The concerns of former well respected executives of the Weddin Shire on the front page of the Grenfell Record on Fri 20th March and in the Cowra Guardian are reason for very serious consideration.

At the core of the problem is removal of local representation with accountability and one may only expect a debacle similar to the dysfunctional Local Land Services.

In my opinion, as Minister for Agriculture, Katrina Hodgkinson ignored the pleas of ratepayers for democratic representation for Local Land Services.

She may distance herself from the amalgamation argument in line with Cabinet solidarity but LLS was her call.

As someone told me, she could not have made a bigger mess of it if she tried.

The nonsense surrounding the fencing of the Burrangong creek at Bimbi has to be seen to be believed.

Readers of the Grenfell Record have been given a summary in their edition of 12 th March. (available on Record website)

Whoever wins this election locally and State wide is on notice that the community expects them to represent the community NOT the bureauracy.

Voters no longer fear the sky falling in when there is a change of government.

Listening and ignoring is not an option for a local member.

If there are forced amalgamations, or retribution for standing alone they won't be there after the next four years.

Both Victorian and Queensland governments have learned their lesson the hard way but the damage will have been done.

It certainly is good advice to contact the candidates and put them under pressure before the election.

The time to act is now.

Sincerely

John Niven

Deputy Mayor Weddin Shire

Dear Madam,

The Cowra Guardian issue of Wednesday March 18, contained an article vital to the further growth of our town.

It concerned the continued complete lack of rail transport into Cowra (and other towns) and the suspected delaying tactics being used to postpone decisions until after the March 28 state elections.

It is my opinion that people should consider so very carefully the candidates standing and what they will do for our town.

Among the candidates are the present member for our present electorate and another from the township of Cootamundra; both representing main political parties that would normally figure prominently in the voting results.

Cowra shire, so much like the majority of the electorate, has been without a regular freight rail service for decades and a passenger rail service for over thirty years.

Our incumbent parliamentary member has been our representative for many years now without either of these much needed services being recovered and the Cootamundra candidate also resides in a town situated on the main Sydney to Melbourne rail line that has never been closed.

I would be very interested in learning just exactly how they intend to achieve this rail recovery for the voters in towns ignored for so long.

P.S Many in the north of Cootamundra would additionally welcome a two lane Highway (not piecemeal); similar to the Hume Highway in the south.

Graham O'NeillAmaroo Avenue, Cowra

To the Editor,

The railway at Cowra is closed and the NATIONAL PARTY has no policy to open it.

Two companies have tendered to open it and pay all costs of restoring, maintaining and operating.

Yes a FREE railway but the NATIONALS won't say they want it.

There are people in all political parties and in the public service, who don't want rail.

Looks like they're winning.

This tender's progress:-

-after tenders received; they were reviewed.

-new questions were asked

-replies were received; another review

-another question was found

-and so on and on.

Decision deadlines are always being moved back At some time the tenderers will get tired and their potential customers will go elsewhere.

Me. I'm just an ordinary bloke who happens to think a working railway benefits us all.

I've got no affiliation to any political party, union, farmers group or the two tenderers.

As a swinging voter I wondered why the rail wasn't re-opened and decided to get off my bum and ask a few questions to Mike Baird-NSW Premier, Troy Grant- NSW Deputy Premier, Katrina Hodgkinson -Burrunjuck MP and I also spoke with two officers from Transport of NSW (handling the tender to re-open the line).

By asking a few questions of the candidates your vote could help our community and get us a free railway.

Bill Batten

Lachlan St, Cowra

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a 'Pommie' visitor to Cowra and have just read the article regarding pre-polling in the upcoming elections.

I cannot believe how patronising, insensitive and uncaring Mr Carroll appears to be.

As I understand it, the designated pre-polling station is very difficult to access by elderly and disabled people but Mr Carroll thinks that the alternatives, which he acknowledges are a long way away (100+ kilometres and approximately 170 kilometres) but then goes on to say that people "can vote on the day."

