Councillor Karen Lang is concerned there is still too much emphasis by some on the sale of Blue Haven as a solution to Council’s financial situation [Brown shares details from financial briefing].

“I think we need to focus on the facts and we need to look at what are the feasible options for us to improve our cashflow over the next two years, which is what the Auditor General and the Minister have asked for,” she says.

“There is a premature and unnecessary focus on divesting Blue Haven as a solution to the immediate cashflow problems.

“I haven’t seen evidence that the sale of Blue Haven will help us in insuring we can pay our operational expenses when they are due in the next two years.

“The timeframe for doing that would be protracted, and I’m also concerned about what putting it on the market might return on a sale of this nature, given the problems in the aged care sector more broadly.

“We know that we will lose a significant revenue stream from the independent living units, and help and support could come through the new Government.”

Reflecting on other councils that have been in trouble, she believes extensive community consultation is required and councillors need to be given all the information they need to make informed decisions.

“Councillors have yet to see the month-by-month cashflow projections for the next two years,” she says.

“We need them to make well-informed decisions that will impact us over the next two years, to be confident we are making the right decisions on behalf of the community.

“The workshops have been good and collaborative, with lots of good ideas coming, and agreeance across the councillors about different strategies that could be used.

“But we need to see them factored into the cashflow projections. The sooner we receive that the better.”

In a newsletter emailed out today, she said examples of strategies suggested to her include:

• introducing paid parking
• seeking temporary voluntary contributions from the community
• keeping the Independent Living Units and selling the Aged Care facility
• pursuing a joint venture to establish a community, health and fitness precinct at Havilah Place linking in with upgraded facilities at the Leisure Centre.

Cllr Lang says she is undecided about what needs to be done.

“When I have the evidence, I am absolutely committed to making the right decisions.

“Part of our responsibilities as councillors, as we were reminded by the Minister, is that ‘the role of a councillor includes making considered and well informed decisions as part of the governing body’ and that ‘a councillor is accountable to the local community for the performance of the council’.

“We need to make sure we don’t perpetuate the same environment that led to us getting into this situation in the first place.”