Not content with smallish increases council were seeking a cumulative 29.05 per cent increase over the next two years. Mind you they had earlier told IPART in their Fit for the Future (FFF) program that they only needed a 19.9 per cent increase over the two years. A substantial increase in a very brief period of time!

Now where it gets interesting is what IPART actually did with council’s submission. Firstly they said council could only have a one off 13.2 per cent increase, amounting to $7 million instead of the $93 million council wanted over the next seven years above the rate peg. Secondly they basically said council had grossly erred in not updating their FFF financials an integral part of the submission. But the thirdly and very strangely they said, “ While the community feedback for the Special Variation was overwhelmingly negative the council adequately demonstrated the community was aware of the size and need for the Special Variation, which meets the criteria”.

So this means that it makes no difference what we write in to council with our thoughts and objections nor for that matter what we tell IPART are our negative views and reasons on these rate increases. It matters not one whit.

The answer to this silliness is, of course, for no one to turn up to council’s community meetings where they want to tell us about rate increases.

So when council comes poking around the different parts of our community with its rate increase stick we need to run and hide from it so they are not able to meet the criteria. Absurd, is it not?

There are many issues that divide communities but the recent battle against a huge development proposal that could see over 1000 extra people enter the village of St Georges Basin has united residents as no other before.

Local activists and concerned people have united to ensure the character that is St Georges Basin is not lost to high rise. 

RA17/1000 - Concept Master Plan for 13  four-storey residential flat buildings (13m height), one four-storey mixed use residential and commercial building (13m height) and one two-storey mixed use residential and commercial building (7m height).

 The proposal issue is the subject of a 'Conciliation Conference' to be held at St Georges Basin Country Club, Paradise Beach Rd, Sanctuary Point on Thursday, December 7 at 10.30am.

All interested people are invited to attend to hear residents voice their concerns with the Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

It is important that many people come along on that day to show their support for a community dedicated to gaining the best outcome for their local area.

The Basin Villages Forum will be holding their monthly meeting on Monday, November 20 at  7.30 pm at the Meriton Street Community Centre, St Georges Basin to discuss the issue and also speak about future planning for the St Georges Basin area.

Further to the recent kangaroo attack at Bendalong it shows the extreme ignorance and cruelty on the part of the person feeding the kangaroos. Everyone knows that in the morning, kangaroos are only fed smashed avocado on lightly toasted organic sourdough bread.

Jam and cream on toast are only served between 2.30 and 4.30 in the afternoon. 

My thoughts are with the kangaroo. No wonder he got upset.