You offer to one you should offer to all. This is what the local community would expect from its local paid paper during the lead-up to an election. But the “true” independents who want to get on and do the job right are not getting anywhere near the front page to keep it fair. This alone can sway a vote.
This picture is great for Peter but it should have said “Peter, where have you been for the last six months?” Running for mayor only… why not councillor as well (apparently this fact has changed since run of article) — like the other mayoral candidates. Better still, “Do Nationals take Peter out of run for next year’s State election?” Who knows…
Rob Turner (who has placed himself behind Peter for mayor) has suggested that “the Glasshouse should not be run purely to make money” [Port Macquarie News July 25]. Is Rob aware of the ‘Glasshouse 3rd Anniversary Report’ which shows that the cost to our community to run the Glasshouse after offsetting its small income of $1,510,928 is $6,383,669 (running and loan expenses) per year. As Ex-President of the Business Chamber, it seems a little bit economically irresponsible for the Glasshouse to not make sufficient revenue to at least cover the loans.
What concerns me is a replication of the dysfunctional Federal Government by an associate of Mr Oakeshott for mayor, party/special interest groups all sitting on our Hastings Council – do they have the core interests of our community at heart?
The upcoming election for councillors will be sadly lacking TRUE independents if commonsense constituents don’t come forward and apply for candidacy. As a newcomer to the world of council, visiting special interest group meetings with an open-mind, I have so far witnessed that a very high percentage of people attending are affiliated with special interest groups, political parties or failed councillors/retired council staff.
This new council needs a forward pace with substantial community consultation and forums when big community decisions are required. Through the use of modern communication platforms we should reach out to all of the community including the sometimes neglected rural sectors before decisions are finalised.
Darren Walsh
PMHC Candidate
[Editor’s Note: The Port Macquarie Independent is a free community newspaper and is not the newspaper being referred to in this letter.]
