Letter to the Editor: Where does one start when discussing the decision making of this Council??

Where does one start when discussing the decision making of this Council??

1. Debt budgeted to rise from $22M as of 30/6/15 to $47M within 12 months.
2. Spend $9M on the Abraham Street Bridge contract (approximately ½ ratepayers funds) for a bridge that achieves nothing more than is already being accommodated less than 1200 metres away by the Highbury Street Bridger adjacent to John Willcock College. Ratepayers I suggest you check my statement out and judge for yourself – drive south to the end of Abraham Street (that’s the street on the West side of the cemetery) and ask yourself who would spend their own money on such a useless project.
3. Did you know that Council are paying an out of town contractor $755,000 over and above the price tendered on the Multi User Facility because they didn’t understand the difference between GST inclusive and exclusive?
4. This Council is the highest rating Council in the State based on the same gross rental value (GRV) property i.e. compare a $20,000 GRV property in Geraldton and the same GRV property anywhere else in WA and we are the dearest. The Mayor and CEO gloss the facts by patting themselves on the back with this year’s 3.9% rate rise but conveniently forget to mention the 27.19% rate rise in 2012 that is still compounding forward for you to pay.

Ratepayers we need to wake up to how we’re being treated and elect some new Councillors who have the welfare of ratepayers at heart.

Your opportunity to become involved in the election of new Councillors will happen in October when 7 Council and the Mayoral position are up for election.

Nominations for the beforementioned positions open on 3rd September. Watch this space for further information on Council blunders that have cost you and I millions of dollars over the past year or so.

Max Correy
Concerned Ratepayer

Letter to the editor: A Great Cop

(Yesterday) we had a wonderful experience. Around lunchtime a cop on a black motorcycle pulled over my neighbour. After they finished their business I went out and asked to take a photo of the bike for my son. He declined but asked what time my son would be home. After school. He said he would see if he could pop back past today or over the weekend while they were in town. Well much to my kids delight he pulled up out the front. He chatted and showed them the light on the bike and pointed out what equipment he had on him also. My kids were thrilled. Thank you Steve. You give the impression of great cop to my kids and I hope they will respect that the rest of their lives. 
- Raewyn

Letter to the editor: Re Sun City Cinema

​Dear Friends and Supporters

I have been overwhelmed with the support shown by the public after my message on the Sun City Cinema facebook site. Having come to the end of my initial agreed three year tenure with the CGG, I have asked for several ideas to be put in place including an element of funding so that I can keep the cinema going, expand on what we are doing and build it to an amazing family weekly event. 

My last meeting with the CGG left me deflated and some comments were made that left us feeling as if the CGG couldn’t really care less. Of course this was the feeling I got from one person. I made it clear that Sun City Cinema is not non profit and has to be successful in order to maintain a high quality.

I stated very clearly that the CGG have been supportive in the past and partnered with me on some ideas I put forward including the New Years Eve Event, Film Festival etc.

Since yesterday's comments, I have had GWN call me,  several businesses wanting to set up the cinema in their place and one councillor, David Caudwell, who was very concerned and has since spoken to me.

I have explained where we are at and David has expressed a wish to take the issue to other councillors and the CGG as he believes the cinema is a worthwhile part of Geraldton and sees my vision of it adding to our foreshore and family entertainment in the Mid West. 

I will keep people posted. The least that can happen is that we can have a cinema that keeps its focus on people and not just profit. 

Sincerely

George Scicluna

Shane Van Styn announces he is running for Mayor

Another candidate has announce he is running for the office of Mayor. Current councillor Shane Van Styn has released a letter announcing his candidacy, and he states several reasons for running. 

The full release follows:

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After talking with many people in the last few months I have been encouraged to run for Mayor.

People tell me they are tired of the City not listening to their demands, tired of buck passing and the never ending requests for more rates to cover increasing costs especially for services not seen as the core business of the City. People want someone who will not only listen and talk but also act.

Sure the City is not responsible for law and order but we can advocate harder for increased Police and tougher sentences, even curfews and not just stay out of the law and order debate claiming simply “it is not our responsibility”.

Sure the City is bearing large cost increases but we can work harder in lowering our overall costs and driving economic efficiencies to keep rate rises low. In my businesses I make these decisions every day as I cannot simply keep lifting my prices.

