OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT
OAKESHOTT ENCOURAGES COUNCIL TO MAKE FORMAL APPLICATIONS, RATHER THAN INFORMAL COMPLAINTS ON SEWERAGE
Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott, has written to the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council asking him to confirm his position that Council has formally asked for sewerage money from the State and it has not been received.
"Either the State Government or the Mayor is not telling the whole truth on this matter, Mr Oakeshott said.
"Following the Mayor's public blaming of the State Government for Council's rate rise on sewerage in Council's draft budget, I asked for more details from the NSW Minister for Local Government and Minister for Water Utilities. Their response does not compare well with the Mayor's public comments, said Mr Oakeshott.
"The Ministers have confirmed $38 million has been provided to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council towards the upgrading of its water supply and sewerage infrastructure since 1995, said Mr Oakeshott.
"As well, the State Government has previously advised Council that it will subsidise sewerage for Herons Creek but this has not been converted to a formal offer because Council has not completed its planning approvals nor formally asked for the money, said Mr Oakeshott.
"In relation to the North Shore sewerage scheme, the NSW Premier allocated an additional $160 million to the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Scheme and he confirmed this would enable subsidy of this particular North Shore sewerage scheme. Again, Council has not written to Government seeking funding for this project, said Mr Oakeshott.
"I am also advised Council is fully aware that their primary responsibility is water and sewerage services to their community, and that the funding of growth works is to be met primarily through its developer charges. The State assistance is to fund backlog works, and this has previously been provided for backlog works at Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills and the Camden Haven, said Mr Oakeshott.
"I am therefore looking for some clarification from the Mayor in regard what exactly he is talking about when he says he has had enough of waiting on the State to come through with the money for Council's sewerage works responsibilities. At this stage, the advice from the State is that they are the ones doing the waiting, not the Council, said Mr Oakeshott.
"As well, I have asked my office to check our files, and I can confirm no letter from the Mayor or from Council has been received asking for support in any recent applications for sewerage infrastructure funding, said Mr Oakeshott
"I am therefore looking for some direction from the current Mayor in regard his public comments on this, so that I can lobby on the areas behalf where appropriate, Mr Oakeshott said today.
14 May 2007