All talk, no action: former councillor

Wendy Tuckerman's column in last week's Young Witness says a lot. Or really is doesn't. She makes some claims but fails to back it up with any evidence whatsoever.

The Hilltops Administrator is talking about "engaging with developers who are looking at expanding and or bringing their businesses to the Hilltops Region." 

The least she could do is name a sector such as agriculture or tourism and give the residents of Hilltops Shire some idea as to what developers may be coming. Or is it just more 'spin'? It looks more difficult now since the forced merger, that developers will be coming to the Harden area. 

The Local Environment Plan or (LEP) for the former Harden Shire Council is currently on hold under an amalgamated Council.

It was made priority number one, on an expensive weekend retreat at rate payers expense in October 2012 to the Sutherland Shire. $100,000 of grant funding was thrown at the project with the hope that a result could be found to see land uses finalised. 

It only made it to the draft stage before the amalgamation. It is in limbo until at least October 2017 when 11 democratically elected members of Hilltops Council will have a chance to look at it.

Developers may be looking at the Hilltops Shire according to Tuckerman, but due to the lack of a functional LEP the former Harden Shire area will struggle to assist them too much.

No doubt the former Young and Boorowa Shire areas will be rejoicing that it's a two horse race and not three for the developer dollar until then.

Tuckerman went on to say that "despite the rhetoric and misinformed opinion of a very small minority, the Hilltops Region is sparking the interest and confidence of established businesses to expand and new businesses to relocate to the region."

For readers in Young and Boorowa, 90 per cent of Harden residents didn't want the merger. I nor Tuckerman can now substantiate if that number has gone up or down since. Maybe it’s time after six months for surveys to be sent out to establish this. Wendy, please do so soon.

The survey wouldn't get a very favourable response in my household. 

Here is a story. My partner and I subdivided a very narrow block of land in Harden, approximately 200 metres long by 22 metres wide.

We asked Hilltops Council for a quote to apply asphalt to an area 6 metres by 4 metres as past of the their development consent for the subdivision.

Six weeks after not receiving the quote and after further discussions with staff we rang the Young office and spoke to a staff member. A week later we received the quote. We paid the $950 and awaited for the work to be completed. 

After another 10 and a half weeks the work had not been completed. More phone calls, discussions  and email ensued with council staff before the work was completed last week. On top of this we were charged double for the water meter to be connected to the block of land.

This connection was another part of the development consent imposed by the Council. We are awaiting the overcharge of some $850 to return in to our bank account.  

Let's put this in perspective. It takes around three months for a team of builders to complete a three bedroom brick home from start to finish. It took myself and my partner a month longer to get a small area of  driveway, 6 by 4 metres completed by Hilltops Council. This work is private work and actually provides an income for the Council. It is regarded as 'cream'.

There are three possible outcomes as far as i'm concerned. Hilltops Council is either suffering from lack of resources and staff, lack of funding or incompetence. 

Tuckerman is an appointed employee of Hilltops Council on an annual salary of $180,000 a year. It is her role to 'sell' the concept of the Hilltops Council to the 19,500 residents. I doubt you will hear too much negativity from her its not in the job description for her role. However the buck stops with both her and the General manager Anthony Mcmahon who is collecting $272,000 per annum. 

The residents of Galong had grass 5 foot high in their community park until it was slashed three weeks ago. Imagine if Anderson Park had grass that high. It's easy for her to say the following as she did in her column last week. "Let’s turn our heads to the front and together we can build a region that enables opportunity, diversity and prosperity."

I wonder if that will help the next person who may be overcharged and looking to have private works done in a timely fashion.

Then the most amusing comment form Tuckerman "Like it or not the merger is here to stay and it will be what we make it; nothing will be achieved through continued negativity." Tuckerman should spend less time getting her photo taken and raising her profile and more time sorting the merger out. As far as I can see it's quagmire of a mess. The people of Orange proved that the people have the power and will use it when they have to. 

Matthew Stadtmiller

Resident of Harden Murrumburrah

Former Councillor of Harden Shire