VOTE E
FOR A COMMUNITY FOCUSED, CAPABLE AND COMMITTED COUNCIL
FOR WARD ONE
VOTE ONE GROUP E
Our Committment
As the local government policy landscape continues to change the Council needs to be equipped to respond to and continually seek to ensure that all spheres of government pay attention to the well being of the community and the needs of residents.
We are committed to the opening up of Councils policy planning and implementation process at all stages to the day to day involvement by the people affected by the policies and strategies formulated. Thus having, a Council whose management and strategic direction is one that all citizens have had the opportunity to express their views directly through participation in the environmental, economic, social and planning decisions that affect our lives.
We have the skills knowledge and attributes to represent community views on Council and the ability to accept alternative points of view while working with others to resolve issues.
The challenges created by the oil crisis and climate change are not future risks but present problems. The impacts affects just about everything Council does. Newcastle like the rest of the world finds itself in a challenging environment marked by ever increasing demands. Environmental management is becoming a core function for Council. While environmental programs such as storm water improvements is of vital importance we also need to ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into all of Councils activities.
Climbing fuel prices will have a significant impact on Councils budgets and operations. To maintain the goods and services that the citydepends on we need to identify the Councils vulnerabilities as early as possible and address them carefully and comprehensively.
The Council is already caught in a cost squeeze. Revenue growth is not keeping up with the cost of providing and maintaining assets and services for the long term.
While Council has introduced a range of efficiency initiatives it needs to make long term financial plans based on sound asset management an organisation wide priority. Council needs to ensure that a broad range of information is available to allow informed decision. It must make and adequately plan for the maintenance, renewal and ongoing operating costs of infrastructure and services while taking into account long term consequences of resource allocation.
This will go some way to achieving greater cost efficiencies and lessoning the impact of the costs versus revenue squeeze on ratepayers.
While Council should be doing all it can to improve financial sustainability through the pursuit of further internal efficiencies it should also be seeking improvements to the State and Federal funding arrangements so that they are better tailored to actual cost movements in providing services and maintaining and renewing assets.
Our long term vision for the City is to promote growth and opportunities, by having a Council which is adaptive and can act creatively to economic change and is able to innovate to improve.
A Learning City that grows skills and knowledge and provides lifelong opportunities.
A Connected City which aids accessibility for goods and people and encourages sustainable choices.
A Living City which provides good quality, affordable services for strong communities in a sustainable environment.
A Lively City which provides a “city buzz” in culture, tourism, shopping and leisure.
A Sustainable City which manages our resource use, energy and development.
A Well-Governed City with community involvement and strategic engagement.
To elect someone who will make decisions based on the needs of residents and what is best for Newcastle.
A person who is not subject to or entwined in Party Political agendas or indebted to any individual or group.
A person who will be a Community focused, capable and committed Councillor Vote 1 Group E On September the 13th.
If you share our vision and are interested in helping the campaign or require further information call 0431 519 368 or email ward1groupe@nca.org.au
More not less outdoor youth " chill out" areas
No wonder the Newcastle Skate park is looking a bit tired and unloved - it was established in the 1990's and since then seems to have had minimum support from Council in regards to upgrades and maintenance. The Loft has run some successful programs and events and if the venue was maintained one can only feel that it would be a hive of activity from all walks of life as a multi use recreation area for young and old envied by all due to its location. Visitors and locals would intermingle free of cost and social division. If Council looks to remove the Skate Park - it desperately needs to replace it elsewhere or maintain and develop more active youth "places" than what it currently has in the LGA. Places to " chill " for young people are being replaced by empty - lifeless artworks called public space, where any activity other than sipping a latte is unacceptable as such our kids will be back on the streets to skate , ride and hang.
No comments:
Post a Comment