Our communities area source of pride

I invite Mr Simpson and Mr Barnett to consider a few points.

The many hundreds of people who attended the rally represent many thousands of friends and family who, for one reason or another, could not attend.

As the crowds inevitably grow larger so will the anger because you will be forcing these people to leave the comfort of their homes to fight for their democratic rights. And fight they will.

The protest against forced amalgamation is greater than just the waste of many millions of dollars funded by ratepayers.

This protest is about communities and the identity of individuals who make up these communities; communities that have been built over decades of personal and financial involvement.

It is about pride of one’s place in well-defined and established boundaries.

Our sporting teams and supporters, community groups and schools are established in these boundaries.

We elect people we know to represent our needs in these boundaries; people who are easily contactable and are just as passionate about their suburb as the ratepayers they represent.

Local councils represent quality service.

In a world where our quality of living is already under pressure, we need to treasure and hold together the fabric of society that gives us pride.

Mr Barnett and Mr Simpson, how dare you think that you can potentially destroy these bonds which have been built over many decades? Your reasons for amalgamation have no basis in truth.

If amalgamation is forced upon councils and communities it will not be forgotten at any time in the near or distant future.

Don’t forget Mr Barnett that you promised “There will be no forced amalgamations”.

It is not too late to drop the plan. If backing down is too hard a pill to swallow then at least give the people their democratic right to vote on the subject of amalgamation.

If they want to merge, then let them; if they don’t want to, then don’t force them.

Why does it have to be ‘one size fits all’?