Council opens its books - territorystories.nt.gov.au · adelaide 11-13 january s &or plumbers...
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Centralian Advocate, Tuesday, October 8, 2013 — 3 Split System AC Installation Course Solar Grid Connect Design and Install Course Appliance Test & Tag Course 1075548 For enrolment info visit - www.skillbuildtraining.com.au Ph Jo Hammond - 1800 059 170 Alice Springs: 11-13 December Darwin 20-22 October Adelaide 11-13 January s &ORPLUMBERSELECTRICIANSBUILDINGMECHANICALTRADES APPRENTICES s /NCOMPLETIONREFRIGERANTHANDLINGLICENSECANBEOBTAINED sTOTALCOST Darwin 15-18 October s &ORLICENSEDELECTRICIANS s%NABLES#LEAN%NERGY#OUNCILACCREDITATION s#OURSEMATERIALSANDSTANDARDS sTOTALCOST Alice Springs 10 December sDAYCOURSENOELECTRICALQUALIlCATIONSREQUIRED s 3UITSBUILDERSMAINTENANCESTAFFANDPEOPLEWANTINGTOSTART THEIROWNSMALLBUSINESS s 1UALIlCATIONRECOGNISEDBY.47ORKSAFE s4OTALCOSTINCLUDES3TANDARD s3TANDARDANDCOURSEMATERIALPROVIDED Training Courses Phone: (08) 8950 0500 Web: www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au Rex Mooney &KLHI([HFXWLYH2I¿FHU “A town like Alice” Alice Springs Town Council would like to advise that the draft Alice Springs Town Council Strategic Plan 2013-2016 has now been placed on public display. Copies of this document are available from the Civic Centre or downloadable from www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au. Written comments are invited by COB Tuesday, 5 November 2013 and should be addressed to: 5IF$IJFG&YFDVUJWF0GkDFS PO Box 1071, Alice Springs, NT 0871 or email [email protected] For further information please contact Rex Mooney on (08) 8950 0525. Alice Springs Town Council Draft Strategic Plan 2013-2016 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION NEWS Booth honest: Melky Corey Sinclair GEOFF Booth’s decision to put the community in front of his personal and political position was the right thing to do, says Councillor Eli Melky. Mr Melky believes the issue with Mr Booth was a matter of transparency. ‘‘I’ve always maintained once you’ve become an elected member, you need to be up front with the people,’’ he said. ‘‘You need to say look I’m in this business and they say no problem but if you’ve come in under one proviso and then changed your pos- ition, people are going to judge you on that. And as a councillor, you must always put the community before yourself.’’ Mr Melky the council’s integrity had to be pro- tected. ‘‘It did bring the council’s integrity, in my opinion, into question,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re all tarred with the same brush and this is a sensitive issue. If the status quo remained, the council, its employees and elected members would have been the butt of all jokes. ‘‘That would have been a shame and Geoff did the right thing by the commun- ity and made sure that didn’t happen. He dismissed the idea that Mr Booth was not fulfilling council requirements by liv- ing part time in Perth. ‘‘The act only has to have him registered on the roll that’s all he had to do,’’ Mr Melky said. ‘‘That’s the legal position on it. The fact that he lived in Western Australia and travelled to Alice Springs . . . he wasn’t hiding anything. ‘‘He apologised on many meetings and he told every- one he had bought busi- nesses in Western Austra- lia. ‘‘He has considerable in- terests in the town and has invested a lot of money which is worth something.’’ When asked if he thinks the public overreacted, Mr Melky said he believes everyone is entitled to their own opinion. ‘‘My initial reaction was I didn’t believe the story be- cause I had never heard of it before.’’ Nuna 7 from Nuon Solar Team of the Delft University of Technology was yesterday running first in the World Solar Challenge Picture: SUPPLIED Solar stars racing at light speed Corey Sinclair A 3000km stretch of Stuart Highway has been overtaken by 38 spacecraft-like cars as part of the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Competitors from round the globe departed from Parliament House in Darwin on Sunday morning and will travel through Alice Springs this morning, bound for Adelaide. Media crews from round the world mixed with large internat- ional support teams from countries as diverse as China, Japan, Chile, New Zealand, Belgium, Turkey and Indonesia at the start of the race. Teams from the Netherlands con- tinued to dominate into day two in both the Challenger and Cruiser Classes. At 10am, Nuon Solar Team from the Netherlands in their car Nuna 7 was still leading the charge approx- imately 45 kilometres south of Elliot. If the leading teams continued at their pace of around 80 km per hour, they could reach the outskirts of Alice Springs before their 5pm daily curfew. The teams will race down the Stuart Highway to Adelaide. The first to reach a timing point at Angle Vale north of Adelaide will be declared the winner. Operation Firangi takes aim at crime in the Barkly THE NT Government has praised police for their work tackling property and viol- ent crime as well as anti- social behaviour in the Barkly through Operation Firangi. Chief minister Adam Giles there was a significant crime decrease in Tennant Creek and surrounding areas during the two-month operation. He visited