Dear Catherine,
Once more I am appalled at the arrogance of Council in disregarding the wishes of the local community, especially those who live here permanently.
And we are once more appalled by your/ Council flippant disregard of our needs.
Council has received ample indication that the Bateman’s Bay Community Centre is of strong Community interest, and even by your own records, well used, especially by core social services such as Meals On Wheels.
Time and again you have told us ‘there are other Council venues we could use’ and time and again we have said they do NOT meet our needs (letters from Ross Thomas, president of the 600plus U3A for instance, from Alan Russell from Meals on Wheels as only a few, plus the 1000- strong people who signed the petition to keep the Community Centre as an ongoing community asset for the ‘nuts and bolts’ of community life).
This letter (above) from you demonstrates again the arrogant stance of Council: that they say they consult then ignore the clear wishes of the community as widely demonstrated: The future of the Batemans Bay Community Centre will be a decision for Council to determine. This statement is true by the letter of the law, but NOT in regards to representing the wishes and well-being of the Community Council is there to serve.
The apparent vision of Council as a tourist-centred town is NOT one shared by the community. We welcome visitors and remain hospitable while they are a bonus, not the core of our vitality. Covid has been a great example of the faulty allegiance to outside sustainability sources.
We – the Sunset Committee, Perfex, Meals on Wheels,U3A and many other organisations - have tried diplomacy and consultation with council. Our willingness to engage has been met with disregard and a determined obstinacy by Council to have its way.
We do not welcome your letter, nor the sentiments in it and do not see it as a worthy stance of a representative of the community you are there to serve. Your disregard for the consequences of your stance on the people and groups who use the Community Centre, and those involved with and dependant on those organisations is staggering.
This is Not your finest moment.
Do not think the Community will think well of you or Council for the stance you are taking, in regards to the Batemans Bay Community Centre, or the Mackay Park development.
Sincerely
Dr Susan Mackenzie
President
PERFEX incorporated
