Decentralisation

I am opposed to any push to centralise all of the functions of the Council in Roma for a number of reasons:

·       Real estate cost – Centralisation of all of the functions of the council in Roma would require a significant increase in the amount of office space and would necessitate the purchase, lease or construction of additional office space. Given that the council holds significant real estate in other centres that would be wasted, I can see no justification in the unnecessary expense
·         Community Access – Centralisation denies residents in outlying areas easy access to council admin services. Remembering that the Maranoa Shire Boundary to the south of Mitchell is 170km away, to add another 88km would mean that these people would have to travel over 250km just to access a customer service centre.
·         Economic opportunity – Given that there is already limitations on the growth potential in the town of Roma without significant cost to developers, high rental prices and expensive housing, It makes sense to spread the functions of council across the region to help equalise the population across the region and to spread the jobs around.

I would not support any proposal to centralise the functions of council in any one location.

Furthermore, I prefer a policy of active decentralisation, I would like to see some activities of council, particularly works (Roads, Parks and Gardens etc) operate under a “Branch model” where the works manager be located in outlying areas and that person is responsible for setting their budget and prioritising their maintenance and capital works. Obviously, the budgeting process would be conducted in consultation with the works director, but once the budget was set, when and how works where conducted would be up to the manager to organise. Plant logistics and programmes would be worked out with the other managers to ensure optimal utilisation of the plant pool and technical services would still be shared across regions, but the works manager for an area would be in control of ensuring that the works where done on time and on cost.

The benefit of such a model is that the person in the area would be contactable and able to make decisions with regard to their budget and works programme.

If you give people responsibility in their work, you give them job satisfaction and, by default, you help retain your workforce. A Win-Win for everyone!