https://themountgambierindependent.blogspot.com/

The Mount Gambier Independent, Mount Gambier (2024)

01/03/2024

Hi,
Quick correction and related apology to dear availees.
Just re-listening to last weeks ABC SE Radio interview with Mt Gambier City Council CEO Sarah Philpott and picked-up an error on my behalf.
I stated in an earlier post that the 'operating loss' re the Farcical Aquatic Recreation Centre (FARC/Wulanda) was $100k but the correct loss is actually $40k (over last 3 months).
Apologies I mis-heard '$464k' (revenue) as '$406k'; I got the math right but not the original number.
It's only a $40k loss due to increased usage and the associated wages, etc.
My mistake, but the general tenet of my original post stands, especially the CEO's admission that the FARC wages are being paid by MG Ratepayers.
Still going through the interview again, gourd help me, and there's just so much to unpack on that single issue alone, Ratepayers paying the utilities and wages, etc, it's likely to be a post on TMGI The Blog by the end of the weekend.
Cheers, Nick.

29/02/2024

Hi,
The Facebook text-box prompt asks "What's on your mind?"
For me it's not "what" but 'whom'.
Aaron Bushnell.
And you'd be excused for not knowing who that is because Australia's fully cooked, complicit MSM have done everything they can to ignore him.
Aaron is the young USofA serviceman who took his own life outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington as a protest against the Palestinian Genocide.
This story was/is all over Social Media eg Twitter/X .
If you choose to search and find out about Aaron, please be aware that there is very graphic footage circulating on-line, so be careful please.
Aaron Bushnell RIP

28/02/2024

Hello,
Just posted on TMGI The Blog another smattering of correspondence between myself and the Dog & Cat Management Board re Mt Gambier City Council's appalling Impound Facility.
Apologies that this stuff is weeks old before posting, but ultimately, it is absolutely current, not least-of-all because that appalling MGCC facility remains 'Officially Approved'.
Apparently MGCC have this week stuck a 'whirly-vent' on the roof of the tin shed Impound.
Being pedantic I know but I've had an absolute gut-full of all concerned, but why was this 'whirly-vent' necessary if the Impound was already fit for purpose as 'Officially Re-Approved' by the DCMB over 3 weeks ago?
MGCC will tell you it's all about improving the welfare of the doggos.
It's up to you if you believe a word of that.
Cheers.

23/02/2024

Hi,
Faaaaascinating discussion on ABC SE Radio yesterday (Friday 23 Feb 24) with Mt Gamber City Council CEO Sarah Philpott re the latest massive cost Blowout at the Farcical Aquatic Recreation Centre (FARC/Wulanda).
Whilst dismissing another $500k increase in 'running costs' (over just the last 3 months?), the CEO blamed "depreciation" of the asset and increased running costs due to increased patronage.
I don't believe the numbers because it's MGCC saying it, simple as that, but as part of the explanation the CEO identified that increased usage demanded more staff and therefore more expense, so it was actually a good cost blow-out 'cos it represented public usage/support for the FARC.
If one ignores the twisted logic that increased usage that drives increased debt is a good thing, the CEO has officially identified 'staff wages' as a cost borne by MGCC Ratepayers.
This is the first 'public admission' I've heard on this specific issue, but it adds to Ratepayers' financial burden.
Following-on from revelations that Ratepayers are paying all the Utilities at the FARC, we're also paying the staff wages.
And who then is 'legally responsible' for issues of Workers Comp, Sexual Harassment/Bullying, etc?
And what the heck sort of 'contract' has Belgravia paying MGCC approx $150kpa to run the FARC but paying none of the Running Costs but obviously getting something from the secret 'Profit Sharing Agreement'?
What in the actual heck is going-on over there?
The whole FARC debasco (debacle/fiasco) is a corrupt disgrace that has 'bankrupted' Mt Gambier and it will be Ratepayers who will suffer/bear the consequences for decades to come.
Cheers, Nick.

20/02/2024

Hi,
Re the Tourism Guide photo issue.
Finally remembered to grab a copy of the Mt Gambier Regional Guide and settin' right next to it was the Limestone Coast (Tourism Guide).
And thankfully I was comparing an apple to an orange, but as the photo below will confirm, it was a very orange pithy apple and a shiny red crunchy orange.
I don't know whom copied whom, but the LC(TG) thinks the Blue Lake is a good cover photo.
To my eye that 'blue' looks a bit enhanced/altered somehow, but it could just be a digital camera/app that's done it.
Being pedantic, I thought that 'Limestone Coast' is the 'Regional' nomenclature.
Cheers, Nick.

19/02/2024

Have I missed something or am I comparing apples to oranges?
Recently posted about the public backlash/criticism of Mt Gambier City Council's new 'Tourism Guide' cover photo of a woman standing, back to camera, looking at a puddle, etc.
But today (Mon 19 Feb 24) I was looking forlornly in the window of the closed Aquifer Tours/Cafe building, and staring back at me was a 'Tourism Guide', and the cover photo appeared to be the same woman, but now with a 'hipster man' standing to her left and a swathe of electric blue in front of them.
I'm no expert but it looks like the original photo with Hipster and very unrealistic Electric Blue Lake added.
Perhaps it's one of a series, I don't know, but certainly the 'blue' was not 'Blue Lake Blue' if you get what I mean.
Had to re-check that I wasn't getting photos and/or guides confused, etc, and sure enough there's multiple articles on this specific topic and using that original photo/cover of 'a woman' by herself and no EBL.
Are there different versions? I can't find that mentioned.
Has MGCC bowed to public pressure and re-printed the Guides with the altered photo?
And if so, at what cost?
Any clarification would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

17/02/2024

A General Apology
A number of people have been 'messaging' me directly.
Apologies but I won't be responding/answering and I'd ask that people don't 'message'.
It's absolutely 100% about my own personal stuff, but I'm not on Facebook to 'socialise', I find it all very much an unpleasant necessity related to TMGI The Blog.
Please continue to 'Comment', any and all input is appreciated & I'll always try to respond asap, but only via 'Reply' to a 'Comment'.
If anyone is offended, I can only apologise again.
Cheers , Nick.

17/02/2024

Hi,
Re the trees being dropped & chopped in Hastings Cunningham Reserve, at the Western end of the Apollo soccer pitch.
I phoned MGCC at 0930hrs (Fri 16th Feb 2024) & 'reported' the removal of those trees and the receptionist said she'd pass it on to someone (un-named).
The same receptionist called me back (not someone from MGCC's bloated 'Managerial Mateaucracy') & left a phone message at 1620hrs stating that it was the Apollo crew & they did have MGCC permission.
The reasons given, allegedly the trees were/are riddled "with borers", and also they drop large limbs.
Properly maintained/cropped trees very rarely drop limbs, and apart from a couple of very healthy looking stumps, "borers" is impossible to prove in trees already removed.
Even if these claims are genuine/reasonable, it doesn't explain;
1) why didn't MGCC do it? why did the Apollo crew have to do it?; and
2) why/how are Apollo dropping mature trees in the HCR Parkland that is not part of their 'license' area.
Those trees were/are in HCR Parkland proper, on the Western side of the Western boundary fence defining the Apollo 'license'.
None of those trees have/can drop limbs onto the 'License Area', and there's already tons of carparking on the 'LA' and open ground on HCR for parking, warming-up, etc.
And why and/or to whom were those trees "sold" after being dropped & chopped in a Public Parkland?
At a rough guesstimation, 1/4 of the mature trees have been cut-down at HCR in the last 6-12 months.
And not a single tree planted/replaced.
And no group/club at HCR has a Lease' they are all on 'Licenses' meaning that MGCC can boot them all out with literally zero notice.
In early 2023 MGCC were having 'Secret Meetings' about "Hastings Cunningham Reserve Area and Public Housing".
But I'm sure everything's fine.

16/02/2024

Hello again,
Also at Hastings Cunningham Reserve yesterday morning, Thursday 15th February 2024, and out onto the Rail Lands/Trail and across to the Old Rail Roundhouse paddock and back along the Rail Trail and out through HCR and up Sheperdson Rd and back around and through HCR again, along the Rail Track, back and forth, over and over, again and again.
Apparently for several hours.
And multiple vehicles involved
I saw them several times while I was there.
As I understand it this flurry/frenzy of activity lasted 2-3 hours.
Why were SAPol literally swarming all over that whole area yesterday morning?
Was that circling helicopter involved/related?
Checked The Ambulance Chasers webpage and not a word, which only makes it more 'curious'.
What was happening and/or has happened along the Rail Trail to solicit this intense response?
Cheers, Nick.

16/02/2024

Hi,
Just got back from Hastings Cunningham Reserve and there's 5 more apparently healthy trees ringed with red spray paint along that Western boundary of the soccer pitch where 5 have been removed last week (see previous post).
Rang Mt Gambier City Council about it at 0930hrs but haven't heard anything back yet.
HCR Dog Parks remain run-down almost derelict-looking and weed-infested because there's been no 'maintenance' since MGCC allegedly spent 2 days there back in early December 2023.
The same infrastructure and maintenance issues that were apparent back then remain unaddressed today.
Fell off my chair laughing to read MGCC's Jane Featherstonehaugh stating that, as 1 of 3 issues unresolved by MGCC, 'drainage issues are yet to be dealt with", 'cos 3-4 weeks ago there were 2 blokes there doing exactly that.
And we all discussed the obvious and immediate benefits of a low-profile 'sheep trough with re-fill float' thingy that doggos could jump in and/or drink out of, without some-one having to re-fill the bowl every 30 seconds, no blocked drains, etc.
My idea, and I was delightedly taken-aback when MGCC worker bloke actually said ' we could cut the legs off the trough and leave just enough clearance for the drain plug, etc, and that way li'l puppers and old doggos could get in/out'.
That dude, or at the very least some-one who thinks like that is The Dude/Dudette I want to have responsibility for the welfare of doggos in Mt Gambier.
Cheers, Nick

15/02/2024

Hi,
Does anyone know who and/or why 5 trees were dropped, chopped and carted away in Hastings Cunningham Reserve last week?
Probably Thursday 8th February 'some guys in a ute' rolled into HCR, went to the trees at the Western end of the soccer pitch, and dropped 5 apparently healthy trees.
That weekend several guys/cars were there chopping it up and took it all.
It's alleged to me that at least 3 of those trees had "sold" spray-painted on them before they were felled.
Apparently none of the cars involved had Mt Gambier City Council logos or any other markings.
Was this legal? Was it ordered by MGCC and if so why? Why were 5 perfectly healthy trees removed?
Cheers, Nick.

14/02/2024

Hi,
Just posted on TMGI Blog the first of a series regarding the grossly inhumane MGCC Impound Facility and the complicit role of the Dog & Cat Management Board in 're-approving' that appalling tin-shed in the MGCC Works Depot carpark.
Cheers, Nick.

13/02/2024

Perhaps Social Media isn't entirely a retrograde septic tank, an open sewer of human bile, etc etc, because only minutes after posting about the wee pupper I found at HCR Dog Park, the owner has contacted me, etc.
Bit of a semi-private conversation so I won't get into it here, just to repeat my comment to the owner;
It's all good, the pupper's okay, and it's actually the 4th pupper I've met that's taken itself to HCR Dog Park.
And if I achieve nothing else today, at least I managed this. Woohoo!
For The Love Of Dog, Nick.

13/02/2024

Hi,
Went to Hastings Cunningham Reserve Doggo Park this morning about 0930hrs and there was a black kelpie pupper locked in the Big Doggo side but sans it's hooman(s).
People leaving Small Puppers Park said it was there when they'd arrived and I stayed about 45mins.
Nobody showed-up and it had no ID so I made a coupla' phone-calls for advice.
SEAWL politely declined because they 'legally' cannot accept 'Found Animals', etc, but I was not going to turn that that poor pupper over to the appallingly inhumane, cruel and deceitful Mt Gambier City Council.
And if I needed a reason and/or justification, they both walked past me as I was driving into HCR.
A man I know from HCRDP was walking a dog I knew wasn't his, so when I asked he said he was 'walking it for Council (Impound)' and 'it's going to Hamilton (Impound?) tomorrow'.
I very politely and very immediately backed-out of that specific conversation explaining what was/is happening with MGCC the disgraceful Dog & Cat Management Board, and the MGCC Impound Facility, etc, and that I didn't want to get him into any trouble for speaking to me.
I didn't ask how or why or when or is it voluntary or 'paid', etc etc, but MGCC will obviously know who this person is.
And 2 minutes later, I run into this kelpie pupper in HCRDP
Bottom-line, I couldn't just leave it there and I sure-as-shreck wasn't going to hand it over to MGCC if that could be at all avoided, so I took the kelpie to my doggo's vet, and turned it in there at 1045hrs.
As I understand it , the pupper will likely receive some sort of basic health check, before the vets have to surrender it to MGCC anyway.
The vets were still looking for a micro-chip when I left.
Apols for not posting sooner but I just got home.
The pupper is likely with MGCC by now.
Please share on Social Media if you can help.
Cheers, Nick.

09/02/2024

Just posted this 'Comment' below on the MGCC Impounded Dogs page regarding a poor li'l pupper that was 'Impounded' at MGCC's appalling Works Depot carpark tin shed/cyclone-wire cage Impound Facility.
I note that both the Dog and Cat Management Board and MGCC are publicly declaring that a "Senior Project Officer" was 'sent from Adelaide' this week and has re-inspected and re-approved that appallingly inhumane site.
My 'Comment':
What isolation and testing was done regarding this animal? What is this "skin condition"? How/when/where was the animal assessed? Was it assessed and cleared of any infectious disease before being moved? Was it moved to Wet Noses 'Pet Shop Vet' to be assessed? How was it isolated in MGCC's Impound Facility when that site has no 'Isolation Section'? What about the contaminated waste being washed-out into MGCC's Works Depot Carpark? That poor dog looks like it has Mange, which is highly contagious and persistently infectious, etc, but whatever the "skin condition" the potential for cross-contamination in the recently 're-inspected and re-improved' is obvious. The internal walls don't reach the floor. It's right there in every photo on every MGCC page, in The Border Watch, etc etc. It's a massive isolation/contamination/hygiene breach of the DCMB 'guidelines', but the DCMB "Senior Project Officer" allegedly sent from Adelaide to 're-inspect' that appalling Impound Facility allegedly could not see it. Or that there is no plumbing, or that there's no 'Isolation Section'. I hope that poor dog isn't contagious because if it is, that contagion is already spread half-way across town and the MGCC Impound Facility is contaminated.

I added, 'Apology it was meant to read recently re-inspected and re-approved Impound Facility'.
So we are supposed to believe that the DCMB went to all the trouble and expense of flying "a Senior Project Officer" down to Mt Gambier, and that "SPO" went to that tin shed in a carpark and was unable to see the massive and critical breaches of their own 'rules/guidelines/laws.
Balderdash!
Cheers, Nick.

06/02/2024

It's exactly this difficult.
MGCC's latest Tourism Guide washed-out cover photo of a woman standing in some weeds lookin' at a puddle.
Nice photo but not for the cover of a Tourism Guide when you've got one of Australia's most recognisable geographical features right there.
Mount Gambier - The Blue Lake City
MGCC's reasoning for this photo?
1) that The Kids 'll dig it man, and
2) people complain when they come here and it ain't blue.
This is nonsense, 1) 'The Kids' ain't reading Tourism Guides, they're on phones/apps, and 2) the peak Tourism season, XMAS/Summer, the lake is blue.
MGCC promotes "the famous waterfall" in Cave Garden knowing people complain 'cos they come here and there isn't one, but seem less keen to promote something that does rank highly in the 'Global Hole Tourism' stakes and is there 24/7.
1) Have a 'Town Festival' each end of The Turning Blue, bringing in tourists, and
2) promote those Festivals prominently in Tourism material, therefore also explaining it to potential visitors.
3) get an old man with an I4 phone/camera to take a shot like this (below) and whack that on the cover.
Anybody who has seen it live knows that even this photo does not capture the almost hypnotic blue.
It's a frickin' electric-blue lake in a freakin' volcano people! Celebrate it don't hide it!
4) Don't then have international visitors left sitting in the gutter waiting to go on the iconic and quite surreal Aquifer Tour.
Cheers, Nick.

04/02/2024

A little miffed that the Mount Gambier & Districts Residents & Ratepayers Assoc have beaten me to the metaphoric punch, but then again it did free-up a big chunk a' my weekend.
1) It's been established that 1/2 of the Dog/Cat Management Board members are chosen from the Local Government Assoc, the other half by the Minister.
2) That one LGA representative Board member works for Mt Gambier City Council.
Is this person therefore the same person that;
1) planned this disgracefully cruel Impound Facility for MGCC, then, 2) approved this inhumane disgrace for MGCC as the DCMB 'inspector', and then;
3) consequently as DCMB rep 're-inspected and re-approved' the Impound, thereby completely exonerating themselves, their employer MGCC, and all members of a Board they are on.
Now for the life of me, I know there's a Conflict of Interest in there somewhere but I just can't quite put my finger on it.
Tell ya' what, I'm gunna' post on TMGI The Blog all of my recent correspondence to the DCMB and their eventual 'responses'.
See if you can find where the DCMB identifies that their person they sent to 're-inspect' works for the morally absent Council I'm writing to them about.
Cheers, Nick.
Oh, and dear MGCC and DCMB, if you think you're gunna' dump this all on that one person, guess again, you shouldn't have lied to so many people so many times and for such detestable reasons, well 'reason' singular.
Money, or rather a lack of.

02/02/2024

This appalling Dog Impound situation has become, amongst other things, a case study in Mt Gambier's corrupt media protecting their corrupt Council mates.
Today's The Border Watch article "Barking Backlash" is another atrocious, gaslighting interference run on behalf of an equally atrocious Mt Gambier City Council.
Yet again TBW attacks those who speak-out, and again most specifically the MG & Districts Residents & Ratepayers Assoc.
CEO Sarah Philpott openly lies, repeatedly, and it appears is the only 'source' for this article.
Has TBW tried to speak with the lady who was at the 'Impound'?
I don't believe for a moment that TBW has contacted or even tried to contact the MGDRRA.
Include in that rancid pro-Council corruption the particularly corrupt ABC South East Radio.
Monday evening all hell breaks loose at the 'Impound', upto and including SAPol attendance to rescue a distressed dog, and first thing Tuesday morning ABC SER are running in every news break, 'Council plans dog park for Blue Lake Sports Park', including an interview with Jane Featherstonehaugh.
That's not a coincidence, that's the ABC SER covering/protecting MGCC and trying to distract away from what everyone knows happened because it's all over local Social Media.
And if you don't already know the direct link between ABC SER and MGCC, just look at the 'About Us' for each.
And everything I see happening around the 'Impound', it's exactly what these low, selfish bastards did to us families to help protect the Lutherans and SAPol, the Education Dept, literally every SA politician, and especially people like Rory McEwen.
The St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up.
Never forget, never ever forgive.

31/01/2024

Not my opinion, not my 'bent' on things, straight fact.
And I call it 'Standard Operational Procedure' or MGCC 101.
Mt Gambier City Council, on their own page, are openly lying about their (multiple) plans for the Blue Lake Sports Park.
A person makes a 'Comment' about MGCC putting a dog park where there is a well-used baseball field, and MGCC's response, quote:
City of Mount Gambier
**** there are no plans to turn the baseball diamonds into a
dog park. The changes to the by-law mean that dogs are no
longer permitted on the sporting fields at Blue Lake Sports
Park, including the diamonds.
I've **** the person's name but kept copies of all the 'Comments'.
This MGCC denial is of course an outright lie because MGCC's own BLSP Master Plan 2023 puts 3 soccer pitches in that South-West corner, replacing 2 baseball fields.
But more specifically, MGCC's Dog and Cat Management Plan 2023 includes a map that shows "proposed...future" dog parks in that same South-West corner, where that specific baseball field is.
MGCC have outright lied.
Whatevs I might call it, MGCC have lied, why?
And how did they think this blatant, provable lie would go unnoticed and/or unchallenged?
Cheers, Nick.

29/01/2024

Trying to bring some humour into an otherwise appalling day.
Just realised why Mt Gambier City Council used a hazy/fuzzy almost monotonal photo of a woman standing near a puddle as the cover for their latest 'Tourism Guide'.
It's 'cos I've already used the actual photo anyone else would use to 'Activate' the iconic and globally recognised Blue Lake as a 'Destination.
Sorry, my bad.
Not commenting on the quality of the photo itself, whatevs, it's just a ridiculous choice for the cover of a Tourism Brochure.
You don't go to Niagara Falls and take a photo of the riverbank.
And given how vehemently MGCC have defended this decision and refuted the quite appropriate criticisms it's generated, it would appear his 'Always Choose Litigation/Never Admit Fault' legal advice provided to MGCC seems to have pervaded every corner of their functioning.
Cheers, Nick.

27/01/2024

Just checked 'Notifications' and Mt Gambier & Districts Residents & Ratepayers Assoc have already 'Replied' and identified the "by-law" referred to by Mayor Martin in her video.
I'll just cut-'n'-paste the info.

Mount Gambier & District Residents and Ratepayers Association
Hi Nick, Under Clause 10 of Council by-Law 5 https://cdn.mountgambier.sa.gov.au/.../By-Law-No.-5-Dogs.pdf ) it states that; "Section 10. Dog prohibited areas
A person must not allow a dog under that person's control, charge or authority (except an assistance dog) to enter or remain:
10.1 on any children's playground on Local Government land;
10.2 on any other Local Government land or public place to which the Council has determined that this subclause applies." As the Council has approved a draft plan on Tuesday with regard to Dog and Cat Management that includes banning dogs from certain areas it would appear that they may in actual fact have authority to do so once this draft is finalised or at least the Council passes a resolution to this effect. Hope this helps clarify the situation

Nick Fletcher
Mount Gambier & District Residents and Ratepayers Association Thankyou for this, I'd figured the first bit out but had no idea what "by-law" it was, but does this mean that it hasn't been finalised and/or a resolution passed? Referring to the MGCC meeting the previous Tuesday, Mayor Martin says in her video (released Thursday) "effective immediately" which would indicate that some 'official' action has occurred to 'activate' this by-law. I'm not asking specific legal advice of course, I'm just trying to get a handle on what MGCC is doing, how they justify and/or implement this 'ban', etc. Cheers.

27/01/2024

Following-on from the immediate previous post re the Blue Lake Sports Park and related Mt Gambier City Council 'banning' dogs from sporting fields and ovals.
In her video on the issue, Mayor Martin makes several references to a "by-law" and I stated that there is no current and/or pending by-law relative to this issue.
It appears I may be right but also wrong.
It looks likely that the unidentified "by-law" referred to is actually one already in place.
I don't know what this "by-law" is but I'll write to MGCC and try to find out.
If MGCC have already granted themselves 'powers' to unilaterally impose these sorts of bans, what other 'powers' have they granted themselves?
And why wait until now, and then do it, and in this manner?
Given that MGCC have just given themselves yet further sweeping new powers to effectively refuse to engage with and/or answer Ratepayers, following-on from recent refusals to return to the Accountability of 'Committees', etc, I don't hold-out great hopes of getting an answer.
Even if this current "by-law" is 'lawful', and I'd very much doubt that it's legally prosecutable, the many questions remain as to how MGCC possibly hope to enforce and/or prosecute it.
Cheers, Nick

