City of Port Phillip

The new Port Phillip City Council elected in late 2012 is having problems answering ratepayers questions at council meetings and are building crackpot infrastructure like the fencing of Albert Park beach to the waterline only to have that part of the fence destroyed in a storm. Most have never set foot in the council chamber before they were elected and many defeated/retired councillors have disappear from the community view. The reason is that many, particularly in the recent past, were just left wing party hacks. Mostly the ALP/ "Communist" Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP) Mayor ignores questions, defers to council staff or takes the question on notice. However often the answer that later appears on the website (below the minutes) is evasive or do not make sense. This is what happens when a majority of the 7 councillors elect an inexperienced new councillor as Mayor who has only a local history concerning a state school parents committee (like Sarah Palin in Alaska). Also of concern was a comment on the VEC report on the election (page 22) that was tabled at a council meeting held on 13 May 13 (see council website) were a matter concerning Albert Park Ward (were I live) is before the court. When asked what was this about the Mayor wouldn't say what it is about. So much for the "Engaged - A well governed City" of the council plan 2013-17 where the spin says "we will...act with integrity and be open and transparent". What a farce. Visitors to Catani Gardens, Pier Rd, are warned that the shelter shed at the northern end (near the BBQ and children's playground) is almost permanently illegally occupied by vagrants. The floor is covered with urine soaked mattresses, food scraps, half empty booze bottles and personal effects sometimes covered in excrement. The art exhibitions at the Linden Gallery, Acland St, has so called contemporary art displayed with about 8 different art shows annually. Some exhibitions are for adults only and are considered by some as rude and sexually perverted. The Linden is a white elephant that is wasting over $300,000 of ratepayers funds annually for very little return return, if any. The Gatwick Hotel, Fitzroy St, is a disgrace with drug and booze affected "guests" involved in murder, assaults, kidnap, prostitution and other serious crimes. The Gatwick is not a real hotel but the most dangerous place in Melbourne according to a recent report on Channel 7. At the council meeting held on 28 May 13. 6 of the 7 councillors voted to use $40,000 of ratepayers fund to support the "YES" campaign for the federal referendum on local government. The 6 councillors who vote for this misuse of the ratepayers funds were the 3 Unchain Inc and the 3 CAPP/ALP councillors. The Liberal councillor vote against. Ratepayers funds should not be used for a partisan campaign and even worse for a campaign that will fail as most referendum questions have since federation. Of 44 referendums only 8 have succeeded and since the end of WW2 only votes for Aboriginals was the only important referendum question - passed overwhelmingly. Recently the federal government abandoned the referendum but the MAV has already spent some of the funds raised like on newspaper ads. What a bloody mess.
2 12 years ago (19-08-2013)

Great tree.
5 12 years ago (18-05-2013)