Letter to Editor

I along with many other residents of the Huon Valley whom I have talked to, they are so disappointed in the Huon Valley councils decision to undertake contract work on state government roads.

The Council decision is costing jobs in the private sector, who have the equipment to undertake this work. What has possessed this council to compete against the private sector to undertake this work, when our own council roads are in such disrepair? Why should I as a ratepayer be paying for the purchase of equipment to undertake this work on state government roads? What is happening with our own road maintenance program? Not much I would suggest.

With the upcoming council elections it is important that we elect candidates that are prepared to take up these issues and change Council policies, to act in the interest of the community it serves and not their own personal self interests. As a long standing earthmoving and civil contractor I know the importance of our road network to the development of the economy of the Huon Valley. For to long there has been insufficient attention paid to the importance of our road infrastructure. While the council tells us how it puts away funds for road infrastructure maintenance, it does not tell us how effective they are in spending those funds and providing value for money for the ratepayer.

If the Council wishes to continue to offer its services to the private sector to undertake government work then so be it. Then don’t expect or think for one moment, that the private sector contractors won’t want to and will demand so, that we will under take road maintenance work for Local Government. Given the Huon Valley council has taken this approach, it is now time to truly privatise councils own workforce so they can compete on a true level playing field with the private sector.

Ben Olbrich
Cygnet
Ben Olbrich Cygnet