A piece by Concerned Ratepayer, cross-posted from Strewth! with permission.

I have just read a summary of the report commissioned by council, and done by the AEC Group on the performance of Wide Bay Water.

This was brought to my attention when I read Strewth! and then highlighted after seeing the Mayor of Hervey Bay on  the local TV  news, criticising the report.

This is a report that I believe the current council voted to bury, apart from Sue Brooks, who wanted it published and she should be congratulated for her stand on this matter.

I believe this report was commissioned by council using ratepayer funds, and the Chronicle on Friday  stated it had cost $55,000 to have it prepared.

If it is such a poor and inaccurate report, was AEC Group  who prepared it, informed of this  at the time the report was initially tabled, and the fee not paid, or is this only a recent revelation, after the report was brought into the open?

Nancy Bates in her editorial for the Chronicle on 23rd January states that it was discredited by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
If this is so,

a) who engaged them?
b) when were they engaged?
c) how much were they paid?
d) if they were paid, who paid them?

I am not saying this happened, but it is possible to get different results, depending on the parameters laid down.

This report has been  “regurgitated” as Nancy has quoted in her editorial, but only because no-one other than her quoted, so called “intelligent councillors” knew about it, except for an unknown person who believed it would be in the publics’ interest if it was brought into the open.

If it’s our money being spent ($55,000), and the councillors (who are our elected representatives) authorised it, surely we have the right to know where our ratepayers’ money is going and make an informed opinion.

As this  appears to be secret council business that the public was to be kept in the dark about, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all bury anything  we didn’t like in life, especially when others are paying for it.

I once again stress that it was obviously a person in authority who instigated this report on WBWC and if it was faulty when presented the problems should have been addressed, not buried.

It reminds me of school children, who when found out for doing something wrong, simply deny everything.

While not denying the achievements made by WBWC, which have been so well publicised in the Chronicle over the years, and their specialised  water management systems, which are recognised globally, from the report findings, I believe there has to be more accountability in their general management, especially towards council.

I urge everyone to consider your vote carefully when voting in the upcoming elections as I believe it is time that many of the current councillors should step down to make way for those with the expertise required for an expanded council. I  urge the new council to streamline Wide Bay Water and make it more accountable.

After reading the report it is obvious to me that  Wide Bay Water should  be de-corporatised and once again be a business unit of HBCC and the new expanded council and thus reduce its running costs.

The removal of the board and streamlining of duplicated services will help achieve this.