Surely the idea of pre-polling is for those who are unable to do just that, given that voting is compulsory.

Mr Carroll is patronising in the worst way to elderly people, assuming that most are "computer illiterate" - what a degrading phrase that is.

Agreed, there are a few alternatives but it is the way they are suggested I find objectionable as a senior myself and if I was a resident of Cowra, I would be most insulted by Mr Carroll's comments.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Pam Osborne

Torquay, Devon

UK

The State election is on Sat 28 March. For all of us in the electorate of Cootamundra, there is a lot on the line.

From the outset of my campaign I have had meetings with our mayors and leaders of the local governments to discuss the very futures of our councils as we know them now.

I was fully aware of the implications of the coalition’s policy of “Fit for the Future”, and the very real possibility of forced amalgamations. 

As there are 11 local governments in the electorate this is a big issue and I have done my best to meet with community leaders and put Labor’s policy on the table.

It was pleasing to discover that my concerns were also those of the councils and we were on the same page. 

The concerns that there was no real model that addressed; fair and equitable representation, how local governments would perform to meet community needs and services when our towns are divided by distance geographically and in some cases culturally, the adverse effect to communities with the loss of families through staff cuts, and the maintenance of services to smaller satellite towns; the lack of evidence to prove there was any real benefit to country towns by amalgamating.

As I have told the mayors and councils, there will be no forced amalgamations under a Labor government. 

This reaffirms what Sophie Cotsis (shadow minister for local govt.) said last year at the Local government conference.

This is not a promise, this is a commitment.

I want to reassure voters in this election that I am opposed to any form of pressure to direct local government, other than a democratic process. It has to be the choice of the citizens and the ratepayers.

Charlie Sheahan 

Country Labor candidate for Cootamundra.

Dear Editor,

I see from the Ms Hodgkinson’s comments last Friday that the NSW Government is apparently not running the state but the bureaucrats because Ms Hodgkinson says that the Government is waiting on their reply.

It is when they say yes or no will things happen or not. A Minister can push forward and by-pass the bureaucrats if they so desire.

Where is the Minister in supporting tourism in this region and has she ever visited the War Memorial in the Grounds of the Locomotive Depot?

That tourism that I referring about is operated by Lachlan Valley Railway Society Ltd., it is now nearly six years since the line has been closed. 

LVR Society Ltd. has had to repair their locomotives and carriages elsewhere or commonly known as “someone else’s back yard.”

Come on, - stand up for your electorate and show that you really do care by speaking up for the people within. 

LVR Society Ltd. use buy various materials and goods and its members frequented restaurants when working here in Cowra on many weekends.

When millions of dollars are offered to be put into the line why isn’t the Government jumping at the offer. It is willing to sell the poles and wires and make a dollar or two, how about selling the rails and sleepers, and let private operators fill the gap even with trains.

They may also do a better job at it than the Government.

Tom Sullivan,

Fitzroy St,Cowra.

Dear Madam,

So many journalists seem to be falling prey to the latest form of grammar abuse: the one-year anniversary. Shame on the Cowra Guardian for using this incorrect term in its headline article on Friday, March 13.

When I was in year one (known then as first class) or primary school (no infants division then) we all understood the word “anniversary”. it was the 10th anniversary of an event, the 20th anniversary of someone’s wedding etc. 

The word “anniversary” comes from two Latin words: “annus” = year and “versare” = to turn. First anniversary therefore means that one year has turned since something happens.

What is happening to our language? We seem to have major issues with using an apostrophe, the mis-spelling (sic) of the term “etc” (as “ect’ - maybe this is why it is mispronounced as “ekcetera”) and the “Bill and I / Bill and me” problem.

I’m sure my old English grammar teacher would put a few red marks on this page but we do need a few points of reference.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Constance

Pine Mount Rd, 

Darbys Falls