Council reflections
IN THE next week, Horsham Rural City Council will have completed the first year of its four-year term. It is appropriate as an elected community representative to reflect on the past 12 months and report back to the community, who placed their trust in us to lead and manage the affairs of wider municipality.
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I express my appreciation to council chief executive Peter Brown and his team and support staff in rescheduling a range of briefings for new councillors – four of whom have full time ‘day’ jobs. The last election resulted in a significant change in council dynamics. Normally scheduled day meetings became night and weekend events.
The community have made it well known that they are disappointed in our community engagement and called into question our decision making processes. We need to do better in these areas to restore community confidence in council.
The Horsham highway bypass is arguably the most significant occasion – where our decision not to make a decision and not to investigate options with and on behalf of the community brought much justified community concern and loss of faith.
In relation to this issue, it is pleasing to see that we have learnt from our experience and resolved, while there is still time, to “advocate for a preferred route for the Horsham bypass in consultation with the community”. I look forward to that process commencing as a matter of urgency. See Action 19.2 Economic Development Strategy 2017 – 2021. This advocacy is what both Planning Minister Richard Wynne and Roads Minister Luke Donnellan requested of us.
It is reasonable to predict that the community will demand that council explore a more economic model for the multi-user sports stadium – the cost of which seems to have more than doubled to more than $20 million before it has left the drawing board.
It is pleasing that council decided to keep the rural rate differential at 85 per cent, recognising that high land values do not convert into food on the table or clothes for the family.
I express my appreciation for staff both within the administration and operations sections of council for dedicated work on behalf of the community. An example of this work can be seen in the completed Anzac footbridge over the Wimmera River, wherein our staff stepped in to assist to complete the project. Another example is the economic development plan which is a new, standalone, process that will grow in coming years.
I also express my appreciation for the efforts of our volunteers who support our community in so many ways. I am most grateful for the willing family and community support and encouragement in what has been a most interesting first year representing community views and aspirations in local government.
To our community I say thank you for the honour of being your representative. I hope that I have lived up to your expectations. I look forward to continuing to represent your views and interests and to maximising the liveability and prosperity of the wider municipality and our neighbours.
John Robinson BM OAM, councillor, Horsham Rural City Council
The word of the Bible
WILLIAM McIlwain’s letter (Titled: Bible’s peaceful language, Wimmera Mail-Times, October 27) challenged my letter (Titled: The definition of marriage, October 25).
I do commend Mr McIlwain’s respect for the ‘good book’ which teaches about God’s absolutes given to us to distinguish between right and wrong. Many people despise God’s sacred book with His infallible rules for our human discipline and welfare. Worse still, others call it hate literature and say it spoils their fun in life.
Mr McIlwain, I do uphold all sentiments of my letter and would enjoy an opportunity to exchange various vital truths.
World history repeats itself and teaches how mighty empires disintegrated – not only during Biblical history but also since then during the past 2000 years. This was due to internal corruption and collapse of moral standards as stated by the late General Douglas MacArthur in my most recent letter. However anyone might regard this man, we must give him credit for his truthful, indisputable statement.
Finally, I certainly agree there are so many other desperate problems to focus on, but the same-sex marriage issue is indeed a very serious matter that I chose to consider in my letter. Mr McIlwain, I look forward to meeting you for a discussion in the near future if possible.
Cyril Dymke, Horsham