SGSC Budget – Hits and Misses

“We are all in this together” – how often have we seen this or heard it said over the past 2 months.  Well it does not seem to have been applied at the local elite work force at the South Gippsland Shire Council.  This is a Council where workers who have had their place of work closed (i.e.. Caravan parks, coal creek, libraries) are still employed and paid for by ratepayers at SGSC Centrelink.

Just today (Thursday) there is further messaging in the Herald Sun that Surf Coast will have to stand down some 40 workers and earlier in the crisis it was reported that Geelong City had stood down around 600 staff.  It was also reported that the CEO at Whittlesea had reduced his salary by 20%.  What do we see in our SGSC draft budget – the wage bill to increase by 2.46% due to award increases.  Note the Federal Public Servants are to be subject to a wage freeze.  Where in the Budget is there any reference for the need for this Council to reduce costs?

This Council have made major changes to the Council Plan without consultation and continue to play with Priority Works at whim.  The same with the Capital Works Budget – they list works and then cut them out later in the year.  For example in Dec 2019 they cut some $1.8M in capital works with no explanation.  These were not deferred works but works which were cut.  However, your rates were levied on the basis of those works proceeding.  We have many works listed which do not really lead to a return on the capital invested.  There will be many funds spent on Streetscape Works and Community Hubs – all funds which do not lead to a return on the investment.  In the case of Bair St, Leongatha – the works are being funded via Government Grants.  At Korumburra – we the ratepayers will find these works.  It is doubtful if either of these works will lead to a positive return on the funds to the Shire.

The Budget makes the claim that it “incorporates community feedback and input about community priorities”.  Aside from the Korumburra group (i.e. Round Table group) set up by the Shire, how many other meetings have been held to workshop ideas? We have had various meetings around the Shire where people can talk through local issues but what feedback or assessment was undertaken following that involvement?

Making presentations to a Council meeting is a waste of time as these presentations are not recorded and Council does not seek any comment from the internal departments upon the presentations.  If you wish to present, then your submission is vetted for any word which may reflect poorly upon Council and if detected, you will not be able to present to Council.

The SGSC Public Participation procedure do not fare well when analysed against the Government Audit office report on community engagement processes.  Our score card would be a fail.  Under the Budget there is reference to “Council’s newly convened Advisory Groups” along with their Terms of Reference – all to be in place by June 2021.  There is no discussion about this initiative which as per the lack of a decent Public Participation Policy is not surprising.

Lindsay Love

Sec, SGAG