Are people aware of the upcoming Campbelltown Council elections in November? 

 Are people in the wider community, residents and ratepayers aware of the issues in Campbelltown? Do the residents and ratepayers of Campbelltown like the fact that council rates have risen sharply over the last couple of years making it harder for families and those on low and  fixed incomes.

Has anyone asked themselves: Why is this so? Where are our rates going if they are not being spent on better footpaths or maintaining the trees planted by the council in the area and a host of other essential issues for the community?

Do the residents and ratepayers of Campbelltown think they can have any influence on council decisions at all? The majority vote at the council seem to be making these decisions and one only has to look at council meeting minutes to see this.

Are the deals and contracts signed off and made legally abiding agreements even before the community is consulted whether or not they want a new venue. Do the community feel they must go along with council decisions?

In a letter of opinion to the Messenger Press 21 June: reports that the council made a decision to go ahead in reference to a park carve up: "The decision is in the face of a consultant's survey showing 56.3 per cent of respondents [were]  opposed to the council's proposal"   although the councils proposal went ahead anyway. Is Campbelltown Council working effectively or dictatorially?  It seems that the council does as it pleases no matter what the community feels. Its put up or shut up in the city of Campbelltown. A quote from Cr Fitzeharris asks "What's the point of a consultation process when the results are going to be ignored?"  No wonder residents feel disempowered.

 Does anyone have an opinion about the outrageously expensive "Taj Mahal" that the council want to build? Do you think it is good or not so good. Do you think it is worth paying for for the next 30 years. It is estimated to cost approx. 14 million with a blowout to  approximately 30 million over the next 30 years because of possible insurances and interest hikes etc.

As Cr Sewell says in the Messenger Press 21 June its "a hell of a lot of money...!" I think its allot of money too and I wonder what the vested interests are????

Yours Sincerely,

A concerned ratepayer