Welcome to Logan ( and the 21st Century)

When Graham Able made the swipe the Logan would bring the North of Beaudesert to the 21st Century, I hope it was meant as humorous because if Lower than average income, higher than average crime rates, lower than average resale values, higher than average rates and lower than ideal appearence and amenity, is meant to be better than what we have now, paradice, I rather not have it.

From the outset the North has been described as a liability , in financial terms, even though we effectively proped up the Beaudesert shire by two thirds of the rating revenue, and it seems that already the annexed North is being made scapegoat for Rates rises that will have to happen to allow for the huge amount of infrastructure requirement of the Yarrabilba development, because after all thats what this whole thing is about.

Reading local News in Logan is depressing for anyone from the anexed area you can almost be sure that we are just as unwanted by the people of Logan as we don't want to be a part of it.

Rate rise on cards for city


■ Rate rise possible for Logan residents as city absorbs new areas.
■
Both councils dispute claims of ‘‘negative impact’’.
■ Financial analysis is
yet to be finalised.
By DANIEL TANG

RATEPAYERS may face an increase in local government
tariffs when
Logan City expands next year.
The Local Government Reform Commission report
stated that
‘‘based on the likely negative financial impact of
North
Beaudesert Shire’’, the new council would be rated ‘‘moderate with
a
developing outlook’’.
Beaudesert Shire Council
finance and executive
chairman Don Petersen, whose current
d i v i s i o n i s i n
n o r t h e r n Beaudesert, said there was a likelihood
of increased
rates for the new Logan residents. ‘‘There is a likelihood that it
(rates)
will go up, but this will need really good discussions in
the lead-up to the
budget,’’ he said. ‘‘There will be a number of
things that will be required
to bedone, particularly some roads and
community infrastructure such as parks
and things like that,’’
Cr Petersen disagreed with the commission’s negative
statement
on the impact of Beaudesert and said it was likely the
commission
did not even read the shire’s submission.
‘‘It’s a bit hard to
swallow given the north of Beaudesert Shire was
the rate base for the whole
of Beaudesert Shire previously,’’
Logan City Council acting chief executive
officer Mike Pickering
said he could not comment on possible rate changes
because no
financial analysis had been done. ‘‘This is something we will
have
to be looking at with duediligence,’’
The current financial details
of the areas to be absorbed into
Logan did not ‘‘sound off any alarms,’’ Mr
Pickering said.
‘‘Certainly nothing to indicate anything negative.
‘‘There
is a huge asset base (in the new council area) and
relatively small
debt.’’

On that same page in the Logan West Leader there is also a story about Land being resumed, and claims of inaction and unavailability of the local Councillor to the residents involved it seems, and I was under the beleif that land could be resumed only for raods and services, so maybe in Logan they have the power to resume for any reason, could that be so?

Councillor denies abandoning residents

A LOGAN City councillor has
come under fire for declaring a
conflict of interest and ‘‘failing to
represent her constituents’’ in a
development that could close a local
park.
Browns Plains resident Ann Neuendorf said residents living
close to
Sussex Park and Acacia Park were ‘‘disgusted’’ at the lack
of representation
by Councillor Cherie Dalley.
Ms Neuendorf said a land swap before council
could see several
homes demolished near Acacia Park to create more space
in
exchange for the closure of Sussex Park.
However, Cr Dalley said she
had not abandoned her constituents
and said her declaration was ‘‘a matter of
ethics’’ as she lived
within the area.
She said any decision on the
development plan would have an
impact on her personal life. ‘‘This is a
matter of ethics for me
as any decision has a possible benefit in relation to
property
values,’’ she said.
‘‘Councillor John Grant will be taking over
to represent the interests
of the residents,’’ she said.
Ms Neuendorf said
residents were upset with the lack of
consultation provided by council. She
said a petition signed by
more than 100 people carried objections for safety,
lifestyle, economic
and environmental reasons.
Ms Neuendorf said Cr Dalley
had ‘‘made promises’’ 10 months ago
that no such development would go
ahead.
‘‘But now we find out it is before council.’’
Ms Neuendorf said a
woman living in a rented home to be
demolished as part of the proposal had
not been advised of the plan.
‘‘The first she heard of it was from me and
when the notice was
placed on her front fence while she was at work,’’ she
said.
Aletter sent to residents recently was ‘‘very one-sided’’ and
made
the proposal ‘‘sound wonderful’’,
Ms Neuendorf said. A decision on
the development is
expected in coming months.

So this is our first experience with a Council that may become ours by March Next year, when Local government elections are held on the 15th of that month. I am positively sick to my stomach at the thought of starting another fight, but I certainly will not back away from it.