Dear valued subscriber,
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Another week, another mess for Warrnambool City councillors.
Last week a majority of councillors voted to ignore feedback from more than 750 ratepayers by applying for a big lift in rates.
This week a majority of councillors voted to ignore the wider community, opting to back 34 objectors, when it rejected a planning permit for the proposed drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation centre on eight acres at Dennington.
The council's own planning experts recommended the permit be approved. A majority of councillors failed to assess the application on its planning merits, instead coming up with laughable reasons including a lack of top soil and the wind would be enough to make people take up drugs.
The council had a chance to show leadership on this issue and failed.
The council is desperate to find a solution to its lack of revenue, well the solution might be blowing in the wind. This week we revealed a new $875m windfarm is being planned near Hexham. It is expected to generate about $900,000 a year in rates for Moyne Shire. Maybe the city council should be looking for such a development within its boundaries?
Don't forget to update your email newsletter preferences if you want to receive our new, subscriber-only emails about footy and netball. You can do so at the bottom of this email by clicking on 'update subscription preferences'.
Here's a selection of stories that made headlines this week.
Until next week,