The City of Greater Bendigo Council annual report shows there are 56,000 rateable properties in the municipality.

The cost of the controversial new seat at $28,000 represents a 50 cent cost per property. 

How significant is that in the overall council financial position?

The detractors wish to see it simply as a seat. 

Others chose to see it as street art and a notable achievement of dying crafts. 

Like any art the value is in the eye of the beholder.

Let us put a bit of perspective and balance on this issue. 

Our council in exile wish to demonstrate that the receivers are ready to move in to mop up after the largess.

Is this community to be saddled with an attitude that we cannot afford anything that is not on weekly special at Coles or Woolworths?  

If that is to be the dominant criteria, then forget progress and improvement.  

Do we really want to live in a city where every decision is based on the discount mentality or do we aspire to something just a little better?

Where would this city be today if our pioneers adopted the same lowest common denominator mentality?

What legacy do we wish to hand down to our future generations?

If this city has aspirations to be the most liveable regional city then it is time to throw away the discount dependency attitude and really plan and achieve a city that provides a proud heritage to its successor generations, just like the one we inherited from our ancestors.

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