TWO Albury councillors seeking re-election have called on some of their colleagues to change their approach to working with Albury MP Greg Aplin and the NSW government in securing funding for major projects.
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Mayor Henk van de Ven used a mayoral minute at the final meeting before council enters the caretaker period for the September elections to take aim at the state government.
“The federal government has been willing to partner with us, but there is a huge disconnect between what the federal government and the state government view as priorities, a disconnect that needs to be overcome,” he said.
Cr van de Ven produced figures showing infrastructure spending by the NSW government in the Albury area over the last five years was “miniscule” compared to other large regional centres in the state.
Recent projects overlooked for funding contributions from the NSW government include Murray Art Museum Albury, Lavington Oval redevelopment and the Davey Road interchange upgrade.
Mr Aplin has disputed the figures which show Albury had received $22.7 million compared to Wagga’s $385 million and Tamworth’s $351 million.
But Cr Alice Glachan and Cr Graham Docksey, who are seeking re-election to council on the same ticket, said the present approach by Cr van de Ven and his predecessor Cr Kevin Mack wasn’t working.
“One needs to work consultatively with all tiers of government and all agencies,” Cr Glachan said.
“But it doesn’t help us to brawl in public and take that negative image outside council.
“It doesn’t help us as a council and doesn’t help us as a community.
“It doesn’t help us with the other tiers of government either.
“We need to remain positive at all times.”
Cr Docksey said there was a better way.
He pointed to his record as chairman of the local traffic committee which works closely with NSW Roads and Maritime Services.
“I’ve worked up a very close working relationship with RMS, local police and Greg Aplin’s office,” he said.
“If you bash them, you don’t get the result you want for the city.”
The next major project council is expected to seek NSW Government support for is upgraded aquatics facilities.
The Glachan-Docksey ticket is pro-pools and the journey council is on.
“We need to work through the process,” Cr Docksey said.
“This city is dynamic and is moving ahead.
“We need a large facility to cater for everybody.”
