Naming next step
I was part of the crowd in Sydney last Sunday rallying and marching against the actions of the Baird government.
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There were so many issues which brought people to the streets - the destruction of old trees; coal seam mining; the dismantling of TAFE; Westconnex and of course the amalgamation of the state's councils.
The thing that linked all these issues was the disregard of community concerns and the lack of transparency.
I also attended the Extraordinary Council Meeting at Cootamundra on May 23. In response to residents' concern about the name of our new Council, Christine Ferguson assured us that there was a 'process' which she/we could follow to ensure that the name of our council was something with which we are all satisfied.
In the interests of transparency, to appease agitated citizens and to give our community some hope that we may have a council name which is inclusive of all the areas of the shire, I would ask Ms Ferguson to outline the “process”, step-by-step, well before the community meeting to discuss the name change, to be held on June 9.
There have been public meetings and community consultations before and assurances given that our voices will be heard, but which have been ignored by the state government. Why will this one be any different?
Please tell us how this 'process' will work and the likelihood of success.
Leigh Bowden
Cootamundra
Good on you, Isabel
I make reference to letters written to the Cootamundra Herald recently. One from Isabel Scott (Wednesday, May 18, 2016) and the other by Jim Slattery (Friday, May 27, 2016).
Firstly, Mrs Scott was writing in as a member of the community, giving some facts and asking some questions … as every member of the community is entitled to do.
She was not attacking the council per se. Every item mentioned in her letter, I have heard, from at least two or three other people during this hot debate of amalgamation and name changes. Good on Mrs Scott for putting it all in writing!
I find it unconscionable that Jim Slattery should see fit to answer her letter using the “Mr Nice Guy” term to ONE justify council business and TWO refer, in a derogatory fashion, to The Arts Centre Cootamundra, which in this case, was totally irrelevant.
May I add, as it seems to me that The Arts Centre very rarely gets to explain itself: could it be that “that Art Centre” (direct quote, Jim Slattery’s letter) contributed to the bestowing of the prestigious “AR Bluett Memorial Award” to the Cootamundra Shire Council 2013/ 2014? And, just quietly, the volunteer committee who run The Arts Centre won the NSW Volunteer Team Award in 2014.
Meanwhile, the council still owns The Arts Centre building, and the volunteer committee of The Arts Centre still pay regular monthly rental to said council.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that the considerable amount of money (in cash and in kind) which Council has put into The Arts Centre over the last 14 years, has resulted in The Arts Centre now being valued at about $2½ million ...
Sounds like a good investment.
Lindsey Baber
Cootamundra
A name to unite
Surely “South West Slopes” must be seen as the natural title for the new organisation that has been thrust upon us.
It is historical, it is all encompassing and it is all embracing, and it avoids the now potentially divisive Cootamundra, Gundagai and Muttama.
John Speechley
Cootamundra
- Have your say in the Cootamundra Herald. Email letters to the editor to bbarker@fairfaxmedia.com.au or drop them into the Herald's office in Parker Street.
