Council decides to use ratepayers' money to fund only the Yes campaign ...
The decision by the Toowoomba City Council to spend $460,000 of Toowoomba ratepayers' funds on the Yes case is yet another example of the PR train wreck which is the Council.
In order to at least have given the "appearance" of balance in the lead up to the referendum, Council should have allocated some of Toowoomba ratepayers' funds to the NO case.
Much will no doubt be written on this issue over the coming weeks, however, Council's decision merely reflects the bias of their decision making to date.
The Mayor is hellbent on forcing Toowoomba residents to drink recycled sewage and will resort to any tactic to try to get her way.
The NO campaign has run smoothly so far for little cost while pro-groups Pure H20 and the Council's own Advisory Panel have either imploded or been disbanded.
The failure to allocate Toowoomba ratepayers' own money to fund the NO campaign will only galvanise opposition to the Mayor's controversial recycled sewage project.
It is perhaps the worst PR mistake Council has made so far ...
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 9:27 PM
52 Comments:
Did you expect anything different?
9:49 PM, April 21, 2006
No. One thing Toowoomba City Council is - very predictable.
They have made some very serious PR gaffs in the past over the recycled sewage issue.
The smart money was on them trying to starve the NO campaign of funds. What they don't realise is that a large portion of the population are sick and tired of the Mayor's antics and will vote NO on polling day whatever question is asked of them.
To now spend their money funding the Yes campaign is merely adding fuel to the fire.
9:53 PM, April 21, 2006
Downright dishonest.
10:05 PM, April 21, 2006
The night democracy got tossed out the window - the Mayor threatening to call the police to evict the public.
10:12 PM, April 21, 2006
can you believe them?
10:14 PM, April 21, 2006
Bring on the referendum quick!
10:16 PM, April 21, 2006
I'm so pissed off at this council now.
10:21 PM, April 21, 2006
Good on the three guys for trying to stick up for us. We'll remember that come the next election.
10:25 PM, April 21, 2006
The Council's actions this evening are just a continuation of their conduct through this whole debacle.
Remember that when it comes time to vote.
10:30 PM, April 21, 2006
Ramia and the girls are a disgrace and I am quite sure that what they have done to-day is illegal and time will tell.
These despicable people are not able to debate this project with any-one. They are only mouthing the water people's line.
I say "Go for it Rosemary and CADS" we are behind you all the way.
10:57 PM, April 21, 2006
Thank you Mayor Thorley, your decisions tonight have virtually nailed the last nail into the coffin of the recycled water project. We couldn't have asked for better decisions by the council.
2:10 AM, April 22, 2006
When can we chase this council out of town.
How dare they spend $460 000 of our ratepayers money on the yes case and nothing for the no case.
We live in a democracy. The next election will show that, out with the old, in with the new bunch of councillors!
7:37 AM, April 22, 2006
I am so pissed off with Thorley and her goons.
Surely to spend $460,000 on a yes campaigh only can't be legal. That is not democracy.A couple of weeks ago she said rates may have to go up 2% to cover it; I had no idea it was nearly all on one sided propaganda !
Is there anyway to stop them ?
I have just recently been told the water booklet cost up to 3 times what Thorley delared. Is this fact or fiction ? I have no idea.
2:21 PM, April 22, 2006
The conduct of the council is shameful. Thorley knows no bounds.
3:20 PM, April 22, 2006
What else is new, just sack the council and put decent people in charge.
We all know Thorley loves our money, and we just hand it over like something we've stolen.
How about we don't pay our rates, what the hell can she do to 100,000 people, send us all to jail, fine us. I think the courts would want to know why so many people stopped paying rates, don't you think.
6:16 PM, April 22, 2006
Can't believe what I read in the Chroncile. No funding for no case. What is Mayor thinking? She is out of control.
6:32 PM, April 22, 2006
Just another example of our rogue mayor
7:02 PM, April 22, 2006
This poll (referendum) will cost each ratepayer about $10-00 even if you do not agree. It is scandalous and should be investigated.
This is totally UNAUSTRALIAN.
The CADS group has no money and they will not be able to fight the NO case.
Congratulations to that group for what they have achieved so far with a little money. It is wonderful to see that ratepayers can make a difference.
What the council do not know is that the people have already made up their minds and it is NO.
8:52 PM, April 22, 2006
Rosemary and CADS we are with you all the way. Good on you and keep fighting the mayor and her crooked colleagues.
8:57 PM, April 22, 2006
I don't want my rates money on the yes side - I want my money back!
9:02 PM, April 22, 2006
I'm voting no and so are allmy friends
9:19 PM, April 22, 2006
From the Council website - what BS!
Participating in Policy Making
Council seeks to encourage public participation in the development of its laws, policies, projects and plans and in its general decision-making process. There are a number of methods by which members of the public may have their views on particular issues brought to the attention of a meeting of a committee or of the Council.
9:23 PM, April 22, 2006
TCC you have no idea of the extent of the opposition. Get ready for a big surprise.
9:37 PM, April 22, 2006
They really must have their heads in the sand not to realise the opposition in the community to the Thorley Plan.
9:45 PM, April 22, 2006
the mayor is out of control!
10:17 PM, April 22, 2006
Bring on the CMC investigation.
10:45 PM, April 22, 2006
Thorley is not confident of her project so she resorts to obvious cheating. Will she try to stuff the ballot box with yes votes on polling day? Is election fraud part of the Council's strategy as well?
