Despite being the coldest week of the winter so far, swimming is still the warmest topic in town. At the Public Meeting in the chilly National Theatre last Wednesday to discuss the Draft Management Plan and Budget, around 120 people turned up to hear the sorry state of the Council finances from the GM and Directors Bill Ellison and Gordon Cunningham.
The meeting was attended by all Councillors except Cr Gardener and Marjeson.
GM Peter Bascomb prefaced his presentation with comments about the State and Federal studies into that have been commissioned into the financial sustainability of rural Councils, and the difficulties of attending to statutary obligations.
The detailed presentation pin pointed figures such as the $3.3 million shortfall on the roads Budget at June 06, and crucial need to keep the maintenance budget on track or the Council could lose the $2.6 million RTR (Roads to Recovery Grant) from the Federal Government.
It was pointed out that Palerang rates are well below rate charges of surrounding and similar size Councils and seeks to bring them into line with the average. Councils Budget is predicated on the Minister allowing for the 6.3% special variation for general rates in addition to the rates cap increase of 3.6%. So, on top of the raised rates, several other charges are about to kick in for Braidwood ratepayers.
(See page three for next year's rates and charges)
Director of Community Services Bill Ellison "It gives me no pleasure" to tell you all about it. Braidwood Sewerage Scheme has major problems, and that the EPA only tolerates it as the Council is working to address the problems.
$4.5 m will be needed for the treatment works and $1.4 million for the pumping stations (to be finished this year). Tenders for the works will go out in February 07. The effect of borrowing $5.7 million at 7% is $490k per year interest over 25 years. That boils down to $815 per year for users next year, then $1100 then $1500 unless there's growth.
As for the water situation, Mr Ellison went on to say that the Dam was built in 1987 to cover 2200 people and "we do have regular failures in that area" regarding quality. A new water filtration plant would cost around $4m. Borrowing $3.6 million would cost $450 per property in the first year. There is an option to wait for a subsidy and build up some reserves, but he added that there is a "particular worry about blue green algae."
Then there's the General Waste Charge budgeted at $180 ($110 in village) for 06/07 and rising, as well as the Domestic Waste charge of $262.
Director of Engineering Gordon Cunningham then outlined the roads and maintenance budget, explaining what was in and what was out, and was left the task of explaining the key issue for most of the audience, why the pools could not open. The cost of running the three pools is around $187k, plus capital works to bring them up to scratch and Council was unable to squeeze this amount from the tight budget which allowed for a slim $1500 surplus.
Once question time started the public anger started to boil over. Cr Raynolds said that "Council would need $700 to 800k to open the pools, as first preference for money must go towards ensuring RTR conditions are met."
Residents expressed concerns that the old Shire assets were being stripped from this side of the Shire, of the future viability of a town with no pool.
It was suggested that the public toilets be closed to save money and asked whether other grants had been sought. One suggestion was that the pools could be opened from 3pm only, and that the swim club and school bronze medallion holders could supervise the pool to save staff costs.
Cr Raynolds cautioned against taking on the pool. "There's an election coming. These costs are per year, as once you have taken it over you'll never get the money again."
As the debate raged as to how to take the fight to the State Government, a lone figure at the front of the audience rose, and in a scene reminiscent of a Presidential campaign boomed "I'm David Madew and I want Steve Whan's job."
The recently preselected Nationals candidate for the State seat got a rousing reception. "Council got a raw deal" he said and "You have to do something for them." He suggested that the residents all "pile onto buses and go picket Whan's office" in Queanbeyan.
This was the first of three meeting to be held by Council. A second will be held tonight in Bungendore and then Wamboin on 21 June. As the meeting wrapped up it was decided to liaise with the Bungendore residents and have some suitable dates at hand for tonight's meeting.
Cr Moore added as a footnote that in fact it was probably Gary Nairn's office that needed picketing as it was Federal GST money that they are after.
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