Tuesday 26th of November 2024

Is Campbelltown Council doing the right thing for its residents?

No taxation without fair representation: Febuary 2006

In 2005 10% of the Campbelltown City residents demanded a
vote on a $14 million decision which will suck money out of the community for
the next 25 years and reduce spending on footpaths, roads, playgrounds and
parks.

A majority of elected members rejected this call and have
hastily proceeded with plans to increase the size of the mayor’s office and to
have a new council chamber. Contracts are due to be signed days before the next
council election although not one elected member mentioned this plan before the
last election. Only the “Fair Go” faction have consistently stood up for the
right of the community to vote on this key issue.

Now we call on Liberal, Labor, Greens and others to give
local communities a real voice in decisions affecting their daily lives made at
Local Government level.

1. We demand that the Local Government Act (1999) ensures
that Community consultation is meaningfully considered by councils when making
a decision.

2. Voters can sign a petition requesting a) a referendum or
b) a Meeting of Electors and if 10% of the population sign the petition then a
council is obliged to act and will be bound by the decision.

The structures established under the Local Govt Act (1999)
are failing to deliver benefits to communities. It works well with councils of
goodwill but has been abused in Campbelltown.

With the increase in council terms to four years the
weaknesses are compounded. A ruthless and partisan council could sell off large
tracts of community land to pay for schemes which are not supported by the
people without any say. The quality of life for families and communities can be
seriously harmed in 4 years with loss of community land and large hikes in
rates.

The protections currently offered to communities are few,
expensive and time consuming. It is time for legislative change to empower
communities and redress imbalances between the rights of the community and the
powers of councils.