Grasshopper And The Ant

OPINION PIECE

I remember a while ago, myself and another councillor were labelled “conservative councillors” in a rather disparaging fashion.

I wear that label with pride.

Times of plenty can accommodate financial laxity and largesse, but in the history of this planet, good times have always been finite.

Myself and others have, for a very long time, warned against thinking that “summer lasts forever”. This has been in the face of some pretty strong headwinds, I must say.

It is unfortunate, but we were correct, and we now find ourselves in the depth of economic winter.

Interest rates up, dollar down, input costs skyrocketing, lack of workers (indeed, a lack of an ability to house them should we find them), fuel up, groceries up, electricity up – the list goes on.

It is financial conservatism that puts food on the table, and unfortunately fiscal discipline is learnt through long hard practice – it rarely occurs effectively overnight.

As we build, we create an increasing burden of depreciation which must be paid, and to fund this, an increasing cost burden is placed on our residents.

I have always felt very strongly that the desire to get a photo while cutting a ribbon should never come before the basic needs of our people.

I suggest that those whom do not recognise the pertinence of the title, should go and read the works of Aesop. His writings 2500 years ago, still ring true today.

Cr Martin Bella

Mackay Regional Council

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