1. Bridges.

Since its inception Palerang has built at least one brand new bridge every year to the point where now, (or very soon – Back Creek), there are no bridges in Palerang with a load limit. I am reliably informed that in Goulburn Mulwaree there are at least 10 with restrictive weight limits. Will Palerang ratepayers be required to pick up this account?

2. Rates.

How do you see Palerang Rate Model (fair and efficient) being melded with Goulburn/Mulwaree’s (dog’s breakfast )Model?

3. Rubbish/Recycling.

Nothing epitomises Yarrowlumla’s incompetence better than the Captain’s Flat Tip. Prior to Yarrowlumla/Tallaganda Amalgamation it was a putrid pile of garbage – a disgrace. Palerang immediately commissioned a consultancy to advise on the best way forward regarding Waste Recycling. Many millions later, we have at Captain’s Flat a state of the art Transfer Station  $2m., Transfer Station at Macs Reef Road $1.5m, a $4m. Transfer Station Bungendore $4m. and one still to come for Braidwood which will cost several million. Braidwood has one waste fund which Braidwood for 10 years has been paying into.

You three, how do you see the Braidwood Transfer Station future & funding? While you are contemplating that dilemma, take a look at Tarago’s Tip! Are we to pay for a Transfer Station there, and Marulan as well???

Also, many millions have been invested in Water Treatment Plants and Sewerage Treatment Plants in Palerang. They are all state of the art. We don’t wish to be obliged to pick up other Council’s incompetence and financial distress in these matters. Or, is that what you mean when you declare that Palerang needs to increase its scale?

4. Information Technology.

Very early in Palerang’s time senior staff recommended to Council to invest $680,000 in I.T. Hardware and Software. This later blew out to $725,000. It was, in my opinion very courageous. But the results were, are and will continue to be astounding. In the early days of Palerang, financial reporting of any competence was impossible. Since the present regime took control, every facet of finance has been accurate and up to date. All of Palerang is interconnected. If there is a problem or breakdown anywhere, anytime, relevant personnel are notified and remedial action is taken. Every Friday at 2pm every programme is audited to the dollar and action taken accordingly.

In due course, any ratepayer considering any development will be able, at the click, to bring up all relevant requirements for whatever he or she may be considering at home.

5. Rural Local Roads.

In the first Palerang Council there were three Special Rate Increases, of around $320.000 each which have now grown too close to $600,000 each. Then, as now, to be granted a Special Rate Variation council needed a good reason. These three increases were for Rural Local Roads Grading, Resheeting (gravel), and for Sealed Roads Rehabilitation.

Every council would like to do better with their Rural Local Roads. Palerang has a clear policy that is fair, funded and continuing.

John, would Queanbeyan know what a Rural Local Road is?

Pru, would you let us have Goulburn/Mulwaree’s Policy for Rural Local Roads Maintenance?

Neither Goulburn/Mulwaree or Queanbeyan has any real road plant.

Paul, how will the breaking up of Palerang improve our Rural Local Road Maintenance into the future?

6.Financial Waste.

Pru, how much does it cost Goulburn/Mulwarree to fund -

a) The Tourism Information Centre

b) The Regional Art Gallery

c) Any other non core activity

d) Tell us about the full costs of their proposed Performing Arts Centre.

John, tell us about Queanbeyan’s waste of a similar nature.

One of the most obvious reasons why Palerang is so financially sound is because it does not throw money away.

Pru, How many millions did Goulburn/Mulwarree do cold in the Lehmann Brothers Financial crash?

Local Government N.S.W. lost $200m. Funny that Palerang did not lose one cent in the crash.

Palerang has-

To all three of you, where and for what, do you have these monies marked for???

7. Record

On Day One, July 2004, Palerang was bequeathed, by the then administration, a deficit budget 04/05 of $1.3m, which blew out to $1.5m. Before it was brought under control, Palerang’s situation reached its nadir  of $60.00 available in its trading a/c. It is now financially sound and responsible, a leader in I.T., up to date Infrastructure, Toilet, Water, Bridges and Recycling.

How history repeats itself! Tallaganda was wiped out because of Yarrowlumla’s financial problems, and so now Palerang is to be sacrificed on the altar of mammon to save both Goulburn/Mulwarree and Queanbeyan.

John Pru and Paul many people have given their all to bring Palerang to its present excellent position. How you can so blithely consider recklessly destroying it, is extraordinary.

P.S. My father always said, “Don’t look at what someone might do. Look at what they have done.” I beg you take a careful look.

Walter Raynolds “Maringa”

Braidwood