From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 12 June

“It’s outrageous that VicRoads can do what they’ve done, but what really hurts is they don’t care!”

SO said Brad Fisher, who, together with his son Toby, owns and operates Andy’s Car and Dog Wash on Albert Street in Sebastopol.

Mr Fisher and son bought the thriving and lucrative business exactly one-year ago. Now, as a direct consequence of the State Government’s major roadworks (Regional Roads Victoria) being undertaken on Albert Street, and with no end in sight (they cannot provide a finishing date), coupled with the degree of difficulty in accessing the premises, the business is struggling to pay its bills.  According to Mr Fisher they are losing as much as $5000 a week, and problem shows no signs of abating.

To add insult to injury, Mr Fisher has not been contacted by Regional Road’s management, and an application for financial compensation has been ignored, absolutely.

Michaela Settle, the member for Buninyong, has offered no assistance.

It is both wrong and regrettable that any government instrumentality is able to deprive a business of its earning capacity, and, seemingly, with scant regard and impunity.

Have we abandoned the Australian sense of fair play?

It is reason for concern when any of the Ballarat city councillors, or officers, summarily dismiss as ‘crap’ an opposing viewpoint.

The absence of civility and bad manners notwithstanding, it demonstrates a disturbing degree of hubris, and a troubling lack of considered, objective academic application to the argument.

The effort to halt the installation of 225 5.5-metre lampposts, set into a concrete block the size of a small refrigerator, has been an unnecessary distraction, for all concerned. Had the City of Ballarat councillors and their officers deigned to listen and meaningfully consult with the impressive group, all this unmitigated nonsense could have been avoided, and an amicable conclusion delivered.

It is both cavalier, and impertinent, to suggest a select group of decidedly moderate residents, unsettled by a profoundly stupid council decision, are ill-informed – “they don’t know what they’re talking about!”

To argue, “I’ve been following your Facebook page and it’s a lot of crap!”, is regrettable.

As a founding member of the small but implacable group, I can assure you: we do know what we are talking about.  It would be folly to nonchalantly dismiss the legal expertise of Peter McCracken, and the formidable collective scientific learning of Dr Robert Thurman and Dr Penelope Greenslade, and Professor Peter Gell; and the accumulated knowledge of Judith Bailey. In every step along the thorny way, the named practitioners have been consulted, their conclusions noted, and dutifully respected.

The disquieting lack of wit and wisdom, and a brazen absence of willing to consider an opposing point of view, might be deemed a manifestation of wallowing in your own celebrity. Leadership and consultation have been replaced by regrettable scaremongering.

Like Chicken Licken, the disingenuous campaign of overt misinformation claiming the tramways work would cease, and other projects would grind to a deafening halt should be independently investigated.  It did not come to pass, nor was it a possibility, ever! It was calculated, inexcusable fake news! designed to frighten the horses, and achieve their end.

Local government has always been problematic; however, the recent display of petulance, with councillors and officers metaphorically throwing their toys out of the pram in rage, is unacceptable.

We have a right to expect a higher standard. The sooner local government is overhauled – better still, abandoned, the better for everyone!

The council decision is not, by implacability, a fait au complet.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald Monday 10.45am on 3BA and contacted via [email protected].