Local govt ‘dead’

By Paul Dunlop and Cam Scott
CARDINIA Shire councillor Bill Ronald has claimed local government is “dead”.
The outspoken Pakenham Ward representative made the statement on a national television program last week.
Lashing out at colleagues and senior shire officials, Cr Ronald said he was ashamed of his council and embarrassed to be a part of it.
Speaking on A Current Affair as part of a report titled Councils Behaving Badly, Cr Ronald said he believed that modern councils were run by bureaucrats not elected representatives.
Cr Ronald accused the shire administration of “forcing its will” on residents and ratepayers.
He claimed his Cardinia colleagues were not doing their job and needed to be “put out to pasture”.
“I am ashamed of Cardinia Shire Council and embarrassed to be part of it,” Cr Ronald said.
Cr Ronald’s criticisms were a talking point around Pakenham last week.
But the comments were strongly refuted by mayor Garry Runge.
Cr Runge said that if Cr Ronald was so ashamed of his council he should tender his resignation.
“If that’s how he feels he should either resign or not seek reelection,” Cr Runge said.
He said the Pakenham ward councillor’s comments were nonsense and “grandstanding” to further his own political agenda.
The episode is sure to add fuel to what looms as an explosive buildup to council elections in November.
It continues a turbulent year for Cr Ronald, who is due to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday) to face allegations he assaulted chief executive officer Don Welsh.
The Pakenham Ward councillor was one of a number of people interviewed from councils around Melbourne by A Current Affair.
The ACA show also highlighted calls by some residents in the City of Casey for the council to be sacked.
Founder of the Endeavour Hills Community Watchdog Paul Richardson said he and over 400 other residents had signed a petition calling for the heads of their local councillors.
Mr Richardson claimed residents were sick of the council’s reckless spending and travelling.
Cr Runge said the report was not representative of the real situation in local government. He said the media tended to overlook the enormous amount of positive work being done by Cardinia and other councils.
“The councillors of Cardinia Shire work very hard for their constituents and it is ridiculous to say otherwise,” Cr Runge said.
Casey mayor Neil Lucas expressed similar sentiments.
Cr Lucas said the “one per cent” of council’s activity that went on in the council chamber and in the local media should never become more important than the other 99 per cent of council activity that was very successfully and effectively undertaken.
“It’s business as usual at the council,” Cr Lucas said. “It’s not unusual in a city of 220,000 people for there to be a small group of activists who enjoy enhancing their public profile through the media.”
Cr Lucas remained steadfast in his belief that the council was still serving its residents’ best interests and had an excellent administration.