By Dominique Tassell
I’m happiest in my job when I’m running around the region from event to event, getting the opportunity to chat with locals.
Even when attending a 60th-anniversary celebration, I seem to find myself talking about the big issues in the region.
I can’t help it, we all know I’m a tad opinionated. So naturally, I love knowing what everyone else’s opinion is.
One thing came up over and over again this week; Council funds.
Now, personally, I think the whole hullabaloo about clubs coming forward for funding is a bit ridiculous.
“Oh no, we have to help local community groups, what a disaster.”
The Council went 60k over budget on ONE project at WIRAC.
They just spent at least 20k on events in Stanthorpe we really didn’t need.
They just spent god knows how much money putting up signs no one is reading in Palmerin Street.
They spent a bunch of money digging a hole at the dump instead of investing in, oh I don’t know, recycling?
They spent money building a large concrete slab in a HOT SHED in Stanthorpe for people to throw their rubbish on.
It sounds fake, but it’s not.
Maybe instead of charging people to dispose of their environmentally-hazardous t-tape in Allora (in the now limited hours they can actually go there), you shouldn’t throw a free event that discourages people from going to the ticketed events that invest money back into the community.
Like, I’m no accountant but I think your financial priorities are off.
When it comes to boosting morale after a period of drought and fires, we don’t need jumping castles. We need actual mental health funding.
When it comes to a social outlet for locals, you know what’s really good for that? All the clubs in the region they don’t want to fund.
Instead of bandaid solutions, maybe Council should invest in some real mental health support. People are screaming out for a drop-in centre.
Maybe instead of spending 20k on random free events, you could have invested that money in tickets to existing events so there wasn’t a divide in the community between people who can afford those events and people who can’t.
Maybe you could have actually asked the community what they want and need.
