IT has often been said, perhaps disparagingly, that the main responsibilities of local government are the 3Rs – roads, rates and rubbish.
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It is perhaps an over-simplification of the many roles councils are expected to carry out today but it does reflect the reality that local government is the tier of government closest to the people.
So while state and federal governments are charged with administering complex policy areas such as health, defence, education and finance, local government looks after the matters that really matter to their ratepayers.
With that in mind, then, it is fair to argue that the shocking state of many footpaths in and around the Bathurst CBD is a rare black mark on the performance of our local council.
The issue is back in the headlines after being raised at the council last week by Bathurst Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association president John Hollis.
Mr Hollis said CPSA members had raised their own concerns at a recent meeting about the state of many footpaths which create a trip hazard for elderly members of the community, in particular.
The broken footpaths can also make life difficult for parents who are pushing prams or who have toddlers with them.
Mr Hollis asked what plan council had in place to tackle the issue and he was left dissatisfied with the response.
The good news is, council has set aside $100,000 for footpath repairs in its budget for 2017-18.
The bad news, though, is that there does not appear to be a detailed plan showing where and when that money will be spent.
And given the sorry state of the region’s footpath, there must be real questions over just how far $100,000 will go anyway.
The CPSA, along with the rest of the community, also have every right to ask how the footpaths were allowed to deteriorate so badly with no action being taken.
Hundreds of trip hazards have been identified in the CBD and marked with yellow spray paint but that has simply highlighted just how dire the situation has become.
And the stretch of Russell Street outside the Bathurst Court House – the focus of the city’s winter festival celebrations – is among the worst. That’s not the image we want to present to visitors and not what Bathurst ratepayers deserve.
Council does many things well but it must do better with our footpaths.