What does Alannah MacTiernan mean when she says; "A merger with the City of Perth would see the benefits of these assets shared with all ratepayers"?
(http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/Your_Community/Whats_On/News/2013/Vincent_to_Perth_-_One_in_ALL_in - 16th August)
After demonstrating the strength of the City of Vincent's financial position, including the many assets the Town/City has developed during the 18 years of its existence, she is apparently touting as a benefit of absorption into the City of Perth that the benefits of these will be diluted as far as Vincent ratepayers are concerned.
This all sounds like the bride-to-be in a forced marriage spruiking the majesty of her dowry to her future master. Unfortunately, most of this dowry has already been promised to the City of Perth by Colin Barnett.
And what would we get in return? The City of Perth is, no doubt, also well-off - apart from anything else, it gets lots of money from those car commuters who pound through Vincent every day to park in the City's car parks - but, on past experience, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any of that to be shared with us.
Twenty years ago, the business people of the CBD were only too pleased to be rid of us (and Victoria Park and Cambridge) because they thought they were subsidising the residential areas. Now, it seems, they want to reclaim the assets created by the people of those self-same residential areas. Alannah is clearly aware of this, as she says: "City of Perth ratepayers should not be concerned that merging with Vincent will be a drain on their resources as the assets and cash held by Vincent will be a boost to their bottom line".
Looks like a one-way trip to me - and you'd have to be on LSD to think it looked like a good deal for the people and businesses of Vincent.
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