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NewsFlat Chat - 28 April 2007 Crime figures, released recently, show that Palerang remains a low crime area, despite ups and downs in some categories of crime. (See www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/BOCSAR). Perhaps this is why police staffing levels in our area have been allowed to fall so low, with officers on sick leave in Bungendore, Braidwood and Captains Flat not replaced. A criminologist would argue that it’s harder to report a crime to police if there are fewer police around, and in Captains Flat there are numerous anecdotes of phone calls not answered, reports apparently not being recorded, and serious crime not being assertively investigated. (I think that $5000 of damage to Palerang Council property is a fairly serious crime in a small village). In late March the Community Association asked me to write to the Monaro Commander about these issues and I did so promptly. Unfortunately I received no response until Steve Whan’s office became involved. Although I have since had a constructive meeting with one of the local officers, I have still not received a written response to my letter. In fairness I have to say that the Commander did phone me (but after he was contacted by Steve Whan’s office), but I was unable to take the call. When I called him back, the phone in his office was not answered. I am told that the police staffing situation is improving. Nonetheless, the April Community Association meeting directed me to write again, seeking a written response to the points in my original letter. On a brighter note, ANZAC Day in Captains Flat was hugely supported by the local community, and people from elsewhere. The Community Association’s new public address system had its first outing, and by all accounts performed well. The Bungendore Mirror has already reported on the event, but other opinions suggest as many as 200 people may have attended. Well done everyone. After a brief holiday, the Captains Flat Markets return on 5th May. Same day as the Hoskinstown Autumn Fair, so why not make a day of it and visit both? I am writing this column after about 12 hours of intermittent rain in The Flat, probably not enough to compensate for earlier shortfalls, but very welcome. It had to be on a weekend, though, didn’t it! Peter Marshall CFCA President's Column in the Captains Flat
Telegraph The Australia Day Awards were a great success. We quickly ran out of chairs, which at least proves that the number of people attending outstripped our expectations. The award winners, Shane, Kade, Ed and Elizabeth (for the photo exhibition), were well-deserved, and I hope they were popular choices. Catering was courtesy of The Outsider Coffee Lounge and Gallery, and Woolworths, and yes, if you were there you may have eaten one of the national emblems. Guests adjourned to view the photo exhibition, and no doubt they had a closer look at Shane and Kade too. The Community Association received a lot of credit for the affair, but all credit belongs to Palerang Council and particularly Debby Ferguson. Congratulations to Kim Salton on her Emergency Services Medal. What can I say that hasn’t been said already about Kim? She’s a fantastic asset to Captains Flat and the countryside her SES Unit supports. I have stayed silent so far on the reduced opening hours at the Captains Flat Swimming pool, which I read about accidentally in the Queanbeyan Age a few weeks ago. Must we really go through this every year? There was talk in 2006 of the pool (or pools) being put out to tender, and maybe this and other options need to be explored early in 2007, while there is still time. I would expect tenderers to compete on price, both to Council and to pool users, opening hours, days and season length, and the potential for a Service Level Agreement to which the successful tenderer would be bound, with financial penalties for breach. Perhaps I’m dreamin’, but I think a commercial operator could increase their income by organising swimming lessons, organising the return of the NSW Government’s SwimSafe school holiday programme, running a kiosk and other money-raising ventures, and marketing the pools to a broader range of users, including people outside the shire and perhaps charging them more (and charging shire residents less or nothing, the way Tip Passes work). Peter Marshall CFCA President's Column in the Captains Flat
Telegraph A belated reminder that in December, Palerang Council published a paper on the future of the Palerang “settlements”. This means the villages from Captains Flat downwards in size, including Rossi and Hoskinstown. The paper is available on their website at www.palerang.nsw.gov.au/planning/3285.html and the closing date for comments is Friday 23rd February. For people without easy access to the internet, I will leave a copy in the shop. Please don’t remove it, or if you really must take it home to read, please tell Greg and Dorna you are taking it, and please return it ASAP. I found it quite an interesting read, but I wasn’t at all clear what kind of comments or submissions we are expected to provide. I think it is the beginning of a process of developing a Local Environment Plan, which will guide and control development, but I can’t see how it will develop into that. But even if, like me, you end up a little confused, I would encourage you to send some suggestions to Council about how you would like Captains Flat to “develop”. Even if that means you don’t want it to change at all! Peter Marshall Land Regional Article - 25 January 2007
Doing the rounds this week are rumours that Palerang Council will seek to close the Captains Flat swimming pool next season, based on low patronage. Conspiracy theorists attribute reduced patronage (if it is reduced) to hugely increased prices this season, and see Council’s approach as a selffulfilling prophesy. Let’s hope the conspiracy theorists are wrong, as the swimming pool is basically the only supervised activity for local kids in summer. If it closes they will swim in the town dam and farm dams, with the inevitable increased risk of drownings. Anyone expecting income from the pool to ever contribute meaningfully to the cost of running it needs to be told that they’re dreamin’ – local pools will always be funded from rates. Until a few years ago entry to the Captains Flat pool was free, and maybe that’s the way it should be again, for Palerang residents at least. There is no doubt that Council’s new water restrictions are causing significant hardship for rural residents, with bulk water carriers prevented from tapping into the town water scheme. The result is increased cost and difficulty of obtaining bulk water, and greater wear and tear on local sealed and unsealed roads, if bulk water carriers can be persuaded to come here at all. We can only hope that this is an unintentional consequence of the restrictions, and that it will be reversed as soon as humanly possible. Carols in the Park went off with a bang (quite a lot of bangs in fact) on Saturday night, and a few technical hitches which I like to think added to the fun of the evening. Thanks to Jeremy the soundman for his tolerance, and to the organising committee (especially Anita) for their hard work. A number of solo artistes stood out for being brave enough to tackle the stage alone, particularly Policeman Paul, Cleric Caroline and Brewmeister Tony. Santa turned up in a colour-coordinated truck, with bags of lollies and loads of good cheer, but didn’t sing. Merry Christmas to everyone in Captains Flat. Two items of good news. Palerang Council has agreed to make bulk water available again from the Captains Flat town water scheme, initially at 2pm on Friday 22nd December, and at other times to be negotiated with the carters (no, not you Brenda). If you want your bulk water carrier to use this facilitiy, ask them to contact Palerang and negotiate their access time and day. For those of you worried about the cost of this, don’t – bulk water carriers will be paying $8 for every 1000 litres, compared with the $2 or so village residents pay. (I am hoping Council will review the bulk water charge in the new year, as it seems excessive compared with what ACTEW charge in Canberra.) We found out a few weeks ago that the Community Association was successful in its application for a Volunteer Small Equipment Grant to purchase a portable public address (PA) system. Well done to Sandy for preparing and submitting the application. Cynics amongst you might note there’s a federal election coming. I’ll write more later about an application for a very large federal government grant which I submitted with assistance from Palerang Council, for refurbishment of The Flat’s sports facilities, amongst other things. It probably hasn’t much chance of success, but if you have any influence with Gary Nairn or FACSIA, have a word in their ears and you may just see the oval lit from both sides, the tennis and basketball courts resurfaced and lit, and the pool heated. Peter Marshall Current & Upcoming Events
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