Ed,

Suddenly Clarence Valley is being showered with dollars. Money for the Grafton Pool, money for reducing flooding of Yamba Road, money for Yamba library.

People will have their own view about the relative merits of each of these, but my concern is with the general way grant funding works. Pools and libraries are clearly local government responsibilities. So, can’t we maintain them without state government grants? Is it poor management at local government level or is there a mismatch between responsibilities and revenue base? Of course, it actually suits state governments because they can step in as the hero of the hour as the need, financial or electoral, arises.

The pool project looks like the product of failure to maintain an asset over many years. The library project looks to be driven by a desire to spend grant money as much as an actual need. The road project seems sensible, but it’s worth noting money for that will come from a pool jointly provided by both State and Federal Governments, and that road really should be a state responsibility in any case.

We should be sceptical about apparent generosity at this time. The states coffers are far from in a healthy state. Voters should look to a candidate who is responsible about promises and listens to what the community really needs.

Graeme East, Yamba