The Heart of the Huon Team, announced last week by Councillor Mike Wilson (Huon Valley News, September 10), “represents a continuation of the Futures Team party-style politics that have prevailed on the Huon Valley Council since the beginning of the century”, said mayoral aspirant Peter Coad.
A former councillor and deputy mayor, Mr Coad called on intending candidates in the October 14-28 local government elections, to “stand on their own abilities and not depend on the preferential system to re-elect councillors who were longtime members of Mayor Robert Armstrong’s former Futures Team”.
Mr Coad pointed to what he regarded as the Future Team’s failures:
• A Huon Valley unemployment rate of 9.4%, compared with the state level of 7.1%
• The loss of upwards of $4 million of public money through investing in speculative financial products
• A rapidly diminishing council cash position, now understood to be about $3.5 million, down from more than $12 million six years ago
• Council high wages costs that exceed general rate revenue based on it’s own Annual Report for 2012/13
• Poor road infrastructure and no significant road-sealing program.
• No serious tourism-marketing strategy and a declining business economy.
Mr Coad said Cr Wilson’s so-called “collaborative” Heart of the Huon team idea represented only an offer of “more of the same”. The Futures Team had a history of block voting, said Mr Coad, who asked: “Why would it be any different with the Heart of the Huon Team of Mike Wilson?”
Voting in next month’s elections would be very important if the people of the Huon Valley “really want a new direction”, said Mr Coad. “The change from the Futures Team to the Heart of the Huon Team means you have the same coach, the same score card, and three of the same team members, that lost our $4 million — and you are asked to entrust them with their promise of a ‘new direction’!”
Peter Coad said the views of a long-time observer of the council, Stan Armstrong, were typical of many who are dissatisfied with council’s performance. Mr Armstrong, a longstanding and respected valley resident, said Mr Coad, had asked him: “Who is really running this council? Who really are the people behind the scenes ratifying these nominations? I find it difficult to understand, and accept, that we are now asked to support Councillor Wilson and his team of candidates, which include persons who were in office when the loss of substantial council funds occurred.”
On a more personal note, Mr Armstrong said: I am sick of paying for storm-water services when no storm-water line is connected to my house.” He said he knew many other people in the valley were also paying for non-existent storm-water services.
Mr Coad said: “I hope the new candidates that form part of the Heart of the Huon team can appreciate the gravity of the situation we face in Tasmania, particularly in the Huon Valley. I do not wish any candidate to feel obligated to follow the people who have made them part of a team that has contributed to the grave situation that we face today in the Huon Valley.”
Peter Coad suggested Councillor Wilson “should resist his move to head a political grouping by standing back and allowing electors to assess each candidate on their own merits and then decide who they want to represent them on council”.
Voters, he said, “should not be subject to the pressures of a preferential voting system that suits Councillor Wilson’s political aspirations”.
Peter Coad, Deep Bay, Cygnet, Tas
