It has been observed many times that community consultation is more than making an announcement and ignoring any opinions that you disagree with. Residents have contested SIMTA and MICL's claims to have consulted with them because nothing of substance changes no matter what residents say, or how carefully worded and well researched resident's responses are.
Many residents feel that the PAC took so-called consultation to a new low level by announcing that it would hear from residents only during working hours on two weekdays (1 Feb and 2 Feb) and only in a remote location, nowhere near the affected suburbs, in a different local government area.
A large number of residents complained, both to the PAC directly and also to the ombudsman. To date no-one has had an answer from either.
It looks like a tactic to exclude residents, especially working residents (who have to be at work) and to some degree retirees (who may have more limited mobility and transport options). If it is a tactic to exclude residents then its working because the PAC just announced that there are not as many speakers as anticipated and 2 Feb is now cancelled.
I call on the PAC to re-think its approach and take community consultation more seriously because people are starting to think its not listening and that its no accident.
