Our democracy is a complete mess

 I suppose I am not telling you, kind listeners, anything .
As one who used to be part of the system,  I know that it is not acceptable for councillors to say that they have no control.

 I hope what follows is at least helpful because that's what is needed to comprehend the mess and then do something positive to change it . Be can
do councillors .
 

Hundreds of examples in Colac Otway shire alone. And each case is really bad and unacceptably so because planning used to be a right and a blessing to good people doing the right thing and considering their neighbours in the shire.
It's got so bad that ONLY  those who have $50000 to gamble would try to run the gauntlet of our planning system  OUTRAGEOUS 

The above is the reason for my anger and this post
Common councillors -  continue the reforming process we have helped them start decades ago. 

I am forced to write this  TIME  this because of the difficulties of Andrew Beale to get a permit for use of a tram at his arts centre at Cooroooke. 
Where are the councillors talking about how they tried to resolve the conflict? 

 
When things go to a foreign court , we all have failed to make our community work ( that includes our Council and its office holders)

Things to change (  this is not a complete list - it will add to it if at least one councillor shows interest)
1. Reinstate ridings ( not perfect but better than pretending 7 people represent anyone except themselves ) IMO Councillor Costin was elected on this basis, even though a formal basis was not the rule. The criticism that people got elected to do things in their own area is not a good enough reason to permanent damage the process and its credibility. Let's face it if the road was made to your door these days, everyone would know about it on FB.  
While all 7 councillors do not have ridings we know that it's easy for no councillor to take any responsibility for what happens or to try and sort out the conflict in one area. This need not be so. First port of call if not the only councillor involved ! Otherwise who do we vote for?  
The loss of ridings was due to Small thinking small, so it's time to show more respect ( and a fuller less cynical logic ) for the increasingly unrepresented in OUR  regions. Let's be innovative , progressive and less cynical. 
2.  Rewrite overlay requirements    Call for the State to do it!
Colac Otway Shire about 10 years ago pioneered the reform of the overlay system. That is we citizens of Colac Otway were innovators of change at the State level Ammendment C70 .We can do it again.

3. Resist Nimbyism by meeting on site!  ( this is only going to happen easily if item 1 is adopted )


Let me not waste another word as I have not heard not a word from the incumbents who want to sit comfortably on their seats for 4 years. While this unnecessary fiasco remains.


And just in case you prefer to waste your time in meetings  over consultation  as was so well portrayed in "Utopia" reflect on a decades wasted  in chatter