Monday 5 December 2011

Council on the nose says key player

: Robert Hanan believes it is time for the reformation of a new Douglas Shire Council.

The Newsport spoke with Robert Hanan, a key player in the move toward the reformation of a Douglas Shire Council, and asked him why he believes deamalgamation is the only way forward.

Here's what he had to say.

The Newsport: Why is deamalgamation important? Shouldn't we just accept the amalgamation and find a way for it to work best for us?

Robert Hanan: De-amalgamation is important simply because amalgamation from day one has not delivered an equitable result for Douglas. The over bureaucratic and dictatorial culture of CRC has no place in a community that fought hard over many years to achieve a collaborative efficient society which engaged in meaningful consultation before making decisions.

There is enormous wastage witnessed every day with a shire that is run from at the very least 70 kilometres away. It will never work when we have one voice, strong and all as it currently is, amid a sea of disinterested and jealous Councillors.

The place was not built by people who were happy to lie back and think of England.

TN: What role do you see Division 10 councillor, Julia Leu, playing in this issue?

RH: Julia will do what she has done from the start - independently vote for what she sees best for the region as a whole and to fight fearlessly for Douglas issues.

She no doubt sees what we have lost and she can see what things may have improved. She is also astute enough to see both the benefits of de-amalgamation and the pitfalls. While she is not on the speakers list on Monday 12th her opinions will be sought on the night.

TN: What will improve under a Douglas Shire Council?

RH: Self determination as to what is important to us and an ability to direct our rates to those issues.

TN: There has been scathing remarks from some locals about the former Douglas Shire Council's infighting and effectiveness. If this was the case, what will change?

RH: We have a Governance plan that will be revealed on the night. The Governance of the last Council ultimately resided with the State Government. In spite of the DSC Mayor writing to the Local Government Minister requesting that Council be sacked they did absolutely nothing.

Many Councils throughout Australia have faced this issue and many have been sacked. It could be argued that the current Council is equally dis-functional. Gangs of four or six or whatever the number always emerge from the sludge of life.

It remains abundantly clear that many people should never be let anywhere near public office and voters need to be clear on the ethical standards they apply when they cast their vote.

TN: Do you think Port Douglas is at risk of becoming an economic ghost town, and how would a new Council attract different industries to the region?

RH: A return to self determination would allow the community to address these pressing issues but a return to a smaller, more vibrant and collaborative society will return the positive spirit that existed before.

That will be inspiring enough for the people to see thing innovatively, efficiently and sustainably. Fresh new eggs will hatch.

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Have your say!

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Jennifer , 08-12-11 09:21:

The fact remains that which ever political party gets the votes, they will not support de-amalgamation with their funds. So what is the solution to the financial issues which are now emerging? Who pays whom and for how long? If the State Government dont want to support a refreshed Douglas Shire they should get the axe as the are not listening to the needs of their constituents, but merely self-serving.

michael , 07-12-11 22:21:

Well picked up Gail...not good enough Newsport lift your game!

Gayle Groos, 07-12-11 16:10:

I agree with Robert Hanan. Amalgamation of councils keeps cropping up in WA but so far people have voted against it. My son lives in Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast and he has also seen his rates rise dramatically under amalgamation.

Roisin Allen, 06-12-11 19:28:

In response to Michael Bolt, rates and charges in the former Douglas Shire area have increased, under CRC, in some cases by more than 50%. Further to this, if the operating costs of the lagoon are going to be so exorbitant to this area...perhaps it isn't as feasible as the CRC led everyone to believe. The operating annual operating costs "CRC update # 2", March 2011, were estimated to be $1 million per annum. CRC update # 3, April 2011, stated that "the lagoon will cost $1.18 million" per annum to run! In either scenario that is a long way from your figure of $3.8 million. Does CRC actually know how much the lagoon will cost to operate? There could and should have been more feasible options put to the community, and this would have most certainly been the case under DSC, which had an excellent record of successful community engagement. In addition, the residents of the former Douglas Shire are now paying for services and costs, that do not relate to them, else where in the Cairns region. Finally, the purpose of the meeting on the 12th December is to present a plausible pathway to regaining our self determination...a concept that holds more important and longer term connotations than just CRC's expensive puddle on our waterfront.

michael bolt, 06-12-11 10:47:

If CRC is successful in securing the federal funding for the waterfront and the lagoon is built then the annual operating costs - quoted in the CP last week at $3.8 million will be borne by the rate payers. Under the DSC the annual revenue derived from rates and utility charges was approximately $20 million. This would mean that almost 20% of rate revenue would be applied to the operation of the lagoon. To maintain existing services it follows that a significant rate rise would be required under a revised Douglas council. On the other hand the CRC rate and utility revenue is in the vacinity of $220 million so the costs of running the lagoon will be less than 2% of rate revenue.

Ian Fleetwood, 05-12-11 21:58:

Prior to the deamalgamation the CRC promised no increases in rates and taxes. There was also a commitment that our local services would be maintained. Of course CRC were going to "help" local ratepayers! To say all of these statements couldn't be further than the truth is an understatement. Our rates have doubled and now we have a separate water rate so they have more than doubled...
When we had the DSC we would see our rates at work with active maintenance and up keep the same is not the case today. We have also gone from the highest quality water in Australia to water that is not drinkable. We are probably spending $28/week (2 people)now on bottled water ($1458/year)......add that to our doubled rates!
I think we can safely say that we don't want anymore help from CRC....we can't afford it!!
Lets hope that the LNP get in and support the proposal and that the financial viability to return us to having our own council stacks up. We support the FODS plan.

The Newsport Editor , 05-12-11 13:15:

Hi Gail

You are spot on it terms of us using a file photo. Sometimes when delivering daily news it is difficult to catch up with the interviewee for an updated picture prior to running the story. I chose this one from our files as I believe it is relevant.

When Mr Hanan uses comments such as "amalgamation from day one has not delivered an equitable result for Douglas" and "amid a sea of disinterested and jealous Councillors" I don't think it's a stretch to say that Mr Hanan isn't a huge fan of CRC.

Editor

Gail Shaw, 05-12-11 12:20:

Scathing remarks from "some locals" about the DSC's infighting and effectiveness!!! By comparison that was small change compared with the white-anting and toxic atmosphere of the CRC as reported almost daily. The people of Douglas had every right to exercise their displeasure at the shenanigans of the "gang of four" via the democratic process of the ballot box but that was denied them despite a plebiscite showing over 80% did not want Douglas amalgamated with Cairns. As a postscript, the photograph you've used in this article was from an earlier Newsport story on the rejection of the chlorine-free water trial by the CRC and has nothing to do with this issue. It is a misrepresentation which does not augur well if Newsport wishes to consider itself a reputable news source.

Robert Hanan, 05-12-11 10:07:

It should be pointed out that the public meeting on Monday 12th Dec at the Mossman Shire Hall
is NOT a Council bashing exercise as may be interpreted from your headline. It is to present to the community a comprehensive plan to re-establish the Shire and let the people have their say.
The Shadow Minister for Local Government will address the meeting to confirm the LNP's commitment to the process. The Member for Cook has been invited but is yet to confirm. Also attending will be the Australia Party's candidate for Cook. Lachlan Bensted.
The FODS plan, developed over many months, will give the community the opportunity to see the cost
of the process with financial projections for the next four years as well as the structure of a new Council
and its governance standards.