11:02 PM, April 22, 2006
You can't treat people like this. It's not her money she spends like water.
11:25 PM, April 22, 2006
How dare they! I think everyone should not pay there rates in revolt. Even state and federal sitting and opposition parties both get campaign funding before elections. TCC are sure going all out in there disgraceful effort to try and pinch a few yes votes, they are even turning on there colleagues that are against the idea of drinking recycled effluent simply because they are outnumbered. I shall wait and see if it is legal, although I cannot see how it could be!
Disgusting pigs!
3:59 AM, April 23, 2006
I expect the politicians in Canberra are trying to look anywhere but Toowoomba right now. If you asked them a question about the referendum they would try to dodge answering it. They would know this is as dodgy as it gets and would want to distance themselves from Thorley and her cronies.
9:52 AM, April 23, 2006
Let's get on and vote - I want to send my message to Thorley.
9:57 AM, April 23, 2006
It is now time for the people to stand up and be counted - we must get rid of these Councillors. I am willing to put my money towards a campaign to get the "No" Vote up - Clive Berghoffer you have helped make this City to the place it is today - will you help? This City and its people need you and your financial backing to save us from this Council dictatorship
12:14 PM, April 23, 2006
When one moves around in the community you get a sense that the community is angry and they want to vote NO now!!!
12:16 PM, April 23, 2006
The only favour TCC is doing is giving P&C's from schools, where the polling booths are normally held the chance for a bit of fundraising.
But what an expensive fundraiser.
Shame on you TCC, lets get the mayor and her crew voted out.
2:33 PM, April 23, 2006
I'm in! I will donate money for the No campaign. I want my voice to be heard and I want these people gone!
4:54 PM, April 23, 2006
While the majority remain silent, the few get away with subverting the course of democracy. Time to speak up and be heard Toowoomba. Polling day is round one of the vote to get rid of the current council.
5:39 PM, April 23, 2006
I am voting NO!!!!!!!!!
8:26 PM, April 23, 2006
I am voting YES!!!! And so are all my Friends!!!!....
8:59 AM, April 24, 2006
maintain the rage!
9:28 AM, April 24, 2006
If you vote yes you are forcing other people to drink recycled effluent agianst there wishes. If you vote no you are not forcing other people to do anything against there wishes.
2:04 PM, April 24, 2006
And don't think because you vote yes that it will solve our water problems because it will not.
2:07 PM, April 24, 2006
I'm still voting YES!!! And so are all my FRIENDS!!!! and their FRIENDS!!! Even my gold fish is voting YES, as the way they see it, they are constantly living in a recycled environment!!!
3:18 PM, April 24, 2006
So maybe you should join your goldfish! You sound like a kid to me and sorry they do not get to vote. I doubt very much that all your friends are voting yes - probably playing you for a fool like Di Thorley is!
3:21 PM, April 24, 2006
Actually you probably are Di Thorley or one of her ass l....s!
3:25 PM, April 24, 2006
There are so many reasons to vote no in relation to the recycled sewage project.
What Mayor Thorley must realise by now is that the referendum will be used as a general protest vote against the Council.
It is an opportunity to send a message that their conduct of Council meetings and Council business has been deplorable.
It's an opportunity to start the process of voting them out of office.
People who object to the recycled water project, those who object to their new parking regulations, those who object to the Mayor spending ratepayers' money to fly around the country to promote the cause of the recycled water companies, those who object to ratepayers' money being spent on the Councillors' Japan/Korea junket, those who object to the Mayor's $460,000 spending on the Yes campaign.
They're all going to vote no. They know that the way to ensure that this Council is booted out at the next election is to reject the Mayor's pet project.
The Council knows this and they are running scared. That's why there are more secret Council meetings, why the Mayor forces through a misleading poll question, why a Councillor with vested interests votes on the recycled sewage project, why the Mayor and Flanagan need to spend $460,000 of ratepayers' money trying to mislead the public etc etc.
The Council knows that once the poll rejects the recycled sewage project, Thorley and her supporters are lame ducks until the next election.
4:42 PM, April 24, 2006
Thorley goes from saying 70% support her to having to spend all the money on the yes campaign even after sending us all a booklet on her water futures. What a sad case for a mayor of 100,000 people.
6:23 PM, April 24, 2006
It must come as a shock that the NO case will not be spending money to fight the case the mayor is spending a fortune of ratepayers money on.
The Council misjudged the state of play again.
The CMC will get stuck into them and when that is finished, Ramia will have to explain his" material personal interest" on the issue.
I hope we get an administrator and sense will prevail.
7:00 PM, April 24, 2006
For all the public servants reading, please explain if this council has acted legally?
7:02 PM, April 24, 2006
Things are going from bad to worse for the council with every decision.
12:38 AM, April 25, 2006
The conflict of interest issue for Ramia will be troubling for him going forward. He should have excused himself from the decision making.
6:28 AM, April 25, 2006
CH2M Hill must be wondering why in the hell did they get involved with Toowoomba as there guinea pig case, not looking good for them!
One thing the Americans didn't count on was the strength in Aussie mateship.
4:16 PM, April 25, 2006
They certainly didn't realise that Thorley was such a loose cannon and once "educated" by them couldn't be controlled by them.
4:18 PM, April 25, 2006
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