A LOCAL ratepayers association and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council have locked horns over community consultation.
Hastings Residents Action Network president Rick Sharp said one of PMHC’s principles of governance was that the council would involve the community in the decision-making process.
“It is our belief these words actually ring a bit hollow and what passes for a consultation policy is little more than a feel-good PR exercise,” he said.
“The ratepayer simply has little chance of effecting change to a document on public exhibition.
“This practice was yet again exhibited with the recent budget approved by council last month.
“There were three public information sessions and 64 submissions, yet there was not a single change from what was on exhibition and what was approved by council.
“This is consistent with the prior year where there were 109 submissions and not a single change was made to the approved budget.
“Our group has made submissions the prior four years, this year, along with several others, we decided it was not worth the effort spending a few hours reading through the budget papers, then putting in the time giving, what we thought are constructive comments, to simply see them disappear down a black hole.”
He acknowledged PMHC responded to all submissions, but said the responses seemed to be patterned after a parliamentary question time.
“The answers are not on point and really say nothing.
“Like parliamentary responses, they don’t want to say anything of substance for which one could be held accountable at a later date.”
Mr Sharp made his comments in a statement sent to the Independent after a request for comment about council’s final 2014/15 operational plan.
Given the opportunity to respond to Mr Sharp’s comments, the council’s Acting Director Community and Organisational Development Jaclyne Fisher said Mr Sharp’s assertions did not give the full story.
She said council received 47 submissions on the draft one-year operational plan and staff had responded to them all individually.
The submissions were also considered individually at a 15 May workshop attended by councillors and senior staff.
Ms Fisher said agreement had been reached at the workshop on a range of overarching objectives and specific actions in the plan to address issues raised in public submissions.
For example, she said, construction of Beechwood Road from Bain Bridge to Rosewood Road had been added to the council’s capital works program.
She said maintenance action or funding had also been confirmed to address a number of specific issues, primarily lifeguard tower maintenance and footpath maintenance.
“Council places a great deal of importance on community engagement and went to considerable lengths to generate widespread feedback on this year’s one-year operational plan,” Ms Fisher said.
“While participation was only moderate it was still pleasing to see people taking the time to read the document and to suggest changes.”
Mayor Peter Besseling said the adopted plan reflected councillor priorities as well as the council’s willingness to listen to the community and to respond accordingly.
“Councillors wish to thank those who chose to participate in the process and have their views considered, rather than simply remaining silent on issues that are important to our community,” he said.
All 47 submissions were summarised in a report presented to the council’s 18 June ordinary meeting with the council’s individual responses to each.
A copy of the report is available online at www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au.
