Letters To The Editor

Make some noise

As a member of the of the Coraki community, I wish to protest against the proposed closure of the Campbell Hospital in Coraki. The proposal was thrust upon us without warning. The bureaucrats have given us 12 weeks for "consultation" (now 10). They say they are giving us the opportunity to be heard at a public meeting.

Let us be heard in Sydney - write letters of protest to our local member, Steve Cansdell, who will in turn present them to the Health Minister. We have to have hundreds to make a difference. Sit down today and write - get someone to help you if need be, but write - make a noise.

The petition is great but letters have more clout. Mr Cansdell's address is Steve Cansdell, Suite 2, 105 Pound Street, Grafton, 2460. Phone 6643 1244.

Diane Mackie
Coraki

Chris's choice

On ABC radio, March 11, Chris Crawford, North Coast Area Health Service chief executive, in a discussion about the new "roadmap" for hospital and community health services, stated that in regards to Campbell Hospital Coraki, there would be a 12-week consultative process with a committee which would include community members.

We are already in week two, with two meetings already held with hospital staff and still no committee has been selected!

He said that no decision has been made, but where's the community consultation? His "preferred option" looks more like "personal choice".

Narelle Jarvis
Coraki

People power

People power is a great thing. Now is one of those times when we need as many people as possible to write to as many politicians as we can, to stop Chris Crawford's rot and to tell him to back off.

Ian Blackburn
Coraki

Jedi nights

Just doing a 'Homer' and reading the TV section, I came across the review for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Echo, March 3). Just writing to remind our Jedi family out there the true meaning of the 'Force' - love, truth and courage (and acceptance)! Us '30 something' Jedi babies (I voted on my Census) have grown up. I have seen The Phantom Menace (and Attack of the Clones) and love them! New special effects, new characters (Meeeeza' think soo), new systems and yes, the dialogue is limited in this first of the three prequels - but hey, gotta get the new breed of Jedi bubs hooked! Relax, enjoy and stop being critical! George is one of our forefathers. We need more of this in our world! Let love be - and may the Force always be with you...

Andrew 'Woolah' Woodward
Lismore

PS: By the way, I do read the rest of this brilliant community newspaper.

A bit rich

In regard to rating structures and K Anderson's letter "The rich get richer..." (Echo, March 10).

I have no wish to become involved in a "correspondence war" but since K Anderson has referred to me twice I feel I should reply. K Anderson is to be applauded for the thoroughness of his/her research, however, he/she has missed the basic point. The Local Government Act requires councils to use a "fair and equitable" rating system. The Lennox Head Residents Association has argued that the system being used by Ballina Shire Council at present is not "fair and equitable". Ballina Council has agreed with this and has undertaken a review of rating systems. From this process a better system will be found. No known system will suit every individual ratepayer.

The Association contends that a 50 per cent base rate plus an ad valorem adjustment will be the most equitable. The calculations being done by Council now will be the judge. The Association is confident that a better system than complete ad valorem will be found. "Richness" and "poorness" does not enter into the debate.

Brian Smith
Lennox Head

A fairer analogy

Re B Thompson's letter 'A fair analogy' (Echo, March 10).

Poor B Thompson does not understand the essential ingredients of an analogy - the comparators should be of equal nature or value. His $10,000 Holden insurance policy guarantees him replacement value of $10,000 and the Rolls Royce policy $250,000. In other words the different premiums ($350 and $5000) ensure that the service received is for the replacement of differently valued vehicles. In the case of council rates each ratepayer receives the same services so, by B Thompson's reasoning, each should pay the same rates! Unfortunately the system does not allow this, but a 50 per cent base rate plus ad valorem rating system would level out some of the inequity in the present rating system. We do accept that the costs of sewerage and garbage services should be shared equally so why not other council services like ordinary rates. This seems to me to be a fairer analogy. Lets have the fairest system available - 50 per cent base + ad valorem.

Ross Richardson
Lennox Head

Wrong again

K Andersen (Echo, March 10) is wrong again. There are several metropolitan councils I know of using the base rate system for reasons of equity and fairness. For example, Ashfield, Mosman and Wollongong.

He makes a claim that "the act is clearly explicit in the split applicable to both structures". This is a nonsense showing he doesn't understand the meaning of base rating versus ad valorem. Council has a responsibility to select one structure.

