Business Chamber President Paul Pierotti has called on council to reconsider its use of ratepayers money.

He says initiatives like the rose garden are being prioritised ahead of important infrastructure projects, like funding for Griffith’s sporting precincts. 

“Mr Zappacosta wants to use his own money to create a rose garden I strongly encourage him to do so. However, if he would like to use ratepayers money to do that he needs to be accountable,” he said. 

“A thought bubble to create some lovely little flower bed are at the expense of important infrastructure projects that have been in place for some time and have been neglected and ignored.” 

He pointed to the CBD strategy, ongoing issues with Lake Wyangan and upgrades to sporting precincts and facilities as issues he sees as more pressing than the rose garden. 

Another infrastructure project awaiting funding is Boorga Road, whose residents have been campaigning for upgrades for many years. Boorga Bush Fire Brigade Captain Michael Pfitzner has renewed calls for to be sealed.

“It is something that needs to be taken more seriously. The amount of traffic this road gets and the way it deteriorates is ridiculous. With grape harvest and melon harvest there’s no longer a set period where it gets traffic movements. It’s all year,” he said. 

“Council know it’s a bad road. They do try to send people out to grade the road it’s really bad. Ideally, it needs some sort of funding to get it fully sealed. The gravel that’s used in it doesn’t hold together. It just falls apart within weeks.”

Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi said the rose-garden issue followed due process. 

“Any councillor has the right to put up a notice of motion and have it debated by the council. This one followed that procedure. Costings were prepared, so my role and the role of senior staff is to carry out council’s resolutions. The majority of councillors voted for it,” he said. 

“First of all, we workshop them so everyone is fully informed. The draft budget is prepared and is now out for community comment. Everyone has the right to make a comment, whether they agree or disagree.” 

Councillor Dino Zappacosta has argued a rose garden in the centre of town could help drive tourists and give residents a nice spot to come and visit. 

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Griffith City Council’s draft budget is currently on exhibition for public comment on the council’s website. 

Mr Pierotti says he feels council is “out of touch” with the needs of the Griffith community and encourages further consultation on these issues. 

”Councillors are out of touch with the community and they have not consulted with the community on their thoughts about what should be prioritised,” he said. 

“They are elected to represent the community. It is the community’s, the ratepayers money they are spending without consultation.” 

Mayor Dal Broi disagrees. 

“Twelve councillors have been duly elected by the community to serve the community for four years. We do consult. On this issue, we will gauge the interest as people put their names down to serve on the committee,” he said. 

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