TO pave or not to pave?
That was the question that Hills Shire councillors debated for more than an hour in a heated extraordinary meeting last Tuesday.
The meeting was called after the four Labor councillors put up a rescission against the decision made at the last meeting to source the paving for the Castle Hill main street from China.
Every councillor present spoke on the matter as accusations were made, points of orders were constantly called and past political references of all sorts were used.
Labor councillors said preference should be given to local materials, but the Liberal councillors were unconvinced and the motion was lost.
Political grandstanding was cited by the Liberal councillors as the reason for the rescission.
They argued that choosing local materials which were estimated to be 80 per cent more expensive was a waste of ratepayers’ money.
Cr Barbara Burton urged councillors to consider the Hawkesbury sandstone that North Sydney Council had used in the past.
Cr Tony Hay said quality local materials would benefit the whole community for more than 40 years.
Cr Raymond Harty said the fact that the materials from China were so much cheaper confirmed the exploitation of labour and child labour in the country.
The Labor councillors were also criticised for delaying construction of the main street.
“The delay means that the Christmas trading period, which is significant for the wellbeing of the businesses of this Shire, is put at risk,” Cr Larry Bolitho said.
Despite the strong debate, no opinions were swayed and the votes were politically split.
It was just past 8pm when the decision was reached, much to the dismay of the many restless residents who had shown up for the next motion about the Local Environment Plan.
Source: whereilive
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