I empathise with the general opinion that Councillors should get into the real world. The Southern Downs Regional Council should be cutting costs on non-core issues. Road, street and bridge repairs and maintenance (and in certain cases, upgrades) are far more important than anything else in this council area. Next in importance, but still needing to be maintained at a reasonable level of operation, are things like water and sewage, libraries and parks.
Too much money is being spent on salaries and wages, Mickey Mouse projects, for example, prettying up our waste disposal areas (rubbish dumps!) and streetscapes and we do not need a big thermometer. Enough!
Let’s cut to the chase and do only what is essential until the council’s and our finances are in better shape. Too much borrowing and increasing rates now will spell disaster for the whole region in the long term.
Bob Johnson, Stanthorpe