Tennant Creek on Thursday to thank and congratulate officers for their efforts. ‘‘A key part of this oper- ation has been having a highly visible police pres- ence in the town through patrols to deter anti-social behaviour (and) it has been hugely effective,’’ Mr Giles said. ‘‘Since Operation Firangi began on August 1, police have made 46 arrests in relation to 98 charges including 21 domestic viol- ence matters, 14 unlawful entries, eight breaches of bail and four assaults. ‘‘This is yet another exam- ple of police targeting their efforts to great success. ‘‘Under this operation, of- ficers had a special focus on illegal drug and alcohol act- ivity in the region. ‘‘While this operation has now come to an end, police will continue to target this type of offending in Tenn- ant Creek and the Barkly region.’’ Mr Giles said his govern- ment will also invest in social advancement and de- velop a platform for econ- omic growth in the Barkly. Council opens its books Corey Sinclair CONFIDENTIAL council information such as employee wages will become public knowledge from this month. Alice Springs Town Council provided a report asking that certain financial reports be open for public disclosure. Director of Finance Paul Della said that under the Local Government Act, each council was free to report its financial information in a manner approved by the council. ‘‘Previously, council had determined that all financial reports would be in-confidential but have now determined that the balance sheet, the monthly payments listing, the debtors analysis and the investment report will appear in open from October,’’ Mr Della said. The reports will reveal the day-to-day operational spend, matters that have already been approved, who owes money and how much employees earn. Councillor Eli Melky said all of its elected members were happy to provide the information. ‘‘It’s an excellent thing in terms of the public being able to see financial transparency,’’ Mr Melky said. ‘‘It shows there is nothing to hide. In the past, people have had questions about what happens in our finances and we simply weren’t allowed to talk about it, but now we can talk about it. ‘‘People will see it is quite ordinary and not unusual. Sometimes things in the shadows seem sinister.’’ Mr Melky said previous council members had not been hiding anything by keeping financial reports confidential. ‘‘As times move on and things evolve, council- lors need to be moving with the times,’’ he said. He said the main reason the financial reports were not released in the past was to not prejudice the councillors, businesses or members of the public. ‘‘If someone owes you money, you don’t really want to publicise that,’’ he said. ‘‘If you tender, you don’t want to publicise that. ‘‘There are a lot more items that will remain in- confidential but I hope we will identify things that can be open items.’’
Transcript of Council opens its books - territorystories.nt.gov.au · adelaide 11-13 january s &or plumbers...
Centralian Advocate, Tuesday, October 8, 2013 — 3
Split System AC Installation Course
Solar Grid Connect Design and Install Course
Appliance Test & Tag Course
1075548
For enrolment info visit - www.skillbuildtraining.com.au
Ph Jo Hammond - 1800 059 170
Alice Springs: 11-13 December
Darwin 20-22 October
Adelaide 11-13 January s&ORPLUMBERS�ELECTRICIANS�BUILDING�MECHANICALTRADES�APPRENTICESs/NCOMPLETIONREFRIGERANTHANDLINGLICENSECANBEOBTAINEDs�����TOTALCOST�
Darwin 15-18 Octobers&ORLICENSEDELECTRICIANSs%NABLES#LEAN%NERGY#OUNCILACCREDITATIONs#OURSEMATERIALSAND�STANDARDSs�����TOTALCOST
Alice Springs 10 Decembers�DAYCOURSE�NOELECTRICALQUALIlCATIONSREQUIREDs3UITSBUILDERS�MAINTENANCESTAFFANDPEOPLEWANTINGTOSTARTTHEIROWNSMALLBUSINESSs1UALIlCATIONRECOGNISEDBY.47ORKSAFEs4OTALCOST����INCLUDES3TANDARDs3TANDARDANDCOURSEMATERIALPROVIDED
Training Courses
Phone: (08) 8950 0500 Web: www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au
Rex Mooney
&KLHI�([HFXWLYH�2I¿FHU
“A town like Alice”
Alice Springs Town Council would like to advise that the draft Alice Springs Town Council Strategic Plan 2013-2016 has now been placed on public display.
Copies of this document are available from the Civic Centre or downloadable from www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au.
Written comments are invited by COB Tuesday, 5 November 2013 and should be addressed to:
5IF�$IJFG�&YFDVUJWF�0GkDFS�PO Box 1071, Alice Springs, NT 0871
or email [email protected]
For further information please contact Rex Mooney on (08) 8950 0525.
Alice Springs Town Council Draft Strategic Plan 2013-2016
COMMUNITY
CONSULTATION
NEWS
Boothhonest:MelkyCorey Sinclair
GEOFF Booth’s decision toput the community in frontof his personal and politicalposition was the right thingto do, says Councillor EliMelky.
Mr Melky believes theissue with Mr Booth was amatter of transparency.
‘‘I’ve always maintainedonce you’ve become anelected member, you need tobe up front with the people,’’he said.
‘‘You need to say look I’min this business and they sayno problem but if you’vecome in under one provisoand then changed your pos-ition, people are going tojudge you on that. And as acouncillor, you must alwaysput the community beforeyourself.’’
Mr Melky the council’sintegrity had to be pro-tected.
