It's important to start work on a 'team effort' to review the HACC service operations to ensure a viable future.
A VICTORY for people power.
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That's how the community should look on the City of Greater Bendigo council vote on Wednesday night to reverse an original decision to outsource Home and Community Care services.
Councillors were swayed by a petition containing 2588 signatures, 123 phone calls and emails, 46 letters and countless personal approaches.
Protecting 160-odd jobs was a good result and it's nice to see an elected council listening to a worthy community argument.
But there is little time for celebration.
The future of the Home and Community Care services has generated enormous debate in the community and now it's time to harness that emotion.
It's clear there must be change or council would never have ventured down this path.
With that in mind, it's important to start work on a 'team effort' to review the HACC service operations to ensure a viable future.
That review must involve input from all parties and provide an honest assessment of the service.
Failure to do these things will see a need for people power again in three years time and no one wants that outcome.
Rod Case, editor