I couldn’t believe my eyes, what just recently I read re the Govhub.
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For those of us with memories going back the last decades I’m seeing/hearing the reinventing of the wheel. Except in a more complex, worrying way.
Given time I could research thoroughly and prove this Govhub is a bad idea to include local government. But now that council has voted on the issue it would probably be pointless.
I have only just become aware of the Govthub concept.
Maybe it has been on the agenda for a while but I have been otherwise preoccupied with a very ill husband and have to admit to not knowing the ins and outs of the concept.
But I do know one thing. Governments change – so do their priorities. Governments are fickle. Previous policies/decisions are thrown out if an opposing government comes in.
The new government will want to place their own stamp and jettison the previous. I don’t have to tell anyone that. It is blatantly obvious.
Of course it all sounds so wonderful re cost sharing. Makes us all feel warm and fuzzy. But in reality that will not be the way it pans out.
Just take a look at all the buildings built in the last decades for government offices with the promise of newly housed regional offices. Regional staff thrown from pillar to post!
Those new offices relocated and vacated over time and now housing other companies, businesses and a call centre!
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Often thrown back onto local government to try and find new tenants.
Of course it is essential that as a council they must always work amicably and sensibly with all governments, as we have done very well in the past.
Councillors represent ratepayers and that can at times be in conflict with government decisions.
So it’s very important to retain the capacity to remain Independent.
Secondly, does council really want to be involved in future real dstate hassles? We do not want to be left holding the baby!
The present council building in Lyttleton Tce is regarded as a architectural example of its time. It could now be described as rather unique. Not many buildings of that period survive in our area. It was always designed to take an extra two storeys, which we had planned, as also going backwards over the carpark. This would have given council all the space required, and leave a unique building and its site as a special place in local government and for the Bendigo region.
I don’t know why it didn’t go ahead? It is still a very viable plan and council should absolutely reconsider the plans that were made well over a decade ago.
Of course it is important to work with governments and I certainly acknowledge the importance of always being able to work with politicians of all colours.
But we must not be obligated in a joint real estate venture that could well go belly up in the future.
That would be disastrous for our ratepayers who after all fund the greater percentage of our municipal budget
I will just ask all councillors to remember one thing. You are there for the ratepayers of our municipality and it is highly important to remain INDEPENDENT from government influence.
Willi Carne, Bendigo
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