IT IS CALLED SHOOTING THE MESSENGER

It happened because a ratepayer dares to inform other ratepayers about risks attached to a sewerage project — risks of which the majority of Council do not want to hear or think about.

The procedure took place at a council meeting held at Parndana 10th May 2012 at 12noon and had the appearance of being a “Kangaroo Court” in the sense that the ratepayer (Shirley Knight, Penneshaw) was expected to remain silent whilst the Mayor, CEO and 5 elected members let it be known to all that the ratepayer had been acting scurrilously and had been blatantly scare-mongering to all in the community.

No evidence was produced.  There was more by way of repetition but I think you will see to what the ratepayer was subjected.

The elected members present also suggested that the ratepayer was disrespectful to the design engineer, although they would not have any evidence to make this assumption.  The ratepayer had simply been asking a question as to the risks of an earth dam in the chosen location, on a hillside close to and above dwellings in the township. Given the recent earthquakes over a period of three weeks, although low on the Richter scale, Penneshaw is in an earthquake zone and there is a risk in regard to that; together with the particular topography.

After a while, the ratepayer had had enough of this treatment and walked out of the meeting saying this action was “scurrilous”.

The good news is the ratepayer is still alive to tell the tale and will ask questions about risks and other reasons (many) why Penneshaw does not need a CWMS project at this time.

In conclusion this meeting demonstrated how dysfunctional the council is and how the elected members who took part together with the CEO will break almost every code of conduct they resolved to keep; stopping ratepayers from enquiring about their projects or actions.

Shirley Knight, Penneshaw
14 April 2013
Lot 69 Frenchman’s Terrace
Penneshaw SA 5222