Chairperson Jim Doig at the end of the Wagga Residents and Ratepayers Association forum asked the question: "Does anyone have a question that is not about roads?"
New candidates vying for election as Wagga councillors were facing the voters.
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The forum at Romanos Hotel attracted a large and respectful crowd last Tuesday. The room was packed.
Later, I asked the organisers why they hadn't chosen a larger venue. I was told that in fact council had been approached, via the mayor and general manager, but both had declined to assist with a venue such as the Council Chambers!
Having listened to the candidates, I recommend that they read carefully Wednesday's quote in The Daily Advertiser from serving councillor seeking re-election, Tim Koschel. He said he had learnt one lesson quite quickly.
"People don't realise once you're in there how hard it is to make a difference," he said, reminding prospective candidates that council is running a $5 million deficit and candidates are promising $200 million worth of projects!
At the forum, one of the new candidates from each group was invited to speak. All appeared to be electable people, but maybe some have not been following local issues.
Many candidates showed that they didn't truly understand the three levels of government - local, state and federal. Who funds social housing? Who funds highway works such as the duplication of the Gobba Bridge? Council can lobby on behalf of these issues, but they are the responsibility of other levels of government.
It also became clear that political party candidates were keen to prosecute their party's state and federal agendas, irrespective of the benefit to Wagga.
Wagga City Council is there to serve the ratepayers of Wagga. Most of us have a very big stake in how that money is spent. I pay $55 per week to council out of my limited superannuation money, so when I hear hare-brained ideas like The Greens' koala sanctuary, I bristle.
Some time ago, I wrote a column that included the koala idea. Setting up the sanctuary would cost in excess of $10 million. Moreton Bay Council spends $1 million each year on costs such as vaccines for the chlamydia problem, and drip irrigation for trees. Yes, it would be a tourist attraction, but tourist attractions only work if you are the best, and Narrandera would lay claim to that title.
I was surprised how few candidates mentioned roads. When friends and relatives come to visit us, they are likely to experience Inglewood, Gregadoo and Lloyd roads, three of the worst in Wagga. The condition of Wagga's roads is almost always the first topic of discussion when they arrive.
Poorly maintained roads paint a poverty picture of Wagga. How do potential new residents feel after bumping their way through their real estate investigations?
Home prices and Wagga's prestige are impacted by the city's appearance. As I have mentioned in previous columns, our family visited several regional cities before deciding to settle in Wagga 40 years ago. If we were searching today, would we bump away from Wagga unimpressed?
No candidate mentioned playing fields. When we moved here, Wagga's playing fields were superior to any neighbouring town. Campaigns to save water in the Jim Eldridge era have allowed some playing fields to become weedy.
I intend to vote below the line for fresh faces in council, and no party candidate will get my vote.
I think the reformed Residents and Ratepayers Association has a part to play. They have stressed that they are apolitical, recommending no particular candidates, but the spokesperson made it quite clear to me that they would like to see new blood in council after the election, and no party politics.
Councillors meeting with ratepayers is a sensible idea, a bit like parents putting forward ideas or asking questions at a P&C meeting at school.
Everyday things matter. Will the new councillors be willing to talk openly with ratepayers? Misunderstandings could be resolved, and councillors could hear first-hand why silly ideas don't have public support!
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The past five years have seen little progress - an electric car for the mayor, a state-of-the-art tip and some development started at Bomen. Potholes remain.
I intend to vote below the line for fresh faces in council, and no party candidate will get my vote.
