Deplorable
I was reading through the various historic articles posted on the wall at the Dungog Show Historic Society stand at the 2007 show on Saturday and noted with interest some of comments by visitors and participants to the inaugral show. One comment that applies equally to today described the condition of the roads
getting to the show ground as Deplorable.
After dodging potholes along Dungog Road and Dowling St I saw a lady trip and fall on the uneven surface as she crossed the street and thought nothing seems to change. Here we are in the first decade of the 21st century in very prosperous times compared to those of our pioneers and we cannot even afford to maintain the main streets of the main town in the shire. What a disgrace.
Of course Clarence Town, Paterson, Vacy and Gresford do not fare any better so there is certainly no favouritism when it comes to allocating funds there just is not enough to go round and one wonders how long it will be before our roads and streets turn to dust and we begin to experience what it is like to live in
a 3rd world environment.
I am not criticising council as they have been handed the poisoned chalice by a Sydney centric Government intent on impoverishing councils into unviability so that they can continue with their long range amalgamation program and spend our hard earned taxes on high profile projects designed to get themselves re elected.
I think it is time though for Council as the representative of the people of the shire to show some leadership and stand up and demand that government allocates funding for the rebuilding of our infrastructure before embarking on the construction of a dam that has been justified on what appears to be fabricated data. What better way to get this message through than a referendum timed for 24 November.
Ask the people – would you prefer $300m spent on roads that will benefit the shire or would you prefer $300m spent on a dam that will not benefit the shire.
Geoff Berry
WallarobbaLetter to Editor Dungog Chronicle 14 November 2007