If councillors want our opinions, read Peninsula News

It was with great interest I read the story (Month-long consultation about Woy Woy - Peninsula News, 28 Oct, 2019) that Central Coast Council was seeking local opinions.

"It's time to talk all things Woy Woy - I encourage as many community members as possible to have their say" the mayor, Cr Lisa Matthews, said.

Great news, I hear you saying.

Well, yes, and no.

You see, neither the mayor nor Ms Vaughan, in her media release, say who or when we can actually have our say.

There are no details of who we should talk to, be it Council staff or our councillors.

There are no details of kiosks in shopping centres or our old Council Chambers.

Nothing.

However, you will be pleased to know that feedback will be provided at drop-in information sessions lasting four hours and three-and-a-half hours on November 21.

How you have feedback without input, I am not sure.

I am also a bit sceptical about Council surveys.

In May 2017, we were advised that Council would conduct a survey of residents seeking information about the biggest and best potholes.

If you have a look at our disgraceful roads and gaping potholes, nothing has been done in over two years: Same potholes in the same places because a fix that doesn't work is still being used.

How long do have to put up with this sheer incompetence and waste of our rates?

A couple of pages further on, Cr Kyle MacGregor proposes a meeting of councillors on the Peninsula prior to the next election.

The good councillor said "I believe in the concept of maximum democracy in local government, where local people have a real and genuine say in how their elected council operates".

Well councillor, I suggested exactly the same thing before the last election.

Sorry to say there were no takers.

If I were one of our councillors with their track record, I wouldn't front the people of the Peninsula in anything less than an armoured personnel carrier.

Now, I don't know the outcome at the last Council meeting but just on the off-chance that you were not successful, I have a suggestion.

If our councillors want our opinions just read the letters in Forum each fortnight in the Peninsula News.

I think it would be fair to say they could start by rejecting all non-complying building applications and immediately implement a plan to begin kerbing and guttering our flooding streets.

SOURCE:

Email, 2 Nov 2019

Laurie Powell, Woy Woy