Local government - the Electors AGM

Local government is there to serve the community. We are now entering the season for the annual general meeting of Electors, a once in a year opportunity for Electors to provide direction and feedback to its Council. We recommend everyone takes this annual opportunity to show an interest in and express a view on your Local Government's performance and conduct.

The City of Melville is holding is Electors AGM on 5th December, and we would encourage all residents and ratepayers to go and express their view, no matter what they are, as it is everybody's right.

Residents and ratepayers need to hold their Councils and the administration accountable for their actions, or inactions as the case may be.

This is particularly relevant for us as over the past 8 years we at Melville have endured a council which has gone to extraordinary lengths to silence its critics, including adopting a questionable policy that allows it to sue them, for example:

• In 2013 an unsuccessful attempt by the Mayor, witnessed by the CEO, to serve an independent councillor with a VRO. The court found the evidence provided was not reliable.
• Also in 2013 our former CEO, after a growing number of complaints against the City, commenced a strategy of writing to the Minister of Local Govt and other public departments asking for help to deal with ratepayers whose complaints (he argued) were creating an unsafe workplace. An innovative approach to silencing democracy! Would the Minister consider the destructive impact of bad local government on the wellbeing of ratepayers and communities?
• Since 2008 the City has waged a campaign to push the Melville Bowling Club out of its 60 year location in Tompkins Park. All for the benefi t of a private developer and against the wishes of the community.
• Since 2014 the elimination of sections of long standing grassed amenity areas in Attadale / Alfred Cove and then in June 2016 the City receipt of an ‘unsolicited’ proposal for a 4.4 hectare wave park complex, unsuitable for the Alfred Cove foreshore. This will consume both the bowling club land and more than that area again in public open space.

With the sincere wish that Council listens to, respects and represents its residents.

Written and authorised by Gary Crawford on behalf of Melville Residents Action Group

We thank Mr Crawford for his contribution.