PRE APPROVAL OF PROJECT BY ONE CRS FACEBOOK POST
If Only It Was This Easy
By One Councillor from The Imaginary Innovative Department of Premature Certainty
In what can only be seen allegedly as a bid for votes - residents have been informed that mesh fencing “will be added soon” to local sand dunes - despite a small administrative inconvenience that the project has not actually been approved. Traditionally, local government follows a cumbersome process involving proposals, assessments, funding decisions, debate and formal approval.
This apparent now outdated approach appears to have been replaced by a more streamlined system:
1. Announce it.
2. Assume it.
3. Hope everybody notices who got in first for attention
The announcement comes after routine maintenance crews repaired existing fencing at Victory Park - a task normally considered about as newsworthy as replacing a broken park bench. Yet somehow, ordinary maintenance has undergone a miraculous transformation into evidence - that an entirely separate and unapproved coastal management project is already underway.
“It is rare to see routine maintenance reclassified as proof of a future policy outcome,”
Usually someone waits until something is approved before claiming credit for it.” Locals remarked.
The claim that mesh fencing “will be added soon” has raised particular eyebrows given that the funding is still subject to budget adoption and the broader project remains unapproved.
Where’s the transparency, consultation, evidence, environmental assessment, funding and most importantly Council Approval - usually favourite calls from this same Cr - or are they merely decorative steps to be completed later - because elections are getting closer?
Meanwhile, the choice of mesh fencing itself has left many residents scratching their heads. The public is being told that fragile coastal environments require protection, while at the same time being assured that introducing mesh products into that environment is somehow a conservation success story.
Plastic mesh is known to degrade under intense coastal UV exposure, eventually breaking into smaller fragments. Other forms of mesh bring their own environmental and maintenance issues. Opponents argue that the debate should not be about which type of mesh is least problematic. The real question is why mesh fencing of any kind is being promoted as the solution for a natural coastal system.
The greatest achievement, however, may be the complete elimination of uncertainty from the democratic process.
Why wait for approvals - when one Cr on Facebook appears to already know the answer?
Why bother with evidence - when certainty is available immediately?
Why let other councillors vote on something - when one out of 7 has already announced the result on Facebook?
How many other unapproved projects will be announced? - skipping directly to the ribbon cutting photo op stage.
Has it come to this in the race for votes?
First announce the outcome. Then tell everyone it’s happening. Then, if absolutely necessary, seek approval afterwards.