Residents furious about L'Etape cycle race
On March 20 this year, Robertson is being effectively shut down by the government for a 10 hour period for a commercial cycling event (L'Etape Australia).
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Many residents will have no way of leaving their homes.
They will not be able to go to work or weddings or weekend sport or attend social engagements.
They were not consulted about this and did not know about it until late last week, as a result of random postings on Facebook.
We have become accustomed to mandatory impositions in emergencies - such as bush fires and during pandemic.
But it seems the government has now taken to locking people in, or out of, their homes for the commercial benefit of a private party.
Residents of Robertson would be supportive an event like L'Etape.
However, the complete lack of consultation and the failure to make (or communicate) satisfactory arrangements so that people can go about their lives, and business can continue to operate, must surely be a new benchmark.
Michael McKee, Robertson
Negativity is nothing new
Is that and election I smell brewing?
It seems that we are hearing a lot of negativity from some people in the community, as evidenced by letters to the editor and the recent article focusing on delaying the appointment of the Wingecarribee Shire Council general manager, and of course the rally to stop the process.
I am all for new ideas, enthusiasm, and community spirit on the council.
But I am not seeing anything new.
Its not the first time people have called for change.
The last memorable change campaign came under the guise of Friends of Bowral/Wingecarribee.
It was one that nearly brought the council to the point of selling off our parks and community land.
It also saddled us with the GFC impost and took us years to recover!
Unbeknown to the populace it was heavily influenced by a pro-development agenda.
We have seen seeing a lot of negativity and fear being used to stir the emotions.
We have seen little positivity or policy.
If this continues nothing will change and the big egos and little agendas will continue to create a "them and us" situation and disharmony in council.
It seems call loudest for change at least at this stage reinforce the old observation that the more things change the more they stay the same!
The negativity and vitriol surrounding either the appointment of or performance of a general manager is nothing new.
"It is easy to be in opposition - how true that is.
Knock everything, oppose everything and negate everything, whip up emotion without having any responsibility, accountability or knowledge of processes, procedures and the regulations that is being increasingly imposed upon local government and locally elected representatives.
Unfortunately, what does not change are the attempts by some seeking control to manipulate people with mistruths, half-truths, fear and emotion.
We can only guess what their motivation, agendas and alliances are cant we?
Or wait for these to manifest and hope that friends in this election are fair dinkum friends.
