IT’S the dilemma of every council in NSW – that is how to spend “thin-on-the-ground” ratepayer dollars. Say what you like, but it is a big ask to get it right.
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The saying goes “you can’t please all of the people, all of the time”.
Councils are responsible for building and maintaining all sorts of community assets, everything from roads and footpaths, to children’s playgrounds. They will get some money from the other levels of government in this regard, a dollar here and there, but a lot of the onus is on us to come up with the cash at a local level.
The fallout then, from the recent TRC budget has been interesting, with $70,000 allocated to preserving the historic Bendemeer bridge.
The debate was interesting because it raised the question of how much should we spend on preserving the region’s heritage.
Some councillors are obviously more interested than others in making sure we keep an eye on the past – you could say “it touched a nerve”.
In making these decisions on behalf of the community, councillors need to address the broader issue, and that broader issue includes the overall attractiveness of our region.
It’s a bit like the airport car park argument, if we don’t have these assets we’re not likely to grow as a region.
Could $70,00 be better spent – maybe – but no one wants to live in a region devoid of character. And if we want people to move to our region we have to strike a balance, providing jobs and growth potential, alongside some of the things that make our region a great place to live.
Some people will move here for work, some people will move here for family, and some people, believe it or not, will move here because it’s an attractive place to live.
The counsellors’ political longevity is a direct measure of their decision making and they have to live with these decisions until the next election, as do we.