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"DEVELOPMENT" is one of those words that could mean different things to different people. The developers might argue that development means that they invest in the community and create jobs, and that their efforts are altruistic.

The community might argue that "development" is done by outsiders with little regard for the communities they are affecting; that jobs are always less than expected and short-term (and promises are merely lip-service in order to get decisions that benefit them). In short, "development" is not for the betterment of the community but simply adds