Letters to the editor

Updated July 18 2016 - 11:50am, first published July 15 2016 - 7:30am
CLOSE: Eurobodalla Shire Council elections will be held in September.
CLOSE: Eurobodalla Shire Council elections will be held in September.

Mayoral mega byte   

I wish to express my concern regarding the transparency of many government departments, puppet political leadership and out of control bureaucratic departments. Together with the downgrading of local investigative journalism many important public issues are escaping under the radar. The financial transparency of the Eurobodalla Council is no exception! I addressed the council in October 2015 concerning some $30 millions as proceeds from assets sales and purchase of assets to the value $64.444 million dollars. No explanation was offered at that meeting from the mayor, GM or councillors .This issue is considered of great importance as upon questioning the council failed to acknowledge if these figures were subjected to an independent external or internal audit. The figures were amongst many others that were publicly displayed during the exhibition period to justify rate increases and that the council was “Fit for the Future”. My concerns were also expressed to the local member prior to Christmas. I hung up my “Santa sock” and “Easter Bunny pillow” in  expectation of a ministerial or mayoral minute. Pillow and sock remain empty! Following follow-up public addresses, the GM, Mayor Brown and audit committee members, Burnside and Schwartz, all remained silent. No satisfactory explanation regarding the validity of multimillion dollar figures asked nine months ago have been given. They vehemently deny having sold the council chambers for $30 million but have not denied the purchase of several retirement villages in case of being declared “Not Fit for the Future”. Suddenly figures have been “doctored “ and changed by millions. Is that notorious “Eurobodalla mega byte” gobbling up the missing millions? Disturbingly, if ESC figures are incorrect, IPART’s decision cannot be reversed. The Minister should request an immediate forensic investigation into Eurobodalla Council figures before any rate rise is approved.

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