The current field of candidates, have over a long time, either led our City through heavily opposed amalgamation or the subsequent obscene large rates rises or both. The blow out in current City costs results from these decisions made over the years.

I have been working hard as a Councillor to resolve the difficulties we now face and have been a vocal campaigner against the rate rises and costs excesses of the City, but supported worthwhile projects as required.

We need to get back to basics and fix our roads and footpaths, improve street lighting, support our clubs, protect our environment and heritage, support new businesses and provide quality day to day services expected of a large regional City.

We must also not neglect Mullewa and Greenough; areas that are important parts of our City.

I will work tirelessly to restore confidence in the City by continuing the current drive to be a safer, more economically responsible and more commercially attractive City that listens to its residents. I will be a strong advocate for Geraldton even if in areas traditionally not our responsibility.

I ask voters to elect me as their Mayor to set a fresh direction for our City by restoring the community’s confidence in it.

Shane Van Styn

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Letter to the editor - Suggestion for crime problems

I have recently returned to Gero after spending 7 years away and I am living back in Rangeway and things have sure changed. 

Instead of whinging about everything everyone already knows about the crime rate, i have always thought that as a Great Grandmother the children are the ones that are aimless, bored and most with no home life to go home to; Noisy drinkers, druggies and no study or peace. Let's entertain the kids and re-educate, slice a chunk off the crime rate.

- Allana Johansen

Letter to the editor: "Amazing tradies and suppliers we have here in town"

Dear Everything Geraldton

I wanted to write this letter because I think many people in Geraldton don’t know how lucky we have it with the amazing tradies and suppliers we have here in town.

I have just had a large area at the top of my driveway paved, it was a challenging site with a slope and old lumps and bumps to be removed but the finished result is amazing and I want to publicly thank all the Geraldton businesses that made it happen. Jason from Geraldton Bobcat services on 0427 334 017 made the site ready and turned up when promised, did the job in very quick time and to an awesome standard. Patience Sandland in Place Road delivered the cracker dust and scooped the many extra loads I grabbed in my trailer (great price for topsoil and mulch), Amazzini and Son in Beaver Street supplied the pavers at 45c a paver less than Bunnings charge and with 8 colours to choose from, and finally the amazing paver Dale from Dale’s Brick Paving on 0459 479 528 finished the job. He met our very fussy expectations with ease and ensured the job was perfect inside the time he quoted, leaving two very happy customers.

Thanks to you all, what a great reflection of the Geraldton service industry you are. 

Regards
Christian Watters

White Elephant Bridge (to be known as Abraham Street Bridge)

Were ratepayers aware that Council have just awarded a tender for almost $8.2M + GST to build another bridge over the southern transport corridor within a few hundred metres of an existing bridge (top end of Highbury Street by John Willcock College)?  The new bridge achieves nothing more than is already being achieved by the Highbury Street bridge/

4 serious issues

1.      The bridge is not needed and in fact serves no useful purpose.

2.      Council continually tell us they’re strapped for funds to bring our assets up to an acceptable level of repair and yet they can spend $8.171M plus GST on an unnecessary bridge when the original tender was for $8.2M inclusive of GST.

3.      There was a much cheaper tender ($835,000) from a fully qualified bridge building company whose tender included a large local component and yet Council went with a much more expensive Perth based option at ratepayers expense.    Why do we put up with this incompetence?

4.      Council delegated the CEO to complete negotiations with a tenderer Georgiou Pty Ltd last October 2014 at $8.2M including GST.  After 7 months the CEO awarded the contract to Georgiou at $8.171M plus GST – or in other words $817,000 more than the tendered price.

Ratepayers it’s your money that’s being squandered by incompetent tendering procedures and staff spending other peoples money (OPM).  Are you happy to be paying $9M approximately for a bridge that serves no useful purpose while Council chop funds from small community service groups and sporting bodies that are the life blood and fabric of this City?

