ARMIDALE residents have lost trust in their council.
The overwhelming view at Saturday’s meeting is that the Armidale Dumaresq Council could be more efficient and isn’t spending its money as wisely as possible.
The ratepayers made it clear that they didn’t want to have to pay extra to compensate for council’s “mismanagement”.
Rumour and false information spread like wildfire at the town hall and were quickly passed off as facts.
But because the residents don’t trust the council, it was impossible for acting general manager Keith Lockyer and mayor Laurie Bishop to convince them otherwise.
Council must scrap its application for a 20 per cent rate rise following the community outrage on Saturday.
If they do, it is the first step to regaining some the trust back.
A new general manager will be steering the ship at council at some stage this year and the councillors themselves need to start repairing a lot of damage created since they were elected 16 months ago.
Should the council get its act together in the next six to eight months, it might be in a position to apply for another rate rise.
If the community genuinely believes the council is heading in the right direction as a united body, then ratepayers will trust that the money gained from the rate increase will be used appropriately.
If the council is stubborn and applies for the 20 per cent increase regardless of the strong community response, then it will only do more long-term damage.
There’s no doubt there is a desperate need to upgrade some ageing infrastructure in the municipality, but sacrifices need to be made.
The responsibility is with Armidale Dumaresq Council staff and councillors to work as a team and win back the community first.
– MATT NICHOLLS
