The Beagle Editor
At the Council Meeting on Tuesday September 12 2017 our Councillors were presented with a “draft” submission that had days earlier been sent to the State Governments Roads and Maritime Services supporting a particular option for the Construction of a New Bridge over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay. It seems the councillors had it sent to them for comment some days before it was sent to the RMS for their consideration. It also seems most of the Councillors didn’t attempt to influence what Council Staff had prepared in the “Draft” submission that was eventually endorsed by a majority of the Councillors at the meeting on September 12 , even though several of the councillors expressed concern about potential financial liability’s being created for the Shires residents and ratepayers as a result of their support for what was contained in the Council Submission to the RMS.
The liability’s or potential financial liability’s identified in the “Draft” document could require a future rate rise to provide for the community if the State Government decide not to co-operate with what’s been identified as being needed as a result of the Construction of a New Bridge. The councillors may very likely have missed an opportunity by not differing the matter and having some face to face conversations with those in the RMS developing all that’s necessary for the new bridge to be built. If that turn out to be the case then we will all pay more.
yours sincerely
Allan Brown
Catalina
