MAYORS MESSAGE 377
Unreasonable and unfair criticism of Council contractors.
Our Council funds a Safety and Security patrol and this unit performs a dual purpose
service to all residents and visitors. This is through the enforcement of council by-laws
and the protection of intoxicated people from the dangers of traffic on the roads –
particularly on the major through roads. It also helps many vulnerable people by
seeking medical or other help as appropriate.
In recent times elected members have quite appropriately questioned the cost of this
important service during the budget process but have continued the funding. (even in
these tight budgetary conditions) This is partly because of the level of protection
provided to vulnerable people. Our town would be a much less safe place to be without
this initiative.
It is galling that we have to make this provision in the absence of any financial
assistance from the State Government which, quite frankly, seems to do very little to
help us. Having gone out on patrol with the Safety & Security patrol I have seen that
many lives have been saved by this valuable service.
This makes it especially annoying that a few individuals continue to make spiteful and
untrue assertions. Every rumour that we have been able to trace down has proved to
be in this category and absolutely without any real foundation. As has frequently been
said, any factual allegations with valid details will be thoroughly investigated. Untrue
allegations represent defamation of the company concerned.
To those few individuals in Adelaide and locally we suggest that you should appreciate
the life saving services of this unit rather than making foolish unfounded claims.
Perhaps you could concentrate on doing your own job to help address this problem
rather than attacking those who do?
I say again any proper truthful claims will be investigated without fear or favour.