We’re left to pay for

SO OUR council has accepted the State Government offer of $25 million towards the rectification of the Brookland Greens methane gas fiasco.
The council’s acceptance came with strings attached from the Victorian Labor Government. The council cannot take legal action against the Government (that means no future recourse is available to recover costs from the Government for their negligence at any time), leaving ratepayers to pick up the remaining $80 million plus, over the next few years.
No doubt part of the reason has been because of the state election later this year.
All ratepayers must be utterly dismayed that their council has failed them so badly.
It also questions the loyalties and motives of Labor-dominated elected councillors.
Ratepayers have good reasons to be concerned about the size of future rate increases.
In my view, the decision council has made to accept the State Government’s offer is even worse than the string of errors of judgement and negligence that has allowed the Stevensons Road Tip debacle to occur in the first place.
The relevant Federal Coalition Shadow Minister Greg Hunt has made a commitment that if elected this year, a Coalition government would be prepared to consider a request from council, for funding to assist in this matter.
Has the council applied for funding from the current federal Labor Government and if so, what was the response?
Ratepayers cannot continue to be ignored by both elected councillors and council management and staff, all paid for by us. We need to demand accountability and transparency on this and all other council matters.
As a ratepayer I would like to see the current elected council disbanded and for the State Government to appoint an administrator to get council’s house back in order.
Only then should we be asked to vote for new candidates.
One thing is for certain. We should not and will not, continue to put up with council’s incompetence.
John Griffiths,
Berwick.