Max Correy – Concerned Ratepayer

Help my friend Peter Lalor

Hi, I am trying to raise money for the Cancer Council WA to help my friend Peter Lalor is fighting Non-Hodgekin lymphoma for a second time. Peter and his family have been a part of this community for over 35years and he has worked hard up to the day he first got diagnosed, early last year. Peter and his wife, Ann, have had to live in Crawford Lodge for the last 6months as Peter retrieved his treatments and it's facilities like this that rely on the funding provided by the Cancer Council. This facility is important to many country people and Peter, himself told me that it is in need of refurbishment. So I am running the City to Surf series, which involves 12km runs in Karratha, Geraldton, Albany and Busselton and then a half marathon in Perth. My link for donations is https://chevroncitytosurf2015.everydayhero.com/au/jessica 

Jessica Levett
jesslevett@hotmail.com

A Reply to: Rate alterations with no notice to ratepayers

Max,

I appreciate your concerns but I believe that you are deliberately being selective with your comments to suit your own opinion. I am happy to provide the following information and corrections (which you are already aware of but have not included in your comments):

1. The increase in the GRV residential valuations across the City was 2.95%– not 2.85%.
2. Saying some increases were above and some were below 2.85% is misleading. Seven suburbs had average valuation increases of more than 15%. Within these suburbs many residents had valuation increases of more than 30%. Only one suburb had an average decrease in valuation of more than 15%.
3. All properties are paying the same rate in the dollar.
4. Residential properties that had an increase in their valuation are receiving a concession that has the same effect of phasing the new valuation in over three years.
5. The rate in the dollar has not doubled – that is nonsense. The increase in the advertised rate is 0.02298 cents or 2.07%.
6. Nearly a third of residents (32%) will be paying the same or less rates than last year.
7. 64% of residents will be paying between 0% and 5% more in rates.
8. As a result of concessions, approximately 2,463 residents that would have been paying more than a 10% increase in their rates have had them reduced to below 10%.
9. There are no market forces at play here. Council rates are simply a tax based upon the assumed ability to pay - they do not relate to the level of service provided to individual properties. When a resident’s GRV’s increases significantly there is no corresponding increase in the level of service that the City provides to that particular resident.

Your statement assumes that it is fair and equitable for residents to pay significant rate increases simply because the value of their house has increased. The Council thinks it is much fairer and equitable for all residents to pay their fair share of rates but be insulated by valuation shocks that have been caused through no fault of their own.

The application of concessions means that all residents will now have the comfort of knowing that they will be insulated from the effects of significant valuation increases in the future.

Ken Diehm
Chief Executive Officer
City of Greater Geraldton
t (08) 9956 6601 | f (08) 9956 6674  

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Rate alterations with no notice to ratepayers

Let’s understand what Council have done with respect to their robbing Peter to pay Paul decision.

In late May Council advertised a new Rate in the Dollar (RID) figure of 11.1208 (up from 10.9371 last year).  The advertising period was for 30 days during which time ratepayers had the opportunity to submit a submission to Council.  The overall Gross Rental Value this year was only 2.85% however as is normal some GRV’s were up above that figure and some below.

Council in their “wisdom” have decided to gerrymander the result by more than doubling the RID increase from 11.1208% to 11.3506% from the 2014/15 figure of 10.9371% which effectively increases rates to the lower GRV properties to give a subsidy to the higher GRV valued properties.  There are no free lunches.

There has not been any suggestion that the values are wrong (and if they were property owners have the right of appeal) and yet Council have chosen to massage the higher increase rated properties downward at the expense of the rest of the ratepayers without any advertising or right of redress by ratepayers.

So in short you’ve had your RID increase more than double from the advertised figure and the properties that have through normal market forces had a reduction in their GRV are now paying more than double the original RID advertised figure to subsidise some higher GRV rated properties.  There is no logical reason for this gerrymandering of our rate’s calculations.

Max Correy
Concerned Ratepayer

Letter to the Editor: Looking for a friend

I am looking for a friend whom I have only had telephone contact with now for over 20 years. His name is Joseph LeGarde and he is about 45 years old. He lives in Geraldton now and does contract work out of town. He works for a lady by the name of Lauren and she owns and flys a helicopter. She use to be in Partnership with Gavin. They do contract work for the Govn/Mines re beautifying old mine sites and he works driving big excavators and machinery. I think He lives in a Wynobago (big camping van on the business property when he is in town. He also is very good friends with a lady by the name of Tina and he co parents a young girl by the name of Gabriella with Tina. I think Tina owns and runs a Comercial Cleanng Business. He has told me about a niece by the name of Julie McDonald and I beleive she has been working and staying with him for afew months. He normally calls me every 2 weeks or so and has done for over 20 years. It has now been over 3 months and I have not heard from him and I am very worried and have really no idea where to go to start looking for him to make sure he is OK. Could you please help me at all. I'm really not sure I know how bit Geraldton is??? My mobile is 0415250915 and home number is 07 33512235. These are the two numbers he does contact me on

