Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 12 January 2010
VOL 8. No 02
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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GOING GREEN
ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE > PAGES 16 & 17
COSTLY TRIP More than 1,200 Nippers converged on Torquay’s Cosy Corner last week for the state carnival. Taking part in the under 10 board relay were (from left) Tom Galloway, Jai Leonard, Justin Pimental and Sam Mercuri, representing the Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club. For more SARAH LAWRENCE photos from the carnival, see Page 13.
Questions asked about the need for nine councillors on the Surf Coast Shire after release of expense claims BY NATHAN HALE
TORQUAY Ratepayers Association has reignited the debate over the number of councillors on the Surf Coast Shire following the release of councillor expenses for the last 12 months. The nine-person shire council cost ratepayers $303,947.13 for the period from December 2008 to November 2009. Included in those figures was a massive $23,349.51 in travel expenses, with more than 50 per cent of that total being racked up by councillor Lindsay Schroeter.
Winchelsea-based Schroeter claimed $12,194.58 in travel expenses over the period. “$12,000 seems a bit of a joke,â€? said Ratepayers Association president, Spencer Leighton. “That is a hell of a lot of trips around the area.â€? All jokes aside, Leighton said the Ratepayers Association has become increasingly worried about the cost of council. “Historically, councils used to be a cheap fit,â€? he said. “But at the moment we think there are too many councillors for the amount of work they do. “Councils were once made up of local citizens‌
Surf Forecast
often the top businessman ran the shire and did it for the love of the town and then used to claim for expenses. “Now people are trying to supplement their income and the town leaders – who used to be on councils years back – are the ones that are missing. “They are the type of people you need, people who know the town. Where are the surf company bosses? They are the type of people who have a passion for the town.� Leighton also floated the idea of disposing with a number of councillors and making chief executive officer, Mark Davies, the people’s representative.
Schroeter, meanwhile, said his travel expenses were all legitimate and involved a number of trips to Lorne and Torquay, as well as other Surf Coast locations, from his base in Winchelsea. “I travel to Lorne at least once a month, as I try to do my bit for the Lorne people,� he said. “It is more than a 100-kilometre round trip to Lorne, so that ads up pretty quickly, while it is a 76km round journey from Winchelsea to Torquay. “I like to try and represent the people, and that often means a lot of travelling.�
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WED 2ft+ inconsistent, NW 21° THU 2-3ft+ building, NW 22° FRI 2ft easing NE 27° SAT 2ft building NW 25°
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