Charlotte Varcoe
STRONGER communication between Mount Gambier residents and the Mount Gambier City Council may be on the cards with locals looking to reinstate the ratepayers association.
Former councillor and Mount Gambier resident Penny Richardson will be leading the charge to revive the association in an effort to develop a better relationship between residents and elected members.
The Mount Gambier Ratepayers Association has been in recess for close to a decade and following last year’s council elections, Ms Richardson said she believed it was time to start it back up.
“I want to reinvigorate the association and see if people in Mount Gambier are interested,” Ms Richardson said.
“I think there has been a rift between council and the community and I think there are also rumours circulating in the community that need to be addressed by the association and council.”
She said the idea to reinstate the association came to her after a lack of campaigning from council candidates during the 2022 elections.
“I received a letter from one candidate and after asking for a letter from another that was all I had heard,” Ms Richardson said.
“I don’t think there was much door knocking and I think there were a few meet and greets with the community but I believe it would be really good to put the community back into council.
“It is important to have that relationship between council and community because that is what council is about, it is at the behest of the community.”
Ms Richardson said her experience in local government and as a resident showed her that residents may not be getting enough information from council.
“When I was on council I think I may have lived in a bubble and assumed everyone knew what was happening,” she said.
“Now I am outside that bubble and have been for a few years I don’t feel as if I am engaged or getting enough information so maybe people felt like that when I was on council but being a resident only has given me a different view on things.”
According to Ms Richardson, the association would now focus on exploring issues and presenting them to council while also communicating with the public.
“We also want to tell the council it is doing a good job as well because as a councillor you don’t hear the good stuff and councillors do a lot of good things,” she said.
Major issues already identified, according to Ms Richardson, include the final costing of the newly developed Wulanda Recreation Centre, disability access across town and confidential meetings held by elected members including a scheduled meeting regarding public housing and Hastings Cunningham Reserve scheduled for March 7.
According to the Mount Gambier City Council website, nine out of 18 scheduled information and briefing sessions from January through to September last year were held in confidence.
“We are also concerned about the public transport system which is both State and local government, disability access for footpaths and roads and many other issues,” she said.
The association give residents a chance to learn more about the proceedings of council and the decisions made at its monthly chamber meetings.
Those interested in joining the association will be able to register their interest during a coffee and chat at the Mount Gambier RSL on February 27 from 5pm.
