ISSN 1833-1831 Tourist Park Coober Pedy 08 86 725 691 BULLS GARAGE On-site Service Centre Phone: 86 725 036 Tel: 08 8672 5920 https://cooberpedytimes.com Thursday 17 May 2018 2012-18 FEDERAL TAX AUDIT FOR COOBER PEDY COUNCIL By Margaret Mackay 12 months has now passed [10 May 2017] since then State Treasurer Mr. Tom Koutsantonis requested that the State Auditor General examine the DCCP finances. Subsequently the Auditor General issued a letter to the DCCP that contained the following information. “As you may be aware, the Treasurer, the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP. requested that I examine the District Council of Coober Pedy's (the Council) accounts under section 32(1)a of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 (PFAA).” “The Auditor-General must deliver copies of the report to the Council, the Treasurer and the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly.” One year later just as many were expecting the AG report to be completed and presented in the current session of Parliament, the following two paragraphs were noted below council’s monthly financial report. “Council is about to undergo an ATO audit within the next few weeks. The ATO will investigate PAYG George Naumovic © and Superannuation calculations and deductions from 2012.” “Further, they may investigate the consistency and application of GST payments and deductions, BAS report discrepancies if any, including Fringe Benefit Amidst the plethora of potable (or other) water leaking around the town is an ongoing leak near the Tax.” plantation that runs parallel to Hutchison and Ferral Streets In the same report it is recorded that the DCCP owes They have an incredibly small rate base. They have had Coober Pedy’s water situation: that water pipes creditors $3,394,344 Million, with $3,335,819 Million revolving door senior officers. They have had revolving continue to split, burst, leak across town at the moment being owed to Energy Generation (EDL) as at 31st March, door mayors. is not a criticism, it is a fact! with April account not included./not received. Council also continues to owe $6,731,124 Million to the Local Many people in that community are socially and Last edition we reported that residents had expressed Government Finance Authority for monies borrowed. economically disadvantaged, yet we expected that council concerns that the water pressure was too high and was to run services that no other council in this state is expected potentially the main cause of the crisis. LGFA loan was reduced slightly by a recent interest to run. payment. Cash at bank is $734,831. Mr. Pitman Water Manager/Acting CEO did not have time Last year, we ordered the Auditor-General to carry out an to respond to our request for an update for the last edition, Coober Pedy was mentioned in SA Hansard last week by investigation into the Coober Pedy council, and I await but Mr. Pitman has now agreed to some commentry. Local Member of Parliament, Mr. Eddie Hughes. In with interest what the outcome of that investigation will addition to his Giles portfolio Mr. Hughes is now Shadow be; irrespective, I believe that we do need to be looking “A reduction in water pressure from the plant by 30 kilopascals of pressure for the last 6 weeks which Minister for Primary Industries & Regional Development. at what services the Coober Pedy council have the compliments a reduction in the water losses from 25% to capacity to run. South Australian Parliament Hansard 11-5-2018 11%,” said Mr. Pitman. Mr EDDIE HUGHES (Giles) (15:35): There are people up there who have amassed electricity Upon request for more detailed information on previous bills in excess of $10,000. These are people on Centrelink I rise today to talk about a number of issues, especially in pressure and current pressure, Mr. Pitman has provided payments. They have no chance of being able to pay that some of the smaller communities in my electorate... the following comment. back, and when people are cut off—these are usually people I want to start with Coober Pedy. Coober Pedy is a great in above-ground housing in Coober Pedy—the “The water pressures have been reduced from 530Kpa community, and when I use the word 'unique' it has genuine consequences are pretty dire, especially if you have young to 500Kpa or a 3 m pressure head reduction”. Signed applicability to Coober Pedy. It is in an incredibly kids or elderly people in those houses through the summer Colin Pittman, Acting CEO. challenging place. months. While this only refers to pressure reductions in the recent Earlier this year, I wrote to the then treasurer to indicate So I will be writing to the new government, laying out 6 weeks, we thank Mr. Pitman for his comment. that I believed it was beyond the capacity of the Coober some of my thoughts about Coober Pedy and what needs Pedy council to run some of the essential services that to be done. Mr. Pitman has written further information on a variety they were expected to run in that community when it comes of other topics, and that can be found on page 7. to water and when it comes electricity distribution and I think, as a first step, SA Water would be a reasonable billing. I thought, 'Enough is enough. We need to take body to take over the running of the water assets up there INSIDE: Italian Club Social photos, LETTERS; and those responsibilities away from the council.' in Coober Pedy. [Time expired] Drive-In AGM Report by Chairperson Matt Key SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 Editor - Margaret Mackay 7 DAYS WEATHER - Low 20s Email: [email protected] PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 Ph: (08) 8672 5920 Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Tarcoola Andamooka Email: [email protected] Coober Pedy is an underground town built on the back of opal mining * DUGOUT Next Newspapers Thursday 31 May 2018 Thursday 14 Jun 2018 Thursday 28 Jun 2018 Thursday 12 July 2018 Advertising Rates *Winter Solstice Display $6.50 per cm/col Thursday 21 June, 2018 Classified $8.00 per cm/col Bookings and Material September Equinox in South Australia is must be in Fri prior to publication on Sunday, 23 Sept 2018 at 11:24 am The CPRT newspaper first went ONLINE in 2006 and is now ONLINE ONLY. www.cooberpedytimes.com C EMAILING LIST o If you would like to be on a fortnightly email-out send your preferred email o address to [email protected] b The Coober Pedy Regional Times e “Your Outback Communities r Newspaper” CPRT became a FREE Newspaper in 2006 and increased its distribution to 4,500 hard copies + Free Online Newspaper, promoting news, events p thus distributing advertising to tourists and to nearby communities and towns. The CPRT receives no e Margaret Mackay © external funding. d A local newspaper is the voice of the people. A Umoona Opal Mine and Museum Backpackers quarters roof lights up a truly free and independent press is a vital y fluorescent orange at night. component of any healthy democratic society. Easy navigation for tour drivers and a nice colour visual for the groups that stay. [...] the prime value of journalism is that it imposes transparency, and thus accountability, on those who wield the greatest governmental and corporate power. ~ Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill CONTRIBUTORS n ‘Media releases’ may be submitted however there is no a obligation on the newspaper to publish any part of it. Media releases are generally one sided so comments may’ be extracted and used in a related article. CPRT t does not provide free space for political or advertising propaganda . 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