partly due to reductions in infrastructure charges for developments ready to proceed. Thus, adding to our employment and growth.

Sorry to say, this is a lot less interesting than the idea that Council is “facing a financial disaster”!!!!