Shire’s snub of groups leads to call for ‘action’

By Cherie Donnellan
SURF Coast Shire’s new chief must improve communications with residents left in the dark over various issues, according to community groups.
They lashed the shire this week with claims of ongoing failures to respond to numerous emails and phone calls.
Friends of Jan Juc Creek Reserve spokesman Sid Pope said council officers’ continued to display a “reticence to respond” to his letters and calls.
“We’re still awaiting feedback about whether council has signed off on the RACV’s works to the reserve. This has just been a ridiculously drawn-out affair.”
Mr Pope said council officers kept telling him they were “looking into it and would get back to (him)”.
Jan Juc’s Sue O’Shanassy said she had “major dramas” obtaining answers from shire officers during a three-year battle against unwanted footpaths.
Ms O’Shanassy was part of a community group fighting council’s proposal to charge residents for construction of footpaths in Jan Juc.
She believed the shire failed to consider “what the community wants”.
“It’s like they’re operating in a world of their own.”
Bells Beach Preservation Society president Maurice Cole said the shire had yet to respond to the society’s concerns over the legality of buses in the beach’s parking area despite him sending several emails over the past month.
“We first sent an email to council on April 19 with our concerns about buses being in the reserve.
“Once they agreed on the buses licensing system for Bells we sent another email questioning whether it was legal for the buses to be in the reserve but we’ve had no response.”
Each of the community group representatives said they “hoped” the pending appointment of a new chief executive officer would herald “much-needed change” in the shire’s communication standards.
Last month the shire advertised for a communications officer whose role would include “promot(ing) a positive image for the organisation by providing accurate, consistent, high-quality information to the community, the media and to other agencies”.
The shire refuses to answer questions from the Independent.