Comments on: Democracy lacking in Coast local government

By: Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 20:56:38 +0000

Well said Gary. It is the state government who forced the amalgamation and then prevented harmonisation of the rates so leaving the council with a lot of extra costs and insufficient income.

By: Gary Blaschke

Gary Blaschke — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 10:55:03 +0000

In reply to Geoff Robertson. Sorry Jim, If one man makes all the decisions, gives the citizens of the Central Coast the total of three minutes to put their case forward and then totally ignores what is put forward and simply makes out it wasn't him, it was the politically appointed Planning Panels, then I call it dictatorship.

By: Jim Perkins

Jim Perkins — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 22:34:21 +0000

Well said Gary! So refreshing to read a balanced and well considered view of our council’s situation.
To be remembered that it has been both State Government appointed Administrators who drastically raised our land rates, our water rates and sold off our assets, NOT the former councillors! The state government can not hide behind their over blown blustering about former councillors. They could have taken responsibility much earlier, they did not. Thier own auditors did not pick up the financial problems, either did the Minister or the local Parliamentary Sec until after the after the event. And the $500 mil debt we hear so much about, surprise, most of it was handed to the council from the two previous councils and the state government refused to refinance it. So much BS going in NSW. And where is the Labor opposition ? Silent and ineffective.

By: Geoff Robertson

Geoff Robertson — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:49:47 +0000

Look, we all know that the current administration is temporary. Let’s not get into a weeping session about the loss of democratic rights. Administration is a legal process that entities who are facing bankruptcy go through. They are run by an administrator while the directors are stood aside. Just because the CC Council has elected councilors rather than directors does not alter the fact or the process.
The Administrator is not a dictator, above the law or self-serving. He/she operates within legal rules and constraints.
For goodness sake, just wait until the situation is under control, then we can get back to the possibility of another bunch of disfunctional chaotic democratically elected leaders. Hopefully we will have learned from the last tilt at democracy.