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SunRRA President's Report November AGM 2008 |
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Sunday, 30 November 2008 |
 It’s been another busy year for the SunRRA committee and members and we can all take credit for many of the changes and improvements we are finally seeing in Sunshine.
The year started off with a bang with the old CEO Marilyn Duncan finally waving goodbye and flying out on her broomstick and the new CEO Nick Foa striding in with his bucket and mop. While the jury is still out on the Nick Foa CEO report there was great hope at the time Nick would clean up the old practices and habits like shutting out the community and bring in new community embracing practices. We’re still waiting and hoping this will be the case but 12 months down the track we have yet to see much improvement in this area.
The year has seen SunRRA take part in many campaigns and continuing to make the voices of Sunshine residents heard on issues like;
Creating Better Parks
Sam David Conflict of interest
Sydenham Soccer Club eviction – New Sports Ground Policy
Sunshine Outdoor Pool Construction
The Eddington Report – Sunshine’s Unfair Burden
Brimbank Council Budget 2008-2009
Brimbank Gaming Review 2008
SunRRA continues to raise awareness in the wider Melbourne community and within State Politics that Brimbank residents are suffering under one of the most incompetent and factionally led councils acting without care or loyalty to our community.
Revelations on how our councillors actually govern were made during the Sam Tabban (ex-Brimbank Councillor) court case where it was alleged he had attempted to bribe Cr Natalie Suleyman. Mr. Tabban was found not guilty but not before defense council in the case called Brimbank Council “the most rotten borough in Victoria”.
Of late we have seen a number of State MP’s calling for the sacking of Brimbank Council including a petition by five Brimbank Councillors to sack the lot of them. To this end the Victorian Ombudsman announced an investigation into Brimbank Council and a number of allegations leveled against Councillors.
In the last 12 months SunRRA has introduced a monthly podcast that includes a section called street talk. Local residents are asked their views on many different local issues, local musicians are featured and an editorial story on major issues for our community is produced for easy down loading from the SunRRA website for listening.
The SunRRA ‘forum’ blog continues its successful readership and participation by thousands of users the latest figures for some issues are;
September 2008 Figures:
The Eddington Report 12,117 visits
Victoria – State of Corruption 10,899 visits
Kororoit By Election 5,089 visits
Mayor’s Father Enjoys Rent Free Council Building 3,223 visits
Council Meeting 2,569 visits
What is Shorten Doing Now 2,199 visits
A brief on Corruption for the Ombudsman 1,613 visits
SunRRA continues to network with other new and emerging groups such as ‘Marvelous Melbourne’ an umbrella group for the many protest groups that have sprung up throughout Melbourne. SunRRA is also a major contributor to the Respect the West movement lobbying for improved services and infrastructure for communities in the west of Melbourne.
SunRRA recognizes there is still plenty of work to do and many challenges ahead the most imminent being the Eddington Report ‘Tollway and Tunnel’ that will affect major parts of Sunshine plus the ‘Truck Road Traffic Plan’ which recommends parts of Sunshine play host to large trucking routes through our suburban streets.
SunRRA looks forward to your support over the coming new year and thanks you for your continued involvement and contribution to our association.
SunRRA is committed to the improvement of our community surrounds and equitable funding for services and infrastructure to make Sunshine and the West the best it can be with an environment we can all enjoy.
Thank you to all the members and residents who care enough about their community to support SunnRRA, give up their time and make the effort to continue lobbying and advocating for Sunshine and our surrounding areas.
Darlene Reilly
President
Sunshine Residents & Ratepayers Association. |
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