Fabric of community

I WOULD like to congratulate Susan Anderson from Bunyip on her most timely letter relating to the cleaning out of drains during election time (Gazette, 16 November).
I too recall a time when drains were cleaned and maintained on a planned regular maintenance schedule that was not linked to election periods.
I also recall a time when each ward took its turn at the council table in the shire president role, and when councillors’ promises were honoured, and representation was real and meaningful.
I am concerned about this previous council’s attempt to change Cardinia’s land classification from farm to green wedge, for farming is part of the fabric of the community and has woven this community together in the past as it will in the future.
It injects millions into the economy annually, puts children in schools, employees into jobs and attracts tourists by the thousands.
So any thoughts to change it are short-sighted.
To read that Cr Doug Hamilton suggests that a change from farm to green wedge will help attract money to the shire shows how out of touch he is.
I am an eternal optimist for I am ever hopeful that the days of unfettered development are over as we bed down a new set of community minded councillors over the next few weeks. I am sure we will survive and thrive. We will see a change to the unfettered development at any cost strategy of this current council; those costs are generally borne by young families with social and economic costs.
What we will move to is a strategy where real sustainable development will occur where developers will be made to pay the real and true price of their developments, there can be no more deals.
Surely those who defy the rules get fines and are made to pay them.
Cr Leonora Cox should know that we do not need the onerous $100 levy when we have developers paying their way, this is the fair way.
The municipal charge has caused problems for many people in our community.
Cr Cox has also been a member of council whose debt levels have reached an estimated $50 million.
The people at this election will be sending a simple message: We disagree.
Lesley Burnett,
Pakenham.