Page 2110 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018
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years since I have been here, it has become clear that this government does not care about roads, rates, rubbish and parking.
We see it over and over again. There is a lack of care or concern about local services. There is a lack of investment in local services. We have been starving this area, gradually reducing the funding so that we can say in the budget that we are spending more—but only by comparison with last year. It is not the case if you look at it over a number of years.
I am glad to stand here to support Ms Lee’s motion. In fact, two years ago I did my own little experiment. I looked at my street sweeping schedule for the suburb I live in. Every day I wrote the date in chalk on the gutter and took a photo of it. My street was not swept during that month or else the chalk on the gutter would have gone.
I wrote to the minister about it, who said that they were running a bit behind schedule. But why not update the schedule rather than have a fixed schedule that looks like it has not been updated for years? We need to get back to the basics. That is why I applaud Ms Lee on her motion today about providing better local services. I commend her motion to the Assembly.
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (4.10): I thank all members for their contributions to my motion. I think one of the things we can all agree on, on all sides of the chamber, is that we are all very proud of our bush capital city, and no doubt we all love having trees in our streets and in the city. It is disappointing once again not to have the support of the minister for my motion. It is also disappointing, but not at all surprising, not to have Ms Le Couteur’s support for my motion. Given that it is clear that the minister is refusing to listen to my voice as I bring forward the concerns of my constituents, perhaps she may be moved by the direct quotes that I will bring to her. This is from an Ainslie resident:
I was not aware there was a schedule for the sweepers and would love to know if this is indeed a ‘thing’ paying higher rates in the inner north suburbs with yet very little services.
From a Turner resident:
Lots of uncollected leaves often end up on our sloped entrance to underground unit parking. Can often cause difficulties for cars getting up the gradient. Unit body corporate has to collect the leaves themselves.
From a Narrabundah resident:
Needs more regular sweeping.
From a Hackett resident:
They used to sweep the street more regularly. They block gutters when it rains … guess where they end up. Yep, blocking the drains.
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