I HAVE been in local government for three years and I don’t have nor do I want Mayor Joanna Gash’s ability for political spin but I do have a wide-ranging life experience and I know the difference between right and wrong and what is fair and unfair. It strikes me that the tone of Mayor Joanna Gash’s recent letter in which she viciously attacked me reflects very poorly on her and has more place in the “bear pit” of federal politics than our community.
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In response to Cr Gash’s description “the inveterate conference-going Cr Kitchener”, I attend three conferences a year as per the policy and for her to imply that I have overstepped the policy at any time is not only untrue but highly offensive.
If Cr Gash thinks having pensioners go through a more onerous process to access the Hardship Policy is a “joke,” when the previous policy required them doing nothing at all, then her opinion is a bigger “joke”.
If Cr Gash thinks it fair and equitable for Nowra to receive $20,000 of ratepayers’ money for the River Festival, a widening of footpaths to encourage activation and alfresco dining, a tree planting program to beautify the town’s entrance, a $3000 cash grant to assist shop owners improve their facades, a series of quirky ideas such as the little library and the yellow piano to encourage people to linger longer and a commissioning of public artworks in a public open space to help the revitalisation of the CBD somewhat paid for by all rate payers then this is the biggest “joke” of all. How many other Shoalhaven towns have received this amount of revitalisation assistance?
If Cr Gash thinks a proposed 20 per cent increase to residential rates over two years 2017/2018 is acceptable or affordable to the wider community then this is beyond a “joke”.
Cr Gash has taken out of context what was being said about the revitalisation of Nowra Central Business District and omitted the very next paragraph which included: “With things looking so good and many stakeholders and community groups striving for the same goals, now is the time to consider how to point other CBDs of the city in the right direction.”
The subsequent recommendation that council rotate the $500,000 annual budget of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Committee to the central and southern Shoalhaven on a triennial basis never stood a chance and was unfortunately quashed by the dominant Team Gash.
The mayor would have me laughed off as a “joke” and has implied I am a whinger. Well if it requires me to whinge to further improve the quality of life in the towns and villages of the Shoalhaven then I am up to the task and I fully intend to do so.
If Cr Gash thinks she can bully me into keeping quiet about issues that might concern the community then she is playing a “joke” on herself.
Cr M. Kitchener,
Ulladulla.
