Who is being misleading here?
 

The results are in from the Community Consultation re: Civic
Centre Design proposal and published in the Campbelltown Council Supplementary
Item: Item 8 to the Agenda of Council meeting 4 July 2006. Many people do not
like Campbelltown Councils top down approach. The consultation says that 70% of
Campbelltown residents have disapproved of the proposal.  In the 
June 28^th edition of the Messenger newspaper, p.  5 the Mayor of Campbelltown, Steve Woodcock,
states the some councilors are “circulating misleading and inaccurate
information about the civic center project”. The Mayor suggests that a handful
of residents have concerns about the civic centre project  and that the vast majority approve of the
civic centre expense, design and concept.
 

Hello people. Does the Campbelltown Council listen to its residents and ratepayers?? It  certainly doesn't seem that way and yet we pay their wages. In the recent Council meeting 4 July:

Cr Whittaker writes "The Campbelltown CEO survived the motion below on Tuesday 4 July. 

It was a feisty meeting when the 556 relies to the councils $10,000
consultation made no difference to the council's decision. The two thirds of
residents who rejected the Civic Centre and the 55% who rejected paying more
rates for it were ignored. Council staff persisted with the claim that 61%
embraced the plan although all that people had agreed to was the plans included
the things that a Civic Centre should have. 

The Messenger Press Newspaper, 21st June p. 3 and p. 9,reads that the Premier Mike Rann
and  ALP MP L. Simmons, have had a series of "street corner
meetings" with Campbelltown residents and ratepayers. The residents and ratepayers are
meant to be "feral" about Campbelltown Council and the inability of
the council to "hear them". The residents and ratepayers seem not
feel consulted re decisions made on council via majority vote. In the Messenger June 21, p. 10 Mayor Steve Woodcock says council has "followed due process". There seems to be a debate about whether the consultation process occurrs and is adheered to. Perhaps the council needs to define for us what they mean by "due process" and "consultation". 

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?

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.

Press Release 26 January 2006 Save Open Space Campaign

Campbelltown City Council at its meeting on 24 January 2006 voted to support the following staff initiated recommendation – that”Council may at its discretion, consider to make the whole or any part of the land the subject of this management plan, available for Business purposes, during the life of this management plan.” In addition the plan would no longer be reviewed annually but on an “as required” basis – without any indication as to what the requirement is.

April 14th 2006: The issue as it stands.

A petition with a total of 357
signatures has been collected in regard to the community consultation
process for the sale of the majority of Oakdale Ave Reserve and should be
presented to council at the relevant meeting.

It is to be included as part of the
community consultation process for Oakdale Ave Reserve in which residents have
been asked if they agree to the sale of 80% of the Reserve.