Councillor spins on the web

CARDINIA Shire councillor Ed Chatwin is tapping into the views and needs of ratepayers – online.
Who will be the shire’s next mayor and the council’s 2009/10 budget are some of the hot topics being discussed on www.edchatwin. com
Cr Chatwin set-up the website to ensure ratepayers are better informed about council activities and the role of local government.
“I have some trepidation at the comments the blog may bring but let’s give it a go,” he said.
“Obviously the blog items take time to write, please keep watching and commenting.”
Cr Chatwin is already seeking the help of Ranges Ward residents in a bid to ensure a bigger slice of the shire’s capital works funds are allocated to that region in the future. He has publicly stated that Ranges Ward was ignored in the council’s 2009/10 draft budget, getting just 0.2 per cent of the shire’s capital works splurge.
“We are still in significant debt. I need your help to get a fair and equitable share of funds that remain to support the residents of Ranges Ward,” he wrote.
Ratepayers and residents can leave comments on the site as well as vote on certain issues.
The site has been up for about a fortnight and has more than 1000 hits.