Water and Sewerage

Henry St is being cut up at the moment. A new water main is going in. Sheffield has poor sewerage infrastructure. It is very costly year in and year out. The new water and sewerage body will have plenty of work to do in our area.

As you may have heard water and sewerage will not be our direct responsibility from July 1. Cradle Mountain Water will be taking control of our drinking water and sewerage systems. Kentish Council will be one of the few Councils who will benefit from this. For us the Sheffield Sewerage System is a liability. The Railton plant is better. Councils will receive a dividend from the new water corporation however this dividend will be a few years in coming. Councils are also expected to fund a concession rebate for residents for their water and sewerage. This will cost us about $60,000. That is equivalent to a 2% increase in rates.

So what it means is that your rate notice amount will be lower however you will get a separate water and sewerage bill if applicable. You can expect a 30% increase in this bill over 3 years. Water fees in Tasmania are the cheapest in the nation. They need to increase to cover the cost of fixing crumbling infrastructure (such as the pipes in Henry Street).

Bits and pieces

Underground power lines in Sheffield Main St

Hydro are dragging their feet on this one. We wanted it done directly after Mural Fest. No luck. It looks like July now.

Streetscapes
Kentish Council has 2 streetscapes underway at the moment. One in Railton and one in Sheffield. Council lacks the funds to be able to work on both concurrently. My view is that we run one year in Sheffield and then one in Railton. Both will take longer to complete but neither town needs to wait numerous years before anything happens. Sheffield shopowners want to see the next 2 stages in Sheffield complete before work commences at Railton. Council will need to decide. I can't see how one town is not going to be disappointed some time soon. My preference is to start work on the eastern side of Foster St in Railton and get the footpath and guttering done. Railton needs a real boost in the main st. The economic development of Railton needs to be a Council priority.

Elections
They are set for October. Four Council seats are up for grabs. Please only apply if you have plenty of time to spare. Council needs people who can work with others, will speak up and be active. If you want to get on council to be someone then I suggest you rethink.

Optus
Council votes tomorrow night on whether to allow the installation of a telecommunication tower on Tarleton St in Sheffield. If it goes through Council the project will bring Optus mobile services to the area. Telstra will have mobile phone competition. I will support the establishment of this tower.

Economic Development Officer
Council will have an Economic Development Officer for the first time. This is a very important position. I have been nagging for one for 12 months. Tourism has served the area well but we need to think broader. Economic Development is larger than just tourism. We need to have a settlement strategy. We have some vacant land in town that should be filled up. What new industries may be suited to the area? Less dependence on Federal and State grants should be a goal of Council.

State Government
The State Government is in deep financial trouble. I have asked our Financial Manager what exposure this may bring on Council. Waiting on an answer for this one. I think it is reasonable to assume that many grants will dry up. We will be on our own. Hence our need to see increased investment in the area.

Comments please.

Water

Details are becoming clearer. Water will move out of Council's direct control from July 1. We can expect about a 10% increase in prices in the first 12 months. The current quota system for residential properties will stay in place for the first 12 months. So for townies you will still get the 300,000 litre quota for the 09/10 year.

We as a family are looking at ways of cutting our water use. A tough task for us. We have installed a low flush toilet and have also installed a small rain tank for garden use.

The Taste of the North West

Sheffield was bursting at the seams this last weekend. It was buzzing.
With Muralfest and the Taste of the North West on in the park there
were people everywhere.

March and April are big event months in Sheffield. I am glad I live
here.

Mergers

Relax. Council Amalgamations are off the cards. Mergers are now in.

Reading a local government magazine recently I noticed the shift. No mention of council amalgamations anymore with mergers being the replacement word.

So would a merger be a good thing for Kentish? What benefits would it bring ratepayers? Would your rates go down?

This is such a big topic and I am sure I will write more about it as the months unfold. A comment or two for now:

If we are forced to merge then the population of the new municipality would increase but the number of councillors would remain the same. It would most likely be harder to get the ear of a councillor.

If a council shows they have money in the bank, assets that are not in decline and councillors are working well together why should they be forced to merge?

The push for any mergers will probably come from the State Government. I am sure they would prefer to deal with a handful of councils and not 29.

Anyway I have many more thoughts on mergers or amalgamations or whatever other word of choice. More to come on this one.

MuralFest 2009

Yes it has started today. Come and have a look.

Elections

It has only been recently that ratepayers have elected their Mayor and
Deputy Mayor.

I would prefer a return to the old situation where they are elected by
the councillors.

Councillors know who is up to the job through the countless hours we
spend around a table debating every topic under the sun. We know who
is fit for the job through experience.

I encourage you to get informed before elections swing around again.
Find out who is doing what. Throw us out if you find we have achieved
very little. Get capable people elected and not just popular ones.