Surf Coast ratepayers must be wondering – again – about the priorities of their council.
Like the other two levels of government, it appears focused on issues that should be way down the list, or at least someone else’s responsibility.
The proper order should have been blindingly obvious a fortnight ago when the councillors released their draft 2017/2018 budget.
For a start, they could have prioritised the problem of expenses growing seven times faster than income.
And the surplus falling from $2.9 million to just $426,000.
And the 13 per cent increase in borrowings.
And the $15 million capital works backlog.
And the exploding staff costs.
And so on and so on…
But with their budget out for comment, what was this week’s hot topic of public debate for our coastal councillors?
Whether to fly a rainbow flag over their office, of course!
Given their finances, maybe they should fly the flag upside down – which is the official signal of distress.
Meanwhile, at least somebody on the Surf Coast has got their priorities right – even if they’re written in the sand.
Torquay’s Alex Fisher showed his romantic smarts when he commissioned Sand Whisperers’ Ondrei Aiello and Stella Sanna to help him pop the question in unique coastal style.
With the pair earning acclaim for stunning etchings on local beaches, Alex wanted a proposal too good to refuse for partner Narelle Mynott.
“We created this sand formation for him and she said ‘Yes’,” Ondrei and Stella confirmed.
“He then asked us to announce it on Facebook.”
Written in sand, relayed online. Ephemeral and eternal.
Nice!
“Enough is enough”, cried Deakin University boss Jane den Hollander this week.
Was she refusing another increase to her annual pay packet of around $900,000?
Not on your Nelly – Geelong’s highest-paid public servant was on the front foot decrying any cuts to Deakin funding in next month’s Federal Budget.
“Let’s invest in the future and in the next generation,” Professor den Hollander demanded.
Fair enough, too, since we’re clearly investing enough in their predecessors.
Right, Professor? Professor?
Also with money on her mind is Barwon Heads’ Georgia Imhoff as she prepares to step out in the fight against preventable blindness.
Georgia will walk 60 kilometres in next months’ Melbourne Coastrek, raising money for The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The namesake foundation of Australia’s most legendary eye surgeons hopes to reap $1.5 million from the coastal trek to Cape Schank – but Georgia notes that she and her teammates have already benefitted as well.
“In addition to fund-raising, preparing for Melbourne Coastrek has given us an unexpected benefit,” she explains, “it stopped us eating too many chocolate eggs over Easter.”
Just like the Easter bunny at the Geelong Showgrounds egg hunt!
Anyway, readers can provide Georgia’s team with eggs-elent support at Melbourne.coastrek.com.au.
