One more example of ratepayers being kept in the dark
The astonishing news that the Administrator is planning to sell off the municipal parking in Woy Woy is just one more example of the way in which ratepayers are being kept in the dark about long-term decisions with potentially dramatic effects on their future.
It might well be that this is a sound decision, but who can know, when there is no information on the transaction and no analysis of any benefits that are supposed to flow from it.
It is notable that, when private interests buy property from Council, the price always seems to be low, whereas any property bought by Council from private owners always seems to be significantly overvalued.
This is community property that is being sold, but history suggests that, in many cases, not much effort is made to negotiate a proper return to the community on its asset.
Furthermore, the Council does not have a sterling record on protecting the public interest when there is a conflict with private benefit.
Anyone who recalls the turgid response of Council to the "Taj Mahal" episode at Koolewong will wonder whether anybody at the Council offices really cares at all about the community at large.
There is a vague promise that the commuter and shopper parking will be maintained, but how much stock can we put in that?
The ineptitude of the Council in negotiating with private companies is well documented, and who knows what loopholes might be found in any agreement reached by Council with a buyer, if the legalities are tested down the track?
Let us have a full and open discussion of this proposal, so that, when all objections are overridden by the Administrator (which is what we'd expect), we are, at least aware of all the facts and can reach our own conclusion n the merit of what transpires.
SOURCE:
Email, 4 Mar 2023
Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy.