Steady rates in Monash, with a catch

Posted to Monash Weekly (11/6/2013) on 11/6/2013 at 12:15 PM
Commenting on "Steady rates in Monash, with a catch"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1557660/steady-rates-in-monash-with-a-catch/

Many senior people in City of Monash are asset rich but income poor. They live in properties with high rateable value due to high site value, and as a result, the Council rate, water rate and land tax (if property is an investment) are high accordingly. Unless the properties are sold, these people will have to bear the burden of unreasonable increases in utility charges and rates.

The way the Council calculates the rate increase is based on simple arithmetic. Someone pulls out a magical number and applies to the last year budget rate income. If the budget was high and incorrect, the following years’ budgets will become unrealistically rubbery and the impact is compounded.

If City of Monash could survive with the lowest average rate for so long, it does not mean that the Council needs to play catch up by increasing the rate by more than double the inflation rate of the last five years.

It is important to keep in mind that provision of services is important, but at what cost. Efficient and effective use of resources in providing services is the ultimate reflection of liveability of the City. More libraries, swimming pools, carparks and administrative staff doing paper shuffling are luxuries the ratepayers can do without.

High noon as sheriff nabs fine dodgers

Posted to Monash Weekly (11/6/2013) on 11/6/2013 at 11:14 AM
Commenting on "High noon as sheriff nabs fine dodgers"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1557662/high-noon-as-sheriff-nabs-fine-dodgers/

Human rights laws are man-made and can and must be changed to deal with people who do not respect and infringe upon the rights of the masses.

It is nonsensical for judiciary and law enforcer to say that their hands are tied, or go lenient on repeat offenders or criminals. Everyone, when their titles are stripped off when not on duty, can exercise their rights to raise their voice and opinion as an individual citizen seeking changes to the incorrectness or unfairness of the laws.

I have said many times that I am a no nonsense person. I would like to see regions free from industrial laws and employment laws and with restrictive human rights, where these irresponsible culprits are punished to work as the Chain Gang, similar to those portrayed in the Wild West movies.

What will Mr Facey do with the fine-evaders after they are caught?

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 3 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 10:01 PM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

Sin Fong Chan, people are responsible for animals - they are defenceless and it is up to us to look after them as a community. People, well, clearly there are a lot of idiots out there

I Love Amstaffs, not all animals are defenceless, otherwise there is not the need for any law to put away pit bulls, which have track records of attacking and killing people without being provoked.

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 2 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 4:20 PM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

City of Monash will be the greatest and most humane City on planet Earth if the ratepayers care about the wellbeing of their fellow humans as much as they do with Kerser.

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 1 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 11:17 AM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

The dog was unregistered because the owner just moved to the neighbourhood. Was the dog registered when the owner was residing in other suburb prior to moving to City of Monash? If so, the owner should have known better and took all necessary precaution NOT to let the dog roam into the neighbour's backyard. Did the owner show or wrote to the Council officer about the previous registration?

We don't like many laws, but we can't be bothered to have the laws changed until things happen to us. If you are a blackberry lover and like to grow blackberry in your backyard, here is news for you. "Blackberry bushes are recognised noxious weeds in the City of Monash. Residents are required to ensure that they eradicate any such growth."

The Council Chamber is often empty during Council Meetings, an indication of ratepayers' apathy! Speak out before things get to the repair damage mode.

Campaigners join for Monash outdoor smoking ban

Posted to Monash Weekly (10/5/2013) on 14/5/2013 at 10:15 AM
Commenting on "Campaigners join for Monash outdoor smoking ban"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1493008/campaigners-join-for-monash-outdoor-smoking-ban/

Not again, Cr Drieberg, are you posing for the camera or campaigning for outdoor smoking ban? Besides she is a bit of a drama queen.

"... You can have someone sitting over a coffee, a $4 coffee for hours on end, or you can have a family come in, have a meal, spend hundreds of dollars and be in and out within an hour".

During busy time when an eatery is packed with people, it will be silly for an operator to allow a customer to hang around for hours just for $4 coffee. However, if an operator does allow a customer to do so, it is likely the eatery is quiet because most people are at work. It is illogical to assume that the families will be out in force spending hundreds of dollars.


Edited by Newspaper

During busy time when an eatery is packed with people, it will be silly for an operator to allow a customer to hang around for hours just to sip a $4 coffee. However, if an operator does allow a customer to do so, it is likely the eatery is quiet because most people are at work. It is illogical to assume that the families will be out in force spending hundreds of dollars.

Monash seniors parking plan 'not up our alley'

Posted to Monash Weekly (1/4/2013) on 2/4/2013 at 12:22 AM
Commenting on "Monash seniors parking plan 'not up our alley'"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1396411/monash-seniors-parking-plan-not-up-our-alley/

I am no buddy to any Councillor, including Cr Paul Klisaris, but feel that comments made by some Councillors are a bit impassive and have gone overboard. While I do not support his proposal in entirety, I do think that Cr Klisaris' good intention should be noted, whether it is for his gaining political mileage.

I am a baby boomer and not yet reach 70. Although many people over 70 are still healthy and mobile, there are just as many slow in moment and rely on wheeled walking aids. These people are normally accompanied by carers. I am a volunteer dealing with nursing home residents, and also have relatives in their mid-eighty and early ninety. Taking them out to a Kingsway or nearby restaurant or strip-shop can be a job and a half. It is not an easy task for the seniors to cross the roads, and therefore it requires several attempts to find a car space close to the premises, unload their walking aids and then assist them out of the car slowly.

Monash mayor keeps it dinky di, with Sri Lankan twist

Posted to Monash Weekly 11/2/2013 on 14/2/2013 at 4:10 AM
Commenting on "Monash mayor keeps it dinky di, with Sri Lankan twist"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1288761/monash-mayor-keeps-it-dinky-di-with-sri-lankan-twist/?cs=1229

Mayor Micaela Drieberg is quoted as saying about the background of her name and complexion: ‘‘I'm Sri Lankan — that's what I say.’’. So Cr Drieberg, are you Australian or Sri Lankan? I am an Australian of Chinese descent!

Stunning upset as new-look Monash Council revealed

Posted to Monash Weekly on 30/10/2012 04:23 PM
Commenting on "Stunning upset as new-look Monash Council revealed"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/429706/stunning-upset-as-new-look-monash-council-revealed/?cs=1481#comment-695976425

Congratulations to those councillors elected. You have a big task ahead, in particular to resolve the unfunded superannuation. I hope the councillors new or old can spend more time talking with the ratepayers, including the business operators. The window displays of shops need to be freshened up, and not to look like some low class, back-ally junk shops.

Over emphasis on mall shopping is short-sighted and will lead to the death of the suburbs. The hygiene standards in many food premises, including grocery shops, have declined, and occupational health and safety must be more closely monitored. The council meetings had been really boring: the discussions were substandard, and some councillors should keep to two or three sentences.