Letter to the Editor-18th May, 2020

Let’s take a look at early statements by Julie Eisenbise (JE) (Ref the Star July 2, 2019) “I want to work with the community to get the best outcome for the entire shire.”  She declared her intention to increase the results of the next Community Satisfaction Survey.  (The freshly minted survey results confirms the outcome to be a distinct failure on all metrics.)  JE also promised to venture into the community to give the public a chance to contribute to council policy.

Within a couple of months that promise was tested and found wanting.  The Hallston district residents had serious safety concerns with Council response to managing the landslip/road closure/detour/ arrangements.  The residents called a public meeting and requested Council have senior management representation at the meeting.  Council refused the invitation; with the excuse they were concerned for the safety of the staff.  I was there and that meeting was conducted as it should have been.

Bear in mind this was about an event that was officially declared a National Disaster!  Later, former temporary CEO, Bryan Sword, was shamed into getting up there to see the situation for himself and that resulted in some changes being made.  I don’t believe any of the three administrators ever bothered to venture up there to this day.  What has been done since is a story for another day.

The last quote from JE out of the June 2019 interview that I want to reach for is “at the moment it’s absolutely critical that we rebuild faith.” Hence the question ‘How are we Doing?’  Moving forward to the current Covid 19 situation.  The Council have drummed it into us, week after week, that “We are all in this together” and I think that is widely accepted across the SGS community. Yet the administrators repeatedly demonstrate that it doesn’t include themselves or the SGSC staff. Some commentators have called for a 20% pay cut, which is in line with many public servants, I would settle on a voluntary 10% cut (which would be enough to fund the $2 million planned Covid 19 assistance package- so that those in need of the assistance are not amongst those expected to pay for it. Whether or not we should be duplicating State and Federal government aid is another story.

When asked, the Council reply (letter from Council 12 May) includes “A wage cut is not considered,” and “No pay cuts are being considered.”  Furthermore, they said: Council will not review its position in relation to the structure of the current enterprise agreement – which clearly indicates they have every intention to accept the routine wage increases that are about to arrive.

In the 10 months since these interlopers have been watching over us they have pulled the plug on – the Stony Creek Equestrian/Event /Exhibition Centre ($100K), the Agnes Falls Look-Out ($600K), and Tourist Steam Train cum, GSRT Extension, privately funded venture (which all up potentially disadvantaged the community by around $30 million and 30 FIE jobs.

There is little to see on the positive side of the ledger, if measured by ROI, unless we consider a more bloated SGSC to be of value.

And we are expected to rely on the judgement of these people!