It is with great disappointment that only two of our councillors spoke in favour last week of the independent review requested by Ted Coleman and Michael McKenzie, despite:
* Ongoing annual rate increases well above CPI
* Council’s flawed investment in the East Bendigo Food Precinct development.
* Spending $7 million plus on the refurbishment of Hargreaves Mall, which was overspent, took far too long, and did not deliver any functional improvement.
* Its decision to spend hundreds of thousands of ratepayer dollars extending the O’Keefe Rail trail bike path from Axedale to Heathcote.
* The purchase of the old Bendigo Advertiser site.
* Its proposal to spend millions of dollars on the questionable airport business precinct, (which is now significantly under costed, and now inadequately funded).
That the remaining councillors believe the council is still doing a good job, and acting in the best interests of the majority of its long suffering ratepayers, and could see no benefit in the review, beggars belief. Maybe it’s time for the Minister for Local Government to intervene.
DAVID HEYWOOD,
Bendigo
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