Letter to the Editor: New Community Group forming

City of Greater Geraldton Ratepayers Information Update 

1.      Did you know that the City of Greater Geraldton has increased its debt from less than $20M accumulated over recent years as at June 30 2014 to in excess of $40M as at June 30 2015 and guess who’s going to pay that all back. 

2.      That Council will have collected $155,505,438  in rates over the 2012/13 – 2015/16 years based on the rate increase of 27.19%, 2.26%, 4.3% and 3.9%.  If a normal rate of 6% each year had been adopted the total rates collected would only have been $134,934,521.

Or $20,570,917 difference.

So Council have collected $20,570,917 in rates over and above a “normal” rate increase and to add insult to injury have then increased “our” – (ratepayers) debt by another $20M this year.  Does that concern you? 

3.      City of Greater Geraldton has so far spent $1.24M on the Olive Street project and the property is exactly as it was 2 years ago and no residential development will take place.  Council have finally found out what every resident has known all along – the site is contaminated – guess who pays for that with nothing to show for it. 

4.      And did you know that the $5M “profit” Council forecast for the Olive Street subdivision sell off is now zero and to add insult to injury they’ve now budgeted to spend between $4.5M and $5.5M to decontaminate the site and turn it into a Park – i.e. an approximate $10M turnaround. 

5.      The City of Greater Geraldton Ratepayers Demand Change Inc Group are disbanding – we think we’ve outlived our purpose after achieving a $19M rate saving over a 10 year period by having rates reduced from the intended 7.2% in 2013/14 back to 2.26% and also getting a commitment from Council to consult with ratepayers through Community Forums and Summits. 

An enlarged group is in the formulation stage to be called Greater Geraldton Council Watch Inc(or similar) to scrutinise the wider decision making matters that come before Council and to pass on to Councillors (our representatives) the feeling of the community (ratepayers). 

If you’d like to be part of the group or contribute to it please feel free to call me on 0428211066. 

Max Correy
former Chairman of the former City of Greater Geraldton Ratepayers Demand Change Inc

Letter to the Editor: Overpass Fencing Needed

My complaint is the City Of Greater Geraldton has failed to provide adequate infrastructure in the form of Overpass Fencing at the Durlacher Street Overpass. This is a public safety hazard that has posed immanent danger to both myself, and many others. Furthermore, either a lack of communication between Police and Council or the City’s neglect to address the issue has allowed this risk to continue to exist into the present day. 

One Friday night at approx. 6:55PM, I was driving my vehicle along the North West Coastal Highway and immediately under the Durlacher Street Overpass. A number of solid objects hit the roof of my car while I was travelling at a speed of approximately 70 KM/H. I immediately slowed the vehicle, turned into the left safety lane and stopped the vehicle. Initially, I was unsure as to the cause of the noise and impacts on the roof of my car. Had I not watched an episode of 'Australian Story' broadcast on the ABC earlier that same week about this very issue, it may have taken me a good deal longer to realise my car had been the target of rocks dropped or thrown from the Durlacher Street Overpass under which my car had just travelled. 

Being the time of year, the evening was already dark and it was difficult to see anything without artificial light. Nevertheless, and quite possibly inspired by having recently viewed said Australian Story on the ABC, I felt compelled to mitigate risk to the public by stopping the perpetrators. I was of course also incensed by my car having been struck by rocks, and my own life put in danger. 

After exiting my vehicle I orientated myself to where the rocks would have been ejected from the overpass above and dashed up the embankment. Seconds later, I arrived at the top of the embankment to witness the last of a small pack of 'bipeds' exiting the scene at speed. Hampered only by a low-lying, black plastic coated wire mesh fence, I hurled myself over the fence and at the biped at the back of the pack. I brought him to ground with a rugby style tackle to the legs. 

