Read some of the Council/Shire comments

Read some of the Council/Shire comments  - Our friends at Ag Survey have touched a nerve here. The Shires and Councils survey has been well patronised, with over 100 responses so far. Here are some of the comments below:

• I put in a work request to get the gravel track around the local football ground to be graded and the feedback I got from council workers was that "thanks to your bloody request" they had a whole process to go through that sounded all too hard.
• All roads could do with additional maintenance.
• We fought hard for the drought subsidy as it was the most equitable way to help all farmers. However, the drought had been going on for some time before it was acknowledged and assistance forthcoming.
• The Council rarely assists promptly with permits and work requests, allocating promised funding instead of being pro-active and supporting community projects.
• They drag any process out as long as they see fit and make excuses for their own tardiness.
• Not a query of rates, but it frustrates me that our Council won't get with the times and email our rates instead of sending by mail.
• My gravel road is impassable and they quote me 60 days to get a grader. And after 60 days it is still not done.
• When a private civil contractor does the job it's completed much quicker and to a better standard.
• Fair enough, funding is limited; however, if executives do not lead by example, they bring those around and under them down!!
• Plus, a lot of them have no real-world experience and have just climbed the ranks within the Council with no qualifications or live outside the council area itself, so their money doesn't go back into our communities. Therefore we have nothing to show for our money except keeping people in a job
• We do not receive town garbage collection, so we must arrange this privately.
• Most councillors just want to push their own agendas (climate change, indigenous affairs, art/culture) rather than concentrating on the economic well-being of residents.
• And the big one at the moment is renewable energy infrastructure. The Council says they know nothing, but we know they have had meetings with proponents. Not very transparent. So many issues around this regarding farm valuations/insurance, tourist $$ lost, interruption to business, the list goes on..
• Council is controlled by a group of 4, and the other 3 councillors are not listened to
• It is an easy job. Ask the majority of people what they want, then deliver for the majority of people instead of following trends and bowing to the noisy 5 %. Council is not only the birthplace of mediocrity, but sadly it also nurtures it with both pride and impunity. The results speak for themselves. Create a culture of excellence like any good business has to, which will attract talent, allowing you to deliver on your mandates.
• I don't mind paying for something I receive. However higher rates are leading to lower levels of service for country roads. If this doesn't change, I can foresee a rates boycott by landowners.
• No, stuff them. The executives are all sandwich munchers. Few of them live in the shire so they don't care! They come to work, eat their sandwiches, then go home.
• I'm disappointed with what we have to pay for no tangible benefits.
• Our Council keeps rates under control and has good roads and infrastructure (e.g. pools, aged care etc.) but the small towns (except the main centre) are declining. There is nowhere near enough focus on private enterprise to drive economy/employment.
• Roads are terrible and Council likes office and consulting jobs and less people on the ground working. I guess it's the safest way for them.
• We get no rubbish pick up or tip discount. The tip is only open 2 days and 2 half days.
• The roads are in a constant state of disrepair.
• Everything is contracted out while they pay themselves high wages and undertake WOKE courses.
• Overall I think councils are poor value.
• I mainly deal with them on development approvals to build sheds, houses etc on our properties
• They are an absolute nightmare to deal with and also add high costs to the simplest applications.
• Your survey has no real questions on the above but if it did I would rate the councils in my 3 x areas as exceptionally poor. I wish I had something good to say about them.
• I am a local councilor. I am concerned with the lack of critical-thinking prospective councillors who will have the time and inclination to stand for Council in the future. We are often burdened with people who have the time to stand and who are from the wrong side of the political ledger. Unfortunately, these people most often lack proper business experience and financial acumen but are all too ready to impose their wisdom on the rest of us, which is generally poor and lacking rigour. Our monthly council agendas are generally 500 pages including annexed reports. This is enough to put anyone off, except maybe retired school teachers etc. And we know what they bring to the table as councilors.
• I looked into running for local Council. You have to sign a document to say you will follow what the Council decides - I took this to mean that I was unable to be a voice for my farming community.
• When a private civil contractor does the job it's completed much quicker and to a better standard.
• One of the main problems councils face is cost shifting from other levels of government. Councils should not be burdened with financing social issues such as child care, kindergartens, youth services, senior citizens, and tourism. These are all areas that should remain the responsibility of the state government. Local councils should be responsible for roads rates and rubbish. Rates are paid by property owners only. These social matters should be funded by the whole community by the State by way of GST income. Property owners/ratepayers should not be milked because the State and Feds can't manage their finances. Council rates increase to cover non-core responsibilities, and ratepayers become frustrated with the local Council. Rates are becoming a stealth wealth tax being utilised by the State and Feds in a roundabout way.
• They focus too much on town and farmers are underrepresented.
• Our local Council have a fantastic ongoing program to support volunteer Committees of Management (eg: hall, sports reserves).
• We had two major road issues (huge wombat hole on shoulder and farm machinery dug holes in asphalt) that were repaired promptly once the Council was advised.
• However, too much time is spent on issues that are not the responsibility of the Council. Also, too much money is spent in the main town and not enough in smaller towns (e.g., new pool for the main town but cannot keep the smaller pool open for summer). A new bridge was constructed that was too narrow for modern farm machinery. 
• Too many staff at management level but not enough doing all the work (eg: pool attendants) - some roles could be consolidated. Or allow staff to be autonomous without head of department checking every little email.