Dear LG Focus,
In the March edition of LG Focus, the City of Kwinana’s Mayor Carol Adams paraphrased an economic report into the impacts of dividing the City of Cockburn in Western Australia (‘Mergers split opinion in Western Australia’, March 2014, pg10).
In so paraphrasing, Mayor Adams hastily overlooked the 800 job losses identified in the report as losses to the City of Cockburn’s staff. This is incorrect. The job losses do not concern the City of Cockburn staff as identified in the AEC Group’s independent economic study. The disaggregation of the City of Cockburn will indeed lead to 800 job losses in the boundary of the City of Cockburn.
These 800 job losses will be lost from the following areas: People directly involved in building sites (construction workers): 196 jobs lost. People indirectly involved in building (suppliers): 331 jobs lost. People indirectly involved in building related activities (such as real-estate agents): 288 jobs.
The City of Cockburn has made available the independent economic study at: www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/reform
City of Cockburn spokesperson.
Dear LG Focus,
From 2009–10 to 2013–14 the Government provided $1.75 billion under the Roads to Recovery program. The Government will provide a further $1.75 billion ($350 million per annum) to extend the Roads to Recovery program for five years from 2014–15 to 2018–19.
In 2013/14 Greater Taree City Council (GTCC) received $1,172,441 in Roads to Recovery funds. These figures have been consistent since 2009/10 and will remain consistent until 2018/19. Applying a very conservative cost index of three percent p/a this council, and every other council is 13 percent worse off in real terms this year and will be 30 percent worse off by 2018/19 compared to 2009/10.
Your editorial statements that the extension of the Roads to Recovery funding is “a golden opportunity to repair huge sections of the road network” and “local governments across Australia finally have a major part of the resources needed to shrink the infrastructure maintenance gap” is absurd and demonstrably untrue.
GTCC is responsible for 950km of unsealed roads and 750km of sealed roads with a population base of 50000 people. $1m buys us around 1km of sealed road or 20km of gravel resheets.
This government does have the opportunity to live up to the statement you make in your editorial by structural change of the existing Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants. By allocating the same pool of funds to regional and rural councils based on road and bridge infrastructure responsibilities and tying the grants to that outcome, this government could shine the light on more than $2b of infrastructure across Australia each year; essential infrastructure that is absolutely critical to regional Australia and the country as a whole.
Ron Posselt
Exec. Leader Service Delivery
Greater Taree City Council
Dear LG Focus,
I read the article ‘Keeping the Black Dog at bay’ (March 2014, pg 6) with great interest. Our Council area is located in rural South Australia and is situated basically between the Barossa Valley, Riverland, Murraylands and Mallee.
Men’s mental health appears to be a significant issue in many parts of our district, but is a real problem in and around a particular town in the region where there have been reports of four male suicides over the past two years.
Council is trying to investigate options and initiatives that we can become involved in to help address this alarming problem. We can relate to many of the points that you made in your article including not wanting to admit having depression, the issues around formal appointments and lengthy queues.
We too have discussed at a local level the ‘farmgate’ approach and have been trying to support the local men’s shed, but agree that it is not for everyone.
If there is any way that we can help support your [Rod Brown’s] lobbying and advocacy efforts please let me know.
Also if there are any programs, initiatives, grants etc. that you are aware of that might help us to address the issue I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Congratulations on your efforts to support rural and regional Australia.
Regards
Shane Thompson
Director, Community Services
Mid Murray Council