I wrestled this biped whom upon visual identification, I would describe as a mixed race White/Aboriginal boy of approximately fifteen years of age, to the bottom of said overpass and into my car. This was only accomplished I might add to the very vocal and physical objections of said boy. I had considered throwing him in the boot of the car, as this would be the only way I could realistically contain him while also driving the vehicle. Having been recently brainwashed by the bureaucratic bunk of studying for a Graduate Diploma in Education, I caved into my own fears of committing socio-political impropriety. Even though the pragmatist in me knew it would prove fruitless, instead of throwing the feral into the boot of the car, I delivered him into the passenger seat of my vehicle c/- the driver’s door. I attempted to start the vehicle with my right hand while restraining him with my left hand as he lashed out at me with punches and attempted to exit the vehicle from the passenger door. As I knew it would, my not putting him in the boot amounted to an exercise in theatrics rather than a pragmatic solution for delivering this young criminal to the local police station.

The young fellow’s cohorts had meanwhile responded to his screams for assistance and returned not only to the scene of their crime but to the embankment and within a few meters of my car. As my captive ducked according to their instructions, they proceeded to hurl not small rocks at me. Most rocks hit the outside of my car. Perhaps three or four rocks landed inside the car and I was indeed fortunate to escape being struck on the head at close range which may have rendered me unconscious or dead. In the course of the assault I relaxed my grip on my captive and he escaped into the night with his friends. Now together once again, they resumed hurling rocks at both my car and I from the top of the embankment until I drove from the scene.  

I was surprised to discover as I rounded a turn on this same highway, not fifty meters from where the incident had occurred, the spectacle of flashing police lights. I stopped my car behind the police car and ran over to police officers who were taking a statement from the driver and passenger of another vehicle with a smashed front windscreen. It was immediately obvious to me this vehicle had also been the target of rocks thrown from the Durlacher Street Overpass. A quick word with the driver confirmed this. I told the police officers I’d had one of the perpetrators in my custody only moments previously and that the culprits were still in the vicinity of the overpass. The police officers seemed to me to be slow to respond. Instead of taking chase they continued to take their notes and told me to attend the local Police Station to make a statement. I drove directly to the Geraldton Police Station where I made an incident report.

When asked by the police officer at the station if I had sustained any injuries I replied that I had been punched and also kicked in the leg/knee multiple times while wrestling the young fellow down the embankment and into my car. I said my knee was a bit sore but nothing serious. My arms and legs showed some slight redness but there seemed to be no serious injury, yet bruising would not show for at least a day or two.  

It was indeed two or three days later that I began to feel pain in my abdomen and stomach especially when I sat down, stood up or exerted any physical strain. Within a week after the incident I noticed swellings around my stomach. I thought they may be hernias as I had had a hernia repair some twenty years or more previously so I knew what a hernia looked like. I couldn’t understand why this would be the case however as I hadn’t been doing any physical labour around this time. Rather I was only doing sedentary work. I then realised I must have sustained these hernias as a result of my efforts to stop the offenders throwing rocks off the Durlacher Street Overpass. A doctor’s appointment referred me to an Ultra Sound. The Ultra Sound confirmed I had sustained a double hernia: one large, abdominal hernia and, a smaller, umbilical hernia. 

There is no doubt in my mind these hernias were sustained as a result of my having extending myself up the embankment, tackling and then wrestling said perpetrator down the embankment and attempting to restrain him for delivery to the local police. 

My hernias were finally repaired at Geraldton Regional Hospital. Convalescence to light physical work where I could resume usual household duties took about one month. I have a large block that requires regular maintenance. I was able to resume most gardening duties after a few months but will never be able to do some work that was previously effortless. 

Similarly, I’ve been advised, by the operating surgeon that I should never again do isotonic training (i.e. working out with weights at a gym) or any activity that requires excessive physical exertion. Suffice to say my enthusiasm for participating in many physical activities has been impaired or compromised by having sustained said hernias. Furthermore, I have periodic or recurring / intermittent pain in my stomach. I have discovered this is blocked energy as a result of hernia repair scar tissue in a complex and sensitive meridian region. 

Over the course of the years following this incident I have heard reports from various sources including Taxis and Trucks about rocks being thrown from the Durlacher Street Overpass onto traffic below. Considering the danger to public safety, the fact the City Of Greater Geraldton either hasn’t been properly briefed on this issue by Police or has simply failed in their duty to protect the Public Health & Safety is, startling. A channel of communication obviously needs to be established between police and the city council so such issues can be adequately addressed. 

