Gash-Doesn't want to hear the reality!!!

At a Councillors briefing yesterday (Monday 10 December 2012), Council staff were advising Councillors on the progress of the Shaolin Temple- Part 3A application for Comberton Grange.

The Shaolin Temple project has been around for about 6 years and has been subject to community scepticism and questions about the Comberton Grange Land sale.

Council staff advised Councillors that the environmental assessments that were part of the application were lacking as were the traffic reports.

Of course Councillor Watson butted in with his sentiments- 'If you make them do any more studies we will loose the project'. 'They have already spent a $1mill and should not have to spend any more'. and 'If Council wants to kill the temple then this is the way to go about it'.

My response to this was that the community expected Council to act on its behalf and to be thorough in its representations to the State government.

About 15 minutes into the briefing Mayor Gash exploded, her face as red as beet- pushing her chair back as though to leave she said raged 'I don't want to hear this, its ridiculous, I want to hear how we can help, this presentation is so negative'.

I couldn't let this intimidation and bullying go through to the keeper and raged back 'Did Madame Mayor only want the staff to present 'happy' reports instead of offering up frank and fearless reports about Councils responsability'. It was a very subdued 'no' in response as Clr Gash has already demanded that staff make their reports shorter so that it doesn't take so long to get through reading the paper!

I hope that the community campaigners, especially on the environmental side of things are prepared with their submission for there certainly is no appetite from Council to make further representation on environmental issues. The Councillors are of the belief that Environmentalists will make enough noise that Council wont need to.

Seems that Shaolin have overwhelming support from Gash, Watson, Wells and Kitchener has now weighed in with his support-saying its an excellent project.

If the project is so good and will generate the so called big bucks for tourism-then why should it not be compliant in all forms of legislation including environmental legislation, heritage and culture.