Will there be large costs imposed on users of the libraries for entry and loaning of books? Will swings and slides at our parks become coin operated? Tolls on our footpaths?

The communities associated with our water polo and swimming clubs offer our youth and participants clean and healthy environments to develop, belong, excel and in many cases represent our region at higher levels.

The Ovens and Murray Water Polo Association is the strongest regional water polo association in Australia, without these clubs using the pool in rain, hail or sunshine the cost increases even further.

The economic benefit that these sports bring to our region through swim meets and water polo tournaments is not recognised and helps offset running costs of this basic community facility, if the councils were prepared to engage and support, rather than dismiss and deceive this healthy community then we could all work together to maximise these opportunities.

I write in response to The Border Mail article, ‘pool hire in dispute’, on September 19. 

The article points out that the cost of pool use for Albury and Wodonga patrons has sky-rocketed under new management recently appointed by both councils jointly.

If the sum total of management by Albury and Wodonga councils these days merely amounts to drawing up and awarding contracts for work traditionally done by councils themselves, then why on earth do we need councils?

We could easily do what the then premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett did years ago and sack all the councils and appoint administrators, accountable to the minister for local government.

It worked perfectly well then, there were no dramas and there was transparency, accountability, it was simple and a whole lot cheaper.

I recall that when the administrator for Wodonga left he did so leaving Wodonga in a sound fiscal position.

I would like to thank the two people who came to my assistance last month at L.A. Higginson’s shop.

I had a fall but with their help I was able to get up and moving again.

I am very grateful to them. Thank you, once again. My carer, Rosanna, has helped me to write this.

Have you got an opinion? Send a letter to letters@bordermail.com.au. All letters must be signed and carry the name, address and telephone number(s) of the author. We will publish the writer’s name and suburb/town. In rare cases, we may consent to withholding a writer’s name and suburb/town.