Warwick Hall reports on this week's eventful Council Meeting...
On the evening of Tuesday 24 June, over 100 Raymond Islanders attended the East Gippsland Shire Special Meeting for Councillors to consider and vote on three items including a revised draft budget that removed several new Raymond Island ferry fees and increased current fees by 4.3%, rounded up to the nearest dollar. The Councillors voted to accept this draft budget.
During the debate, Councillors discussed budget influencing factors and acknowledged the interest and submissions from Raymond Island residents and ratepayers.
The final budget is one that is acceptable to most Raymond Island residents, ratepayers and visitors and is far from that which was originally proposed. Of the 254 written budget submissions to the Shire, 243 concerned the ferry fees. Of the 16 oral submissions listed for the Committee Hearing on June 10th, 14 were from Raymond Islanders.
We had the opportunity to comment on the draft budget and Raymond Islanders rose to the task magnificently. There is no doubt that the submissions were read, heard and taken into account. Without this effort by all involved, the outcome would have been different. It may sound a bit corny, but it truly has been democracy at work. Congratulations to all involved - those who discussed with neighbours and friends, those who wrote and made submissions, those who helped others to prepare submissions, the working groups who prepared submissions on behalf of the island community and RICA, and, importantly, those who went to the Council meetings . A wonderful community effort.
Warwick Hall
President - Raymond Island Community Assocaiation
