http://aspirecq.com/?p=92
Will the future of our region be better by staying amalgamated or de-amalgamating? To me this is what the primary argument about de-amalgamation should be about. The difference between population and rate revenue percentages argument may seem reasonable, but is that how any region should be managed? For example if the ‘spend money where it is derived from’ principal was adopted by a newly de-amalgamated Livingstone Council would a suitable sewerage plant be funded for the Keppel Sands Caravan Park?
I assume most of Livingstone rate revenue is derived between the Causeway and Farnborough. If correct, a major expense at Keppel Sands could be disproportionate to the percentage of general rate revenue collected from there. Should this stop it from happening? One would assume, as there is a justifiable need for it, that it would still be approved. It should be the same for the whole region. Decisions have to be justified on what and where expenditure is to be made on a need and potential to be realised basis. Spending money in a section of the region just to match its population share to me is not good justification. The divisional voting system Rockhampton Regional Council persists with is in my mind part of the problem. It encourages councillors to put their division first region second. Change it. The primary focus of councillors should be what is best for the region. While not perfect, the model Gladstone adopted of voting for councillors from the one pool of all the hopefuls arguably encourages a stronger regional focus of the candidates.
I believe the communities that made up the four councils in the Rockhampton region prior to amalgamation were and will continue to be intertwined. Why untwine something that is interdependent on each? It wasn’t perfect prior to amalgamation; there will always be criticism of where and how money is being spent, no matter what size the council is. It’s democracy in action.
Will our whole region be better or worse off, that should be the crux of the de-amalgamation debate. I look forward to seeing how this point is debated. Hopefully it won’t be a one sided one.