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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
April 2007
Dear Ratepayer/Resident
Monash Ratepayers Association (MRA) is a non profit organisation and relies on members for funds to continue to operate
As the only incorporate Association in Monash and a member of Ratepayers Victoria
it is in your interest to support our organisation
Our strength is in our numbers
Monash Council rates have escalated in recent years to a point that many families are
finding it difficult to meet.
Rate are expected next years to be worst than pervious years.
Revaluation in 2007 with out doubt will be added to the predicted rate increase of 7% by Monash Council
Planning issues in the past have been a night mare for many Ratepayers and a lot of our time is taken up by concerns raised by Ratepayers.
MRA will and have been very vocal on this issue and will continue to keep up the pressure on Monash Council and the State Government, remember.
Now is a good time to renew your membership, we hope that you will again support or association.
A Membership fee of $7.00 is a small price to pay.
Down load membership form from this site.
Jack Davis J.P
President Monash Ratepayers
The following graph should be of interest to you.
GOVERNMENT GRANTS & TRANSFER PAYMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2001 - 2007
($M)
Source: Victorian Government Budget Papers
I would like to comment on three crucial issues facing the Monash Council.
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Rate and cost shifting, |
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Planning and Melbourne 2030 and |
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The integrity of our elected Council |
The latter two of these issues have emerged early in the new year of 2005.
Firstly, on a positive note, following recommendations from a Priority Development Review Committee, the Planning Minister has rejected the proposed “Peak” development at Wheelers Hill on the corner of Ferntree Gully and Jells Road. The Council and developer were required to enter into negotiations aimed at agreeing on a more suitable development. (A full article on this topic can be found in the “News and Views” section of our website.)
Still on the topic of planning, Cr Dimopoulos,as Mayor applied for and won a planning waiver on a car parking levy for his business in Atherton Road Oakleigh. The MRA is most concerned about this since, many traders in Oakleigh and other activity centres in Monash have not been so well treated. Some paying as much as $80,000 for the car parking levy. There is clearly a discriminate application of the impost of levies of various forms on some traders and not on others, giving the latter (of whom the mayor is one) an unfair competitive advantage over those who have to pay. The MRA believes this situation must be reviewed and we will raise our concerns shortly in a separate commentary.
Regrettably, on the subject of Councillor integrity, the subject of the Huntingdale and Hughesdale Halls has again arisen within Council. I do not intend to comment on this in depth at this time suffice to say that there is much more to this matter than meets the eye and that I believe that some Councillors, and on face value it would appear some of the Council administration, have engaged in a reprehensible vendetta against key members of these halls management committees. From my knowledge of this matter (which is fairly detailed), the halls management committee members in question have conducted themselves with the utmost integrity at all times. It is a pity the same cannot be said about the Council!
After a council audit of the (Dismissed) Halls management committee accounts allegation by Cr Lake were proven to be false and fictitious. No apology has ever been provided to members of the committee.( Shame shame shame)
Recently, the MRA has had cause to contact and discuss some matters with the ACCC and the State Ombudsman. The advice from the office of the State Ombudsman was that Councillors, being elected representatives, could not be investigated by it. (Lucky Councillors!) However, the Council administration and its council officers could in certain circumstances where, for example, there was suggestion that they had given improper advice to councillors or taken improper actions.
Until my next report,
Best regards,
Jack Davis J.P.
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