From the Far End of the Council Table - 20 April
Date: 20-Apr-09
Author: Councillor James Ryan
Heddon Greta Drive-In Saved.
Cessnock Councillors made an important decision last week. We voted to not include Kurri Golf Club and Heddon Greta Drive-In a plan to rezone land for residential development.
The previous ALP dominated Council has supported rezoning the Golf Club for houses despite the Golf Club objecting to the plan. The Drive In was also proposed to be rezoned. Anyone who has visited the Drive In knows what good value it is for families. It is also one of only two Drive-In's left in NSW and brings thousands of visitors to the Kurri area. It is something we should be proud of.
This decision is also something we can be proud of. It is a decision which puts the interests of local community members ahead of the profit motive of property developers. I doubt the old Council would have made the same decision. The developers might develop a plan in the future for the remaining parts of the land, but I think the message is clear, the Golf club and the Drive In should be left alone.
Budget time is coming around again. This year will be the toughest of any I have experienced at Cessnock. Essentially the 'spare' money has disappeared. The last Council borrowed massively to build the Performing Arts Centre and did not budget anything to actually operate or maintain the building; the Council's income from land sales in Vineyard Grove are down, as is income from Development fees as a result of lower activity in the recession. Also the Local Government Superannuation Scheme needed topping up after the Share Market nose dived last year. All Councils are affected, however Cessnock will contribute approx. $800K per year for the next ten years to make up the difference.
It's going to be a tough year.
In another important decision last week Council will lobby Hunter Water to provide sewer services to Millview Estate at Millfield. Councils paperwork for the subdivision says that Hunter Water will provide sewerage. Hunter Water say they know nothing about it. Yet families have been buying the blocks and planning their homes in the belief (not unreasonably) that they could trust Councils documents. Just how Council came to approve the subdivision without insisting the developer pay and provide the sewer has not been explained to me or any other Councillor. Considering that many of these lots back onto the majestic Congewai Wetlands and it is not practical to have effluent disposal seeping into the water they need to be sewered. All the Council can do now is negotiate with Hunter Water to get the best outcome.
It is outcomes like these made by the old Council that make me shake my head. Although things have changed we have to make sure that higher standards of decisions are made at Cessnock Council from now on.
Make sure you have your say.
