Goulburn is growing and fast, a drive down Marys Mount Road will show you that. Houses are popping up seemingly over a weekend, but it is not limited to the north end of town, new housing is popping up on all the city fringes.
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I ask the council (once again) do they think the infrastructure of Goulburn is keeping up with the growth?
I ask this because it is starting to become apparent, that the council is messing around yet another development application. (Think back to our hopes for a Big W store) How long will it be before this one walks away? While I do realise there are things to consider in approving a development application, especially given the number of empty stores in the CBD.
Yet again the council finds itself in the position of not being able to make a solid decision, and this is not my observation alone.
Former councillor Neil Penning made it himself, at a meeting to discuss the changes needed to the local environment plan, which will allow a large supermarket to be built out on the north west side of town.
Like I’ve said in a previous column, I am standing on the outside looking in, and yet again it looks bad.
I am a layperson when it comes to knowing the how and why a council makes its decisions, but from all points it’s starting to look like they are too. So what is the problem?
Do we need more people with the knowledge it takes to make the big decisions? I think we do.
This is where it is heading with a local government panel putting out a review that suggests we should merge into a bigger county council.
The idea is that a merger of councils would allow them to have access to a broader professional and financial base.
With Goulburn and Mulwaree merging in 2004, that amalgamation might not be held up as an example that a merger will make things better.
However, it was reported last week that the council arranged for a consultant to work out their options under this proposed plan, but they are unable to make a specific recommendation from the resulting report. Decisions decisions, who is going to make one?
Back to my point; because there was going to be one about the development application for a supermarket. It has its good and bad points, but overall it would be used and welcome in that part of town, and there is the obvious contribution to the job market.
If the council can’t make a decision maybe they need to throw a vote out to the community, who is for and who is against?
If progress doesn’t happen we only have ourselves to blame, but don’t blame me, I voted for the other guy...
