Consulting with the community

Local Government is required to consult with the community.

This is difficult for the Council to do, because generally few in the community turn up to public meetings.

Progress associations are a good way, as representatives of ratepayers, for Council to confer with the general public.

Progress associations by their nature must represent all of their communities, both residents and business.

However, it is hard for Council to hear the people's voice if progress associations are torn by internal fighting, with factions taking a hard line or pressure groups exerting undue pressure.

Perhaps other ways for Council to assess the community's needs, which they have undertaken on occasions, are to take a survey of ratepayers or to hold general public meetings.

Cr Lynne Bockholt has held public meetings in the past, which have been quite successful. Cr Debra Wales has done similarly.

Public meetings called by councillors, such as the ones for Woy Woy tip in late 1998 and for the railway crossing, have been quite well attended.

Council needs to address the consultation process, as Peninsula News already does, so groups can have their say in local government.

Harry Boyle, May 1