The South Gippsland Action Group have just received a reply to questions which indicates that Council do not take any notice of Presentations until they are made at the Annual Budget and Council Plan sessions once a year and then with just short notice and time to have anything discussed. 

South Gippsland Shire Council Presentations not Wanted

The South Gippsland Action Group have just received a reply to questions which indicates that Council do not take any notice of Presentations until they are made at the Annual Budget and Council Plan sessions once a year and then with just short notice and time to have anything discussed. 
Council have been asked why presentations are not recorded and they have denied that request.  The reason is now obvious – they do not wish for anyone to have access to any ideas which may be presented to them – ideas which may have good community backing and which should be discussed by the community.

How many ratepayers have been to a “cluster meeting” and had any feedback from Council on issues raised at such meetings?  Do ratepayers have the feeling that these are just a token effort of having community engagement?  At least with the previous Councils there was a genuine effort to take on Board local ideas – eg – treated water to irrigate the Foster reserve.  It now appears the community is just a nuisance to Council.

When chief administrator Julie Eisenbise stepped into the job she gave messages to the community – wanted new ideas from community – would look at cost cutting exercises – would look at time frames on priority projects – would bring the community together.  We can now look back and see the results – chopped the Agnes falls project, chopped the Equestrian centre and managed to unite the community in its opposition to a poorly thought out amendment to the Local Law.  In addition the process of engagement at Council meetings has been seriously changed so that it is now basically worthless to go to a Council meeting.  This is all under the guise of local governance best practice.

Ratepayers – the Council office is shut and all our leaders are governing you from afar – none live in the Shire.  They are not able to see how you are suffering in this time of Covid-19 emergency.  The only utterance is to close everything including beaches.  We are still paying wages for a swag of staff with nothing to do whilst these closures are in place.  Let us know what you expect from the Budget.