26/01/2024

MGCC Mayor Lynette Martin has released another hostage-style video. Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/cityofmountgambier/videos/428167396206576
She states that "effective immediately" dogs are banned from "all sporting fields and ovals" at the Blue Lakes Sports Park.
Just had a long 'post' about this 'delete' when I hit 'post', again, and hadn't yet saved it, so I'll cut straight to the chase here and give me a coupla' hours to really unload on TMGI The Blog, and I'll explain further there.
As I understand it, MGCC does not have the power/authority to make "effective immediately" any "by-law" and Ms Martin seems to confirm that later in the video.
Ms Martin makes several references to a "by-law" but I am not aware of any "by-law" currently being considered by MGCC.
Ms Martin then contradicts herself by stating that MGCC's Dog and Cat Management Plan is yet to be ratified by the DCM Board.
These clearly conflicting statements and the very deliberate and cynical 'silent' threat of repeatedly using the word 'by-law' to try and infer/insinuate that MGCC has a legal right to do this and/or that there will be consequences for 'law-breakers', self-define just how manipulative and deceitful this video is.
Some dog owners who use BLSP do need to stop being so lazy and selfish, and a couple should be 'banned', no question, it's a huge frustration, but that's everywhere in Mt Gambier, not just BLSP.
For it's own reasons, MGCC is playing both ends against the middle, playing the Politics of Division, to try and create a conflict.
Cheers, Nick.

20/01/2024

Just dropped this 'Comment' (below) onto the Mt Gambier & District Residents and Ratepayers Association page. Mt Gambier City Council is openly retaliating against the MGDRRA, and they're not afraid to lie to achieve that ends.
Even more concerning are some of the other 'Items' MGCC has on it's Agenda for their meeting Tuesday 23 January 2023.
There seems to be several huge leaps into massively increased 'Secrecy', eg, not doing Public Notification of meetings; new powers to refuse (all?) Freedom of Information requests.
There also appears to be moves to allow MGCC to approve/access huge sums well into the $100ks without any public scrutiny or even potentially some MGCC staff/Councillors knowing.
Surely I've misread this stuff, check-out MGCC's 300-page Agenda and judge for yourselves.
My MGDRRA 'Comment':
I'm deeply concerned about the language and intent evident here. Whoever wrote this, they know exactly what lies they are telling and exactly why. This (7.4 Question With Notice - Hastings Cunningham Reserve Dog Park) is a cynically transparent attempt by an increasingly desperate MGCC to 1) get multiple falsities on the 'Official Record' about what has happened at HCRDP and/or with MGDRRA, not least of all to 2) try and use these falsehoods as an excuse/wedge to attack MGDRRA. This 'Question' very deliberately conflates/misrepresents different incidents/complaints pre-dating "own structures" by months/years. Many people have had plenty to say about MGCC on various 'pages/websites', including on this topic and/or this page, and that is their personal choice. The language very carefully 1) frames the whole question about 'people complaining to Council about other people' and 2) most specifically/cynically "regarding these matters", makes it all about "putting up their own structures". People have complained to MGCC about maintenance many times with zero improvements/repairs. My personal belief remains as always that the desperate MGCC is acting to close HCR Dog Parks as part of their ongoing plans for the sale/lease of HCR for development. I note that only 1 group on that entire HCR site still has a lease with MGCC.

07/01/2024

Howdy dear TMGL availees,
Trying to come-up with solutions for issues, rather than just whinge about stuff, and ran into this by accident.
MGCC recently adopted 'Option 2' as their 'plan' for massive changes in configuration/usage/infrastructure on the Blue Lake Sports Park (Parkland).
'Option 2' effectively evicts the team/s playing on the 2 baseball fields immediately adjacent the velodrome by placing 3 soccer(?) pitches there.
At the every least this would require removing most if not all of the fencing.
MGCC's 'Dog and Cat Management Plan' places 3 "possible...future" dog parks in that same corner.
Apologies to the current tenants for this next bit, but I'm just playing the cards as MGCC has chucked 'em on the table.
As an immediate resolution to multiple issues/concerns/problems/requirements, why not just make those 2 fields into Big Dog Park and Small Dog Park.
All of the shelter requirements are in place, there's water available, there's even a (dis-used?) toilet block right there.
Given they have already adopted 'Option 2' which removes those fields, MGCC can immediately act to make them the perfect dog parks they already are, and it would cost virtually nothing to do it.
Cheers, Nick

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