COUNCIL'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING

Last night (July 30), Newcastle City Council commemorated its sesquicentenary of local government, as the second oldest council in NSW (after Sydney, incorporated in 1842).

Former Greens councillor John Sutton is authoring an opinion piece for the Herald on the demise of local government in terms of planning powers across the State as well as problems particular to Newcastle with its newly elected Council; and newly appointed general manager and senior management.
I will place it on my blog when it is published.

John Sutton (councillor 1991-99) recently described the new Council in the Herald as the most anti-community council in his memory. I wholeheartedly agree.

My comments relate to some other aspects of this stitched together commemoration.
I recall after the 1997 Shortland Bicentenary, former councillor Margaret Henry and I raised the issue of the need for forward planning for the 2004 Bicentenary of Newcastle as a permanent European settlement (“Menzies Bicentenary”); and for the 2009 sesquicentenary of Newcastle Council (Borough 1859, later Municipal, City from 1885,Greater Newcastle 1938 and Lord Mayoralty 1948).

There was very little forward planning for the 2004 event and even less for the 2009 event, despite urging in past councils by Ms Henry and me.

In 2004,A published history was to be a major initiative for the Menzies Bicentenary. The long overdue comprehensive professional social history of Newcastle (probably the only major city in Australia NOT to have one) morphed into a last minute token document – a book which was excellent for school projects and tourists, but hopelessly inadequate as a comprehensive history. It wasn’t the fault of the eminent historian hired to do the project. Council’s inadequate funding and timing meant it would never be what was originally envisaged.

As a token gesture of atonement, the 2004-08 Council agreed to my inserting the history project in the 2005-2010 Community Plan (which ends in less than a year). What a pity the project wasn’t identified as a commemorative item for this year’s sesquicentenary.

The extraordinary Council meeting was an anti-climax. Yet another master plan for revitalisation for the CBD was endorsed, incorporating many strategies already approved, like the Perkins St “sesquicentenary toilet block and bus shelter” (money has been available ($250,000 from the Silk House development approval) since 2006) and the area has been without a toilet since it was demolished about 7 months ago.

Another “commemorative” strategy is the reopening of traffic into the Mall, an idea based on flim flam arguments and an outrageous waste of over $320,000 of ratepayers’ money.

There are a few positive initiatives:

• A lookout at Blue Gum Hills Regional Park on Council land to be eventually handed over the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is a great idea but who will pay?
Another problem is the views on offer: Summerhill Dump in one direction and in another,the gross overdevelopment of the former Dan lands (the handiwork of former, unlamented Planning Minister Frank Sartor, using his infamous Part 3A powers and warmly supported by Lord Mayor Tate and Cr (now MP for Wallsend) Sonia Hornery
• A work of art for Newcastle Region Art gallery by an indigenous artist.
• A stunning suite of photographs of Newcastle, its topography & landmarks by Professor Allan Chawner, recently opened at Newcastle Region Library (on June 4-the exhibition is now closed).There was a large crowd in attendance, but apart from the Lord Mayor, only 2 ward councillors (outnumbered by 3 former councillors) turned up. I know well that councillors can’t attend every event and 2 were away but 2 out of 12 ward councillors in attendance sent a very negative message about councillors’ priorities.
• A piece of commemorative music, “A slender strand of memories” by Colin Spiers, to be launched in November (?).A preview was held at the photo exhibition.

Before we get too excited about implementation of the commemoration initiatives, remember that the monument suggested by Doug Lithgow (Parks & Playgrounds Movement)and agreed to by the last council, to commemorate the 2004 Bicentenary is still on the drawing board, 5 years later. Will we ever see it?
Then there’s the restoration appeal for the monument on the graves of James Hannell (ironically, our first mayor in 1859) & his family in Cathedral Park. The monument has disappeared and has been replaced by a stone tablet saying “watch this space” (or words to that effect).It’s 7 years on and we’re still watching.

How about finishing off those projects first?

TATE'S MANGLED ENGLISH

At last night's 150th anniversary of Newcastle Council meeting John Tate excelled himself again with a new definition of "unanimous".
He claimed that the resolution on returning vehicles to the Mall, which was sensibly opposed by Cr Michael Osborne (and reported on in the Newcastle Herald), was "for all practical purposes unanimous".
No doubt he also believes that something can be unique, very unique or even very very unique.

NEWCASTLE COUNCIL CONGRATULATES ITSELF FOR SAVING $57,272 AFTER THOWING AWAY $4.63 MILLION!!

THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SUBMITTED TO THE NEWCASTLE HERALD TODAY:

The Herald’s and Cr Sharpe’s claim (H, 23/7) that Council saved $66,000 on a tender to remove trees in Mayfield was incorrect. The saving was $57,272 and private sector quotes widely ranged from the winning $23,228 up to $62,500.Thereport was confidential, away from public gaze.
Prima facie, it looks like a good result for Council. However, cheaper quotes don’t necessarily imply that the job will be done better or even as well. And public sector work practices are supposed to reflect industry leadership which can cost more.
Perhaps it’s time for a public briefing to councillors on public sector employment obligations.
Weigh this saving against Council’s mind-blowing decision on June 2 to allow a massive 94% discount to multinational company Orica’s obligation to pay a section 94A contribution to the community, as part of a $490 million industrial development at Kooragang. Contributions are meant to pay for provision or extension to community facilities and services.
Council accepted a mere $272,000 for Stockton’s Corroba Oval improvements, when they could have claimed up to $4.90 million. It was the most financally irresponsible, indeed reprehensible decision in my memory. The vote was almost unanimous with only Greens Cr Osborne dissenting.

FAIR (?) PAY COMMISSION RORT

So Professor Ian Harper, chair of the ludicrously named Fair Pay Commission believes that those on the minimum wage of $544 per week can afford to do without a pay rise this year.
Would he care to tell us how much he and the Commission members earn as a fee for their troubles?
By how much will Harper’s other salary packages increase this year?
The plight of low income earners isn’t just the result of Harper’s decision. Julia Gillard can take the high moral ground, but will the Howard/Rudd income tax breaks this and next year benefit low income earners, compared with Harper and his Commission members (and her) ?