Another quite erroneous statement is that "those less fortunate... will be called upon to prop up those that are fortunate to have higher valued parcels of property". Already the latter are "propping up" the so-called less fortunate.

They will continue to do so no matter which system is adopted, simply because, as Mr Anderson may understand, ad valorem (i.e. land valuation) will continue to be used in some proportion from 50 to 100 per cent.

Fairness is obviously a concept Mr Anderson does not comprehend.

N Conroy
Lennox Head

Uralba reconstruction

It was with joy that the residents of Uralba Street received a notice of intent on March 4. The notice was from Lismore City Council and refereed to the "reconstruction" of Uralba Street between Hunter and Diadem Streets, weather permitting of course.

I hope that "reconstruction" means that the section of Uralba Street will finally be sealed from kerb to kerb. The crumbling kerbs and storm water gutters will at last be replaced. The palm trees will be removed and replanted in a park. Preferably well away from power lines. And maybe a Zebra crossing could be placed in the area, in conjunction with the repair or reconstruction of the so-called footpaths. As this section of Uralba Street carries more vehicle traffic than Keen Street and has a high rate of pedestrian movement I feel that a reconstruction should be a least as good as the reconstruction of Keen Street.

P W Harbord
Lismore

A life of action

In reply to Steve Smith from Ballina (Echo, March 10).

Firstly Steve let me ask you, are you content with speeding cars exceeding the speed limits by 50kph in 50kph zones? Are you content with idiots doing burnouts on streets, and in loose gravel, every day and half the night? It would appear so. Have you reported to police these problems and been told to come in and make a statement by police? Enough information has been given to police over many months but it stills goes on. Have you thrown your hands in the air and given up? Well, not me I'm afraid. We learnt one hard lesson in the army; you never retreat and you never give up. Our society is declining because no one wants to put their hand up and be counted. What a sad world it would be if residents shut the doors and said nothing, and let the idiots rule. I don't think so! I'll keep writing as long as newspapers publish my letters, so criticise me but get the facts straight in future. I have sent off a letter to the Police Minister, outlining several problems - lack of enforcement for one. If these idiots had been spoken to and nipped in the bud long before this, we would not be at the stage we are. 1) Speed. 2) Trucks loads not covered on trucks. 3) Unregistered cars being driven about and the same with motorbikes, plus several other matters. Too many to mention here. When action is taken then and only then will I get a life as you say.

Allan O'Neill
Ballina

Hands off!

Lismore City Council administration appears to be fixated on the prospect of denying the new advisor committees any input into Council operations. At the last Lismore District Sports Association (LDSA) meeting administrators circulated an outline of committee policy that would restrict their discussions to strategic matters alone. Only a month prior the LDSA had passed a motion requesting that the running of the committee be left unchanged.

It's a Mexican stand-off.

When further questioned on the roll of the committees at a recent Council meeting at The Channon, the General Manager was happy to concede that the committees could still work as a watchdog, particularly in regards to the implementation of plans. Plans worked out with the strategic assistance of the committees. How interesting. So the committees, the General Manager assures us, are in a good position to assess and critique operational matters, however it's a waste of their valuable time to discuss operational matters. That's just doublespeak, or in more tradition parlance, it's a contradiction in terms; either the committees are involved in assessment of operational matters or they're not. It's pretty simple.

In the past the committee system has proven to be a reasonable fallback position for people who have problems with Council operations and who feel they haven't received a satisfactory response from Council employees.

Committee meetings are an excellent opportunity for community members to talk to the councillors about their concerns. If committees are denied the option of discussing operational matters, a significant avenue for dissent has been closed down.

Avenues to express dissent are vital to the operation of a democracy and without it that dissent goes underground and can become hostile and revolutionary. Restricting the committee topics for discussion is dangerously repressive. We mustn't let it happen. Write to council - tell them 'hands off' our committees.

Laurie Axtens
North Lismore

RAA Reunion

106 Fd Bty RAA Reunion: all past members of 106 Bty are welcome to attend. The dinner is open to all gunners past and present. Held from July 29-31 2005 in Gympie, Queensland. For information phone Peter on (07) 5483 7591 or email tibbs@bigpond.net.au.

Peter J Tibbett
Gympie