On one side of the fence they’re calling it pork barrelling – on the other side, a boon for Maitland’s residents.
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In a last minute move, councillors at last Tuesday’s meeting voted in favour of adding a package of amendments worth more than $300,000 to the proposed 2018-2021 draft delivery program and 2018/2019 operational plan.
Among the most notable features of the package are a $200,000 allocation for improvements at the Rally Ground over 2018/19 and 2019/20, putting $60,000 towards an exercise station at Norm Chapman Oval and providing Neighbourhood Watch or a similar body with $1000 annually.
In addition to that, councillors voted in favour of workshops to review the expenditure on a number of council operations, including marketing and communications positions and the Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
They’re issues the community has been bringing up for years on end
- Liberal Cr Mitchell Griffin
It’s a move which drew sharp criticism from council’s longest-serving member, Cr Henry Meskauskas, who said the last time amendments were moved on a plan and program during a meeting was 1995.
“It’s disappointing when we had a full workshop on this item for three hours, then all of a sudden there on Tuesday night in five minutes they chuck it away,” he said.
Labor Cr Robert Aitchison labelled it a “political stunt” and called it “pork barrelling at its finest”.
“They had the numbers to do it in the briefings, but they have chosen to make it public. If they had done it behind closed doors, nobody would have seen it,” he said.
“A lot of community groups who are doing it tough at the moment would love a share of $200,000,” he added, referring to plans for the Rally Ground.
However, Deputy Mayor Sally Halliday, who moved the motion, said the amendments “added some things in that will be of value to the community”.
She said making the move during a council meeting ensured the amendments would be available for public comment.
“I think it’s a really positive plan … it’ll have a flow-on effect,” she said.
She said that the briefings regarding expenditure would allow councillors to make “more informed” decisions around council operations.
“We think it’s good governance.”
She was backed by fellow Liberal Cr Mitchell Griffin.
“They’re issues the community has been bringing up for years on end,” Cr Griffin said of the amendments.
It's pork barrelling at its finest
- Labor Cr Robert Aitchison
“A lot of us councillors thought ‘let’s put these in the papers for community discussion’”.
Council general manager David Evans said that not all of the amendments have financial implications, and council “will still look to adopt a balanced budget”.
“Of the amendments made, and the matters that remain under consideration, not all of them have financial implications, and from a financial perspective, council will still look to adopt a balanced budget for the coming financial year,” he said.
The draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan are now on public exhibition and will be brought back to Council once that period closes, on 27 May 2018. They will be reported for finalisation and adoption at the council meeting on 12 June 2018.
