by coyote ugly » Fri Jan 18, 2013 3:19 pm
Some of us dont just roll over and die steakn, we actually stand up for wnat we beleive in and we want a public appology from the council admitting they were wrong.
I ask everyone to not listen to these trolls on the internet who are in hiding.
The rate payers association has over 2,000 members and we challenge issues when they need to be challenged, Water Issues, Building heights, Ravendale, The Pool. The list goes on.
Here is a snippett form a recent meeting....
New Voice For City
Port Lincoln residents want to have a greater say in how Port Lincoln is planned and how development takes place.
That was the message from the inaugural Port Lincoln Residents and Ratepayers Committee meeting on Monday night.
The city now has a new voice with about 100 people attending the first meeting of the association at the RSL hall on Monday night.
Among the other issues highlighted by residents were:
■Potential changes at the Kirton Point Caravan Park and neighbouring reserves
■The Plan Amendment Report and zoning of various areas of the city
■The council’s resignation from EPLGA
■Rate of development given lack of water
■Lack of redress for Rustlers Gully residents worried about new subdivision
■Potential rezoning and development of open and recreational spaces
■Greater transparency and getting information published regularly
■Better maintenance and planning of stormwater drains
Facilitator Steve Prout and new President John Hunwick attempted to impress on the crowd the importance of the upcoming planning document known as Plan Amendment Report or PAR.
“It lays out plans for potential zoning for the next five to 10 years … and this is a very important report,” Mr Prout said.
“It is advisable for as many people as possible to have comment.”
This document would define what kinds of development were appropriate for different zones in the city, with one area of interest being what the new zoning for Centenary Oval would be.
There was discussion at the ratepayers meeting over whether the zoning of the oval would be changed.
There was concern that the area could be rezoned for something other than recreational use.
Mayor Peter Davis said the exact nature of the council’s proposals was currently being reviewed by the State planners.
However he could say it was the council’s intent to have the oval as well as the neighbouring primary school, high school and Saint Joseph’s all zoned consistently together.
But he said in the end this and all other planning issues could be out of the council’s hands.
“The council is not in control of its own destiny,” he said.
“Take for example Dean Lukin’s BHP proposal that was fully supported by the council but that was knocked back because of the laws Parliament passed about native vegetation.”
The Port Lincoln City Council had devised the initial draft of the PAR and sent it to the State planning authorities for initial review.
Port Lincoln City Council chief executive officer Ian Burfitt said the document should be ready to be released to the public as soon as September or October, at which point there would be an opportunity for public comment.
100 Attend Meeting
The city now has a new voice with about 100 people attending the first meeting of the Port Lincoln Residents and Ratepayers Association at the RSL hall on Monday night.
The newly elected committee of eight including President John Hunwick stated the association was there to foster greater communication between the community and the Port Lincoln City Council.
It also has a role to act as a voice for people who believe their concerns are not being heard.
Port Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Tourism chairman Steve Prout welcomed those present.
“There is a feeling that there has been a lack of communication but the ratepayers association should not be here to head hunt or blame anyone,” Mr Prout said.
“We know Port Lincoln is a wonderful place, there are just some who want to have more of a say.”
He explained that open lines of communication were important with the council and that members of the ratepayers’ association should go to meetings and talk to councillors to seek out the answers to questions they had.
He said the association should only take on important issues and lobby for the good of the whole community.
Mr Hunwick, who is the Eyre Peninsula Catchment Water Management Board education officer, was elected unopposed as President.
Ian Phillips was appointed Vice President, while Alan Turvey took on the role of Secretary and Treasurer.
Mr Hunwick in his opening speech spoke about a level of frustration in the community and a feeling that voices were not being heard.
“Part of it is not only to be positive and a conduit for information but sometimes to act as a reminder to council that sometimes there are people out there with strong opinions,” he said.
“I believe they should go a little bit slower and there should be a bit more conferring with the town.”
At the same time the ratepayers association was being formed, the Port Lincoln City Council was holding its general purposes committee meeting.
Mayor Peter Davis said the councillors that night passed a motion congratulating those involved for forming the committee, and agreed the new members should meet with councillors to discuss the various issues.
Mr Davis said he did not have a problem with the new entity forming, saying it could be a positive step, but his main question was why people had not come to the council meetings before.
He urged the new association to send a delegation to each of the council meetings to listen to the complexity of the issues being debated.
“I personally believe the sooner they roster people to come to our meetings the better,” he said.
“You also have to remember that there are 8500 ratepayers in the city who they have to represent and not just these 100 people.”
Those present on Monday night decided the first meeting should take place in three weeks on Monday, August 30 and that the city council should provide a venue.
The committee itself will meet next week to formalise the venue and agenda, which will be made public prior to the next meeting.
[quote="westcoastpanther"
Does PL footy really need the Tigers, after last years efforts I'd say no. It's a bye anyway, might as well just call the day off and go fishing!![/quote]