While the world knows that it is impossible to find two economists who can agree on what is day and night, I think everyone would agree that whether we use cash or a credit card, it is critical to ensure that what we purchase is useful and represents value for money.

While councillors can argue about the wisdom of borrowing money because it’s “cheap”, how many residents and ratepayers would think that a $7million civic centre would satisfy that criteria?

How many of those same residents and ratepayers would think that buying an asset like the Auswide building for $1.5million, but which will produce a zero return on investment, represents a sound financial decision?

And how many residents and ratepayers would think that spending $2million on the old Tura Beach Tavern and then letting it sit empty for three years represents responsible management?

And how many residents and ratepayers think that having $3.6million of their funds going out the door every year to pay for council’s irresponsible behaviour might be better spent on improving shire roads or its sewerage system?

In our view, none of them are worthy of re-election in September.

Fraser Buchanan, the commercial property owner in Pambula, has had another rant in your paper.

Perhaps Mr Buchanan would like to tell us what happened to these buildings in Pambula – the billiard room, Mitchell's cafe, the Brown cafe and Hylands garage?

As for the meeting convened by Greg Ferguson in December last year chaired by Mr Buchanan, I don’t believe the overwhelming majority of support was against building the new supermarket.

I attended this meeting and believe the majority of support was for the building of this new supermarket on the corner of Bullara and Merimbola Streets.

The developer was in attendance at this meeting.

Many questions were asked of him and he answered all questions in a fair and proper way.

One person remarked that the building was a shocker and said the developer didn’t care.

I don’t know of anyone who would spend thousands of dollars on something he didn’t care about.

A couple of childish remarks.

Bring on this supermarket and IGA.

Mr Buchanan and Mr Ferguson should look outside the mirror.

I didn’t hear anything from these blokes when Mitre 10 and DBC came to town.

Recently I transferred ownership of a car I purchased.

To my astonishment I found that the stamp duty was assessed on the total price paid inclusive of GST – that is a state tax is imposed upon a Commonwealth tax.  

To my mind this amounts to outright extortion.

I, and no doubt many other car purchasers, would be most interested to hear a justification of this extraordinary practice from our local state representative.  

Perhaps his government is considering levying stamp duty on top of our council rates as well?