In retrospect I feel I should be compensated for having put myself in harm’s way in the public interest and having sustained injury that has ultimately compromised my employability and quality of life. It also seems to me that unless the city has something similar happen to one of its own inner circle or stands to lose money through a suit for damages or compensation they will not afford the matter attention. 

Yes, Overpass Fencing needs to be erected at Durlacher Street Overpass YESTERDAY.

- TC

Letter from a Geraldton Pensioner

This Letter to the Editor was sent in to Everything Geraldton recently:

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I know most Aussies have a habit of being Government Knockers, regardless of which State they live in or which political party they support. However we would like to say Thank You for the pensioner benefits we received this week.

A letter from the State Government advising us we would receive a $565 fuel card courtesy of Royalties for Regions next month; a letter from Centrelink enclosing four free single road or rail trip vouchers anywhere in WA; a bank credit of more than $1200 for our two week pension. As a couple who toiled hard during our working years and paid our taxes in full, we are truly grateful.

Signed

Gero pensioner

"I am a drug addict" - A letter from a Geraldton mum

A "Letter to the Editor" sent to Everything Geraldton:

I see many complaints from innocent people who are victims of crimes because of drugs.

I am a drug addict.

I wish for no judgement but I accept that I will receive bad receive reviews. I have been a heavy drug user for since I was 17 first starting with cannabis and for the last 9 months I have been a heavy 'speed addict'. I'm writing this because I want to warn young and old what using such a heavy drug does to your life.

I managed to steer clear of troubles from the law as juvenile and now 23 I am facing close to 40 serious charges (all committed in the last 5 months). This drug ruins lives, I heard and knew people sitting where I sit today and never did I imagine I would be here. Drugs are the ruination of people, relationships jobs.

When I first started I thought I could control my habit but the truth is the drug is more powerful than you know. Those who use will cheat, lie, steal anything for their next hit. Those who have just started will be sitting reading saying I've got this'.

If you're using you're never in control.

I won't tell you my journey over the last almost year has been all miserable because i have had some fun times (that didn't involve crimes) met some people I wouldn't have looked sideways at and seen a better side than you could imagine.

But the truth is this drug has damaged relationships beyond imagination. Some unrepairable, most loved ones. When the damage is first done you won't care but when you're sitting in the dark thinking 'I need help' you see the people you've hurt in order to service your drug habit.

I have lost my job, my true friends, my family and that's just the start. I sold items from my home, stolen items from family members and denied it. I have committed crimes I am ashamed of admitting. It's all fun and game's until it's not fun anymore and its a 'fight to survive'. If you've never touched it I can't stress enough how much I wish I never had.

Please take my strong advice. It's real, and there is nothing sadder sitting in a hole with nobody who cares and they don't care because after all you've used them, stolen from them etc to get your next hit. This drug will suck the life out of your soul, I promise you.

The world once was at my feet but opportunities closed and now it's a long climb back. I have young children and if I could lock them away from this I would do it in a heartbeat. I hope services start providing more education on this but not text book stuff, real people like me, real life proof. Maybe then people will see the reality of this evil drug.

Please don't kid yourself, to those who have loved ones on it the best thing you will do for them is shut your door firstly to protect yourself but the faster they fall the quicker they might get help.

Not everyone comes out and they'll never be the same person. The drug changes you more than I can explain. I wish I could protect all young people especially from this but I can't. Some will read this and become a user or continue to use but if i just make 1 person think twice and decide they are better than this I will have achieved a goal.

Believe me no matter what EVERYONE is better than this drug. There's no happy ending to a life like this. I wish to stay anonymous for my own safety but to my family I am sorry for the pain and hurt I have caused. It may not mean much but know they are true words.

To the innocent victims of my crimes an apology won't fix the damage caused but I offer my sincerest apology and hope one day I can say it in person.

Be conscious of what this drug does. I'm getting help (not court ordered) because I see now and I don't want to live like this. However, I accept some of my actions carry permanent consequences and I have to live with that and know that my actions caused it.

This drug has taken a lot from me but I am getting help because I am better than it and my children deserve better than they've received. It's taken a long time but it's never too late to stop.

I have a long road but I know now I can do better and I want to do better.