Change for the Worse
SO PENNY Philpott of Frenchs Forest (Your say, May 16) is “disappointed the residents of former Pittwater Council are still smiting over amalgamation”?
I would suggest a better word would be seething, or smouldering, as feelings among the many residents I know is red hot.
Our rate have not gone down, nor are they fixed the same as before (never mind the Government’s weasel words)... the dollars we actually pay.
Services are not better—they are back to the out-of-touch approach - slow and inferior responses — we endured previously as the remotest end of Warringah Shire.
And then we are insulted with make work, dreamt-up infrastructure projects not needed or requested by the local community, such as a coastal walkway with art.
Want a coastal walkway? There’s already one there. It’s called the Bicentennial Coastal Walk. Been there since 1988.
Want arts? Pittwater already has a thriving art community. Ms Phillpott is welcome for example to visit the next art exhibition at the Avalon community centre or the surf club or enjoy the Pittwater Artists Trail.
Benefits of amalgamation for Pittwater residents… zero.
Costs… the disgraceful removal of a democratically elected, perfectly functioning and financially sustainable local government by the Baird government ... and now the
introduction of despised party politics for the next northern beaches council elections.
Fred Johanson, Avalon Manly Daily 23 May 2017