Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue

News
Palmy residents want cash audit
The Palm Beach and
Whale Beach Association
has delivered a
terse response to Northern
Beaches Council’s proposed
Delivery Program for services
over the next four years,
demanding Council open its
books on NSW Government
grant funding which it says
“seem to have disappeared”.
In its submission to Council,
the Association requested
that Council reveal the
revenue it obtains from the
local Palm Beach and Whale
Beach area – noting there was
virtually nothing in Council’s
budget for works within the
2108 and 2107 postcode area.
It comes as Council pores
over feedback on its new
proposed Plan of Management
for Governor Phillip Park.
Noting that rates totalling
$359 million equated to 57
per cent of Council’s income,
the Association wanted to
know how much was gathered
from the top end suburbs.
“How much is raised from
parking, from other income,
and parking within Governor
Phillip Park for the Golf Club,
the Dunes restaurant, North
Palm Beach Surf Club, The
Joey, Home and Away and
other film making?” the Association
said.
On expenditure, the Association
said: “There is almost
no recognised expenditure for
Palm Beach and Whale Beach
in the Delivery program.
“On examination we could
find only the following expenditure
in PB and WB: 225
metres of road re-sheeting for
Florida Road 225.
“We question why Florida
Rd? It is in reasonably good
condition. We suggest there
are many other roads that
should take precedence.”
The Association noted there
was no allocation for curb
and guttering, footpaths or
other roads.
“Over the years we have
submitted many requests for
upgrades to roads and footpaths
in many areas in PB and
WB, many of which are unsafe
– in particular Surf Road at
REVENUE-RAISER:
Governor Phillip Park.
the junction with Barrenjoey
Road [and] Whale Beach Road
where it continues on from
Florida Road and Ocean Place
Palm Beach.”
It was disappointed there
was no budget for major
repairs for Whale Beach ocean
pool, only a budget for planning,
and also no budget for
Palm Beach ocean pool.
“There is very little return
in the program for the rate
payers of Palm Beach and
Whale Beach. Our rates are
considerable.
“There is no budget for
maintaining Governor Phillip
Park.
“There is no budget for
the walkway from Whale
Beach to Palm Beach along
Whale Beach Road, or for the
completion of the South Palm
Beach landscaping program.
Both of these projects were
funded under capital grants
from NSW Government. These
grants seem to have disappeared.
Where has the money
gone?
“Does the Council have
a record of the individual
capital grants that have been
received and how they have
been spent?
“Are the accounts audited
and if so, is it shown where
these grants go, or do they go
into general revenue?
“We would like to know
where the capital grant monies
have gone. To where have
they been allocated?
“Where have the monies
collected from Governor Phillip
Park been allocated? They
should have been used to
upgrade the park.”
On solutions to increase
revenue, including a rates rise
by as much as 14 per cent, it
said: “This is unacceptable
when many ratepayers are
suffering severe financial
stress due to the rising cost
of living.
“The Council must live
within its budget and not
just treat rate payers as cash
cows.”
– Nigel Wall
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com.au
20 JULY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991