MAYOR SPEAKS OUT OVER ALLEGATIONS

[New youth initiatives get go-ahead from council]

MAYOR Dino Zappacosta has denied allegations of preferential treatment to the youth group Speak Out.

In a letter from the Griffith Ratepayers' and the Residents' Association to the mayor on Wednesday, they questioned the process that allowed Speak Out to get their requests met. Griffith Ratepayers' and Residents' Association secretary Margaret MacGregor said, while they had no issue with the ideas put forward, it was what she called preferential treatment that had angered them most.

"I don't have any problem with any of the things they have come up with," she said. "My problem is the preferential treatment for this one group. The way it has been handled is hypocritical. There were plenty of groups who wanted to do things after the tragedy. In fact we were going to form a youth committee within the Ratepayers' and Residents Association. We had it all prepared but Dino asked us to put it on hold while the working parties were formed."

Mrs MacGregor said she also had concerns for the way the group had been chosen. "This group was handpicked by Val Rowe and there was no opening for others to become involved," she said. "In fact my own son wanted to join and I rang Mrs Rowe before the first meeting and she said no."

Mayor Zappacosta strongly rejected the claims. He said they had followed due process and he was extremely happy with the outcome as it allowed council facilities to be utilised during slow periods.

"I totally disregard any criticism. They followed the right procedures and we responded in the short term to their requests similarly to the way we did for the Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) launch," he said. In her defence Mrs Rowe said her group had been formed to give Griffith youth a voice. "We followed all of the protocols and went through the right channels," she said.

New youth initiatives get go-ahead from council

GRIFFITH youth have spoken and Griffith City Council has proved they are listening after giving the green light for a raft of new youth activities.

On Wednesday night, the Speak Out group, which is made up of around 30 youth, were told the recommendations they presented earlier this year to help eliminate boredom had been passed.

Suicide Awareness' Val Rowe called the result, which will see five proposals go ahead for a trial six month period, "incredible news". "We are very impressed that council has listened to them and has agreed to their request," she said. "I'd say within the month we should see these initiatives put into practice. It's extremely good news for local youth. Now it's up to them once they are in place to use them."

The proposals given the go-ahead are $1 entry on Sundays at the Griffith Aquatic Leisure Centre, a monthly BBQ and band at the pool, sport activities held at the Westend Stadium on Saturdays for $2, repairs to the skate park including new bins and lighting, and a proposal for a shade cloth and access to the regional theatre once or twice a year free of charge to host youth talent.

Story by: The Area News, May 18 2007.