The Beagle Editor,
What the $#@#????
Does the Council think so poorly of its community that it doesn't even bother to wait for Community submissions to close before they announce what they have decided.
Let's talk about the FACT that Council says "Community members can view and provide their feedback on the draft Mogo Adventure Trails Hub Masterplan at www.esc.nsw.gov.au/publicexhibition until Monday October 19th, 2020."
That's right. October 19th !!!
But Andrew Constance went out last Sunday and announced $3 million from the Growing Local Economies fund to deliver Mogo Adventure Trail upgrades, including upgrading and marking existing tracks and trails and building crucial missing links.
He posted a video of the announcement and has since said "other upgrades include showcasing viewing points along trails, new bike parking, visitor seating and water facilities as well as installing trail signage and direction markers, including interpretive signage at focus points such as Trail Heads."
The Council pretty much confirmed it was a done deal on October 12th. There is no mention at all that the public submissions are open until October 19th.
Read their announcement for your self.
"Thanks to Andrew and the NSW Government WE"LL NOW SEE 125km of world class trails built"
But what about all the public submissions? Don't they matter? What about the vote of the councillors to endorse the draft project?
What about the further report to the councillors addressing the submissions received being presented to Council following the exhibition period.
What about the submissions from the shopkeepers who are asking where 45,000 per year are going to park, especially in summer?
What about the shopkeepers who ask where will these people change and go to the toilet. Surely not the fetid pissoir that Council calls public toilets on Tomakin Road?
What about the submissions from the bushwalkers?
What about the submissions from the motor cycle riders and horse riders?
Who is going to be responsible for upkeep of the tracks?
Will the land remain owned by Forest Corp? If so will it continue to be logged?
If it is logged will they go into the area of the trails?
If so will this area be closed down and then repaired?
How is it that Andrew Constance and Liz Innes can make an announcement that the DRAFT Mogo Adventure Trail has received $3 million from the Growing Local Economies fund to deliver Mogo Adventure Trail upgrades, including upgrading and marking existing tracks and trails and building crucial missing links.
Why the $%^& did Council even bother to call for submissions?
This is very telling that a Local State Member, a Mayor and a Director of Planning making such an announcement. It suggests that the community may as well accept that their submissions are just tossed in the bin after ticking a box marked "PUBLIC CONSULTATION" and that the councilors may as well resign because they have been rendered superfluous.
Name and address supplied but not published, for fear of vindictive outcomes from Council.
