On the 8th of October a Country Forum will be held at the Encounter Bay Football Club. BBQ 4.00pm-5.00pm Forum 5.00pm-6.30pm. This will give you a great opportunity to here what State Government has planned for our Fleurieu Region and give you access to the Premier and Ministers to ask questions. Council Watch is particularly concerned about the lack of progress with the Sports and Recreation Precinct. The Heads of Agreement with the developer has been extended again to the end of December, with council offering no information about costings and contract negotiations. Costings from 2024 have blown out significantly. Transparency and due diligence appear to be councils biggest weakness, the rate payer has the right to know the financial exposure we are being subjected to. Below are the questions Council Watch wants answered. As rate payers this involves you “GET INVOLVED”

Condolences to all the Horse And Tram Authority staff on the sudden passing of Albert. He was one of the public’s favorite carriage horses and will be sorely missed by all. We know how close the staff are to all the horses in the HTA as they are extended family to you all. Wishing you all the best in this sad time, he will be forever remembered.

Dear Megan,

On behalf of Council Watch Fleurieu, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to you, the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram Authority Board, staff, volunteers and everyone associated with the tramway following the death of Albert.

We also recognise that many members of the wider Victor Harbor community will feel his loss.

For 13 years Albert was a familiar sight making the journey between Victor Harbor and Granite Island. During that time he must have carried many thousands of residents and visitors and became much more than simply one of the horses working the tramway.

Many of us saw Albert regularly when walking across the Causeway. His size, calm temperament and gentle nature made him particularly memorable, and the description of him as a “gentle giant” seems entirely appropriate.

We note the recent ABC report states that Albert became unwell on Friday and died the following morning, aged 18, and that veterinarians subsequently confirmed tumours as the cause of his illness and death.

Given the considerable community affection for Albert, we would appreciate some further clarification if the Authority is able to provide it.

Could you please advise what type of tumours were identified and whether they were known to exist before Albert became acutely ill, or whether their presence was only discovered during the veterinary investigation associated with his final illness?

We would also appreciate clarification as to whether the veterinary assessment has established that Albert’s illness and death were unrelated to the flu-like illness that affected a number of the tramway horses earlier this year.

We ask these questions respectfully and in the interests of providing the community with accurate information. They should not detract from recognising Albert’s long service to Victor Harbor or the loss undoubtedly being felt by those who worked with and cared for him.

Albert was part of the Victor Harbor landscape for 13 years. His contribution to one of the city’s best-known attractions deserves to be recognised and remembered.

Please convey our condolences particularly to those staff and volunteers who worked closely with Albert and cared for him over those years.

Kind regards,

Keith Climpson
Secretary
Council Watch Fleurieu Inc.

Are the rate payers best interests being represented in Victor Harbor. It appears not. Instead of a chamber promoting a position of fair democratic debate, having a different point of view to the majority often leads to the dismissal of legitimate concerns which will have a long term financial impact on the city of Victor Harbor and its rate payers. It is the democratic responsibility of council to consider all points of issue raised by elected members. It appears after the ordinary council meeting of the 24th August councils Code Of Conduct needs to be addressed. This lack of due process is deeply concerning for all members of the community.

The Hon Carlos Quaremba will be attending Warland Reserve on the 23rd of August at 2.00pm to address the community about local issues concerning VHC and the implications to rate payers. He will also talk about his efforts to make legislative changes about the function of local government within our state. A great opportunity to talk to our local MLC and ask questions about the area’s that most concern you. A sausage sizzle will be held in the Soldiers Memorial Gardens after the event where we can all chat and mingle.

The professional independent rate review provided by AEC advising council on future rate structure is an important part of process. The data provided by the Consultant must be taken into account with consideration of rate payers a priority.

The main points to be taken out of the report.

VHC has the second highest average residential rates $2664 amongst the 15 comparable councils.

VHC has the highest rate burden on rate payers out of the 15 comparable councils when comparing rates paid to household income at a rating factor of 3.4%.

The most disturbing factor of the review was the lack of interest shown from the current elected councilors and Mayor with five members not even showing up. Is this a sign the professional consultants rate review is going to be ignored.

The selection process for a new VHC CEO is getting to stage where a decision will be made shortly. The selection committee has made up a short list of candidates. We hope they appoint a candidate with solid financial experience within the public sector, and has exemplary communication and people skills to guide our elected councilors and admin staff on making decisions which effect council and rate payers.

We now have an alternative to be seriously considered instead of the Council proposed Sports and Recreation Centre. The current developer / council backed proposal comes with significant debt and risk to the rate payers of Victor Harbor, with operational losses covered by council and the rate payer well into the next financial years. Questions have to be asked if the current development option is ever going to be viable. The alternative gives council a path to provide a facility that is considerate to all members of the Victor Harbor community.

Council have passed the 26/27 Budget, Annual Business Plan, and 6.4% rate increase. Only Councillor’s Burns and Kemp opposed the rate increase and expressed concern of the Business Plan and Budget. This was after only one scheduled public forum where rate payers could express their concerns directly to administration and councillors.

We have always believed that Councils are elected by the rate payer to represent the rate payer. Why is this current Council operating under the veil of secrecy and lack of accountable transparency. Why is anything that may be sensitive to the rate payer held in confidence. Why have professional prudential reports over the years not been released for public scrutiny. There’s and old saying ” the further you dig yourself into a hole, the harder it is to dig yourself out”. I am afraid by running with this type of agenda the Council is holding its rate payers in disregard, and not working in the best interests of all.

 

Whats the future of the Encounter Community Centre?

After running into financial difficulties the future of the Encounter Community Centre is in limbo. It now appears the VHC is taking over the management of the Centre for a 3 year period, after investing grant money into its operations over a period of years. Is this another major expense to the rate payer?