Shire’s fiscal cliff warrants audit

By JONATHON HOWARD

CAPTION: Concerned Tenterfield rate payer and pensioner Robert Walker has called for an independent audit of Tenterfield Shire Council.
SEVERAL residents have backed calls for an independent audit of Tenterfield Shire Council amid fears of forced amalgamation, says concerned local Robert Walker.
Mr Walker recently wrote to the Free Times (Letters, 13 June) to raise the idea of an independent audit of Tenterfield Council.
The letter has since sparked widespread support and at least 12 other rate payers support the idea.
Mr Walker said the council’s anti-amalgamation stance was doomed to fail because of its own intent to force a rate rise of 40 per cent over the next four years.
“These two notions are connected,” he said. “Forcing a rate rise of such magnitude displays poor management procedures that brought us to this point and as such council’s ability to manage our shire is brought into question and amalgamation becomes probable.”
Mr Walker said council needed to embrace an independent efficiency evaluation of council operations, evaluation of protocols and general management; as well as staff ratios.
“The selected firm to carry out this examination should have no connection with Tenterfield and be drawn from elsewhere,” he said.
Mr Walker said the audit results would reveal council as managing efficiently – thus giving council grounds to repel amalgamation.
“Or the audit finds problems but offers solutions,” he said.
“Then we have time to implement these changes and perhaps avoid amalgamation and a rate rise would perhaps not be necessary.
Mr Walker is now calling on more residents to get behind the idea and he is planning to host a public meeting once enough residents show their support.
Mayor Peter Petty said Mr Walker was entitled to his opinion but said he felt there was no need for an independent audit.
“I don’t think it’s needed,” he said. “I can’t see that an independed audit is warranted – this council is open and transparent and there’s no hidden agenda.”
Meanwhile, both Tenterfield Shire Council mayor Peter Petty and Tenterfield Shire CEO Lotta Jackson were attending a national general assembly of councils in Canberra from Monday to Wednesday.
Mr Walker said other concerned residents could contact him on 0401 537 146 or email (preferred) likerobert@gmail.com