‘‘It did bring the council’sintegrity, in my opinion, intoquestion,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re all tarred with thesame brush and this is asensitive issue. If the statusquo remained, the council,its employees and electedmembers would have beenthe butt of all jokes.
‘‘That would have been ashame and Geoff did theright thing by the commun-ity and made sure thatdidn’t happen.
He dismissed the idea thatMr Booth was not fulfillingcouncil requirements by liv-ing part time in Perth.
‘‘The act only has to havehim registered on the roll –that’s all he had to do,’’ MrMelky said.
‘‘That’s the legal positionon it. The fact that he livedin Western Australia andtravelled to Alice Springs . . .he wasn’t hiding anything.
‘‘He apologised on manymeetings and he told every-one he had bought busi-nesses in Western Austra-lia.
‘‘He has considerable in-terests in the town and hasinvested a lot of moneywhich is worth something.’’
When asked if he thinksthe public overreacted, MrMelky said he believeseveryone is entitled to theirown opinion.
‘‘My initial reaction was Ididn’t believe the story be-cause I had never heard of itbefore.’’
Nuna 7 from Nuon Solar Team of the Delft University of Technology was yesterday running first in the World Solar Challenge Picture: SUPPLIED
Solar stars racing at light speedCorey Sinclair
A 3000km stretch of Stuart Highwayhas been overtaken by 38spacecraft-like cars as part of the2013 Bridgestone World SolarChallenge.
Competitors from round the globedeparted from Parliament House in
Darwin on Sunday morning andwill travel through Alice Springsthis morning, bound for Adelaide.
Media crews from round theworld mixed with large internat-ional support teams from countriesas diverse as China, Japan, Chile,New Zealand, Belgium, Turkey andIndonesia at the start of the race.
Teams from the Netherlands con-tinued to dominate into day two inboth the Challenger and CruiserClasses.
At 10am, Nuon Solar Team fromthe Netherlands in their car Nuna 7was still leading the charge approx-imately 45 kilometres south of Elliot.
If the leading teams continued at
their pace of around 80 km per hour,they could reach the outskirts ofAlice Springs before their 5pm dailycurfew.
The teams will race down theStuart Highway to Adelaide.
The first to reach a timing pointat Angle Vale north of Adelaide willbe declared the winner.
Operation Firangi takesaim at crime in the BarklyTHE NT Government haspraised police for their worktackling property and viol-ent crime as well as anti-social behaviour in theBarkly through OperationFirangi.
Chief minister AdamGiles there was a significantcrime decrease in TennantCreek and surroundingareas during the two-monthoperation.
He visited Tennant Creekon Thursday to thank andcongratulate officers fortheir efforts.
‘‘A key part of this oper-ation has been having ahighly visible police pres-ence in the town throughpatrols to deter anti-socialbehaviour (and) it has beenhugely effective,’’ Mr Gilessaid. ‘‘Since Operation
Firangi began on August 1,police have made 46 arrestsin relation to 98 chargesincluding 21 domestic viol-ence matters, 14 unlawfulentries, eight breaches ofbail and four assaults.
‘‘This is yet another exam-ple of police targeting theirefforts to great success.
‘‘Under this operation, of-ficers had a special focus onillegal drug and alcohol act-ivity in the region.
‘‘While this operation hasnow come to an end, policewill continue to target thistype of offending in Tenn-ant Creek and the Barklyregion.’’
Mr Giles said his govern-ment will also invest insocial advancement and de-velop a platform for econ-omic growth in the Barkly.
Council opens its booksCorey Sinclair
CONFIDENTIAL council information such asemployee wages will become public knowledgefrom this month.
Alice Springs Town Council provided a reportasking that certain financial reports be open forpublic disclosure.
Director of Finance Paul Della said that underthe Local Government Act, each council was freeto report its financial information in a mannerapproved by the council.
‘‘Previously, council had determined that allfinancial reports would be in-confidential buthave now determined that the balance sheet, themonthly payments listing, the debtors analysisand the investment report will appear in open
from October,’’ Mr Della said. The reports willreveal the day-to-day operational spend, mattersthat have already been approved, who owesmoney and how much employees earn.
Councillor Eli Melky said all of its electedmembers were happy to provide the information.
‘‘It’s an excellent thing in terms of the publicbeing able to see financial transparency,’’ MrMelky said.
‘‘It shows there is nothing to hide. In the past,people have had questions about what happensin our finances and we simply weren’t allowed totalk about it, but now we can talk about it.
‘‘People will see it is quite ordinary and notunusual. Sometimes things in the shadows seemsinister.’’
Mr Melky said previous council members hadnot been hiding anything by keeping financialreports confidential.
‘‘As times move on and things evolve, council-lors need to be moving with the times,’’ he said.
He said the main reason the financial reportswere not released in the past was to not prejudicethe councillors, businesses or members of thepublic.
‘‘If someone owes you money, you don’t reallywant to publicise that,’’ he said. ‘‘If you tender,you don’t want to publicise that.
‘‘There are a lot more items that will remain in-confidential but I hope we will identify thingsthat can be open items.’’
