Posted 22/8/06

MRRA Media Release

16 August 2006

MRRA Calls On Community To Say:

Macedon Ranges Council: 

Is It Time For The State Government To Step In?

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association [MRRA] is hearing more and more from residents about how badly Macedon Ranges’ Council is performing. 

• Council suing residents;
• almost leaving Macedon’s Honour Avenue to die;
• a huge rate increase (and likely, more to come);
• a Mayor with a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease;
• the Kyneton Bowling Club pokies debacle;
• ‘behind closed doors’ decisions;
• sloppy meeting procedures;
• trying to write their own rules;
• damaging development approvals;
• not consulting or listening to the community; and
• private meetings with developers

are just some of the things residents are up in arms about.

MRRA Secretary Christine Pruneau said, “This Council is only 9 months into a 3 year term, and it’s more than 2 years until the next election.  Can we live with them that long?   Five Councillors hold power and make many of the decisions.  Two councillors consistently try to do the ‘right thing’ but two, or even four, isn’t enough to change things.  MRRA gets no satisfaction knowing its’ candidate Star Ratings (published before last November’s election) are being proven correct.  Macedon Ranges Shire is becoming a basket case and the whole State is starting to laugh at us.  The Association is coming under pressure to take a leadership role on this issue so is calling for community feedback – MRRA wants to hear whether residents think it’s time to call on the State government to intervene.”

Residents can register their comments, or join MRRA, by phone: 5427 1481, 5427 2561; mobile: 0411 580 363; email: mrra.sec999@gmail.com; post: PO Box 359, Woodend 3442; or for more information, go to our website at www.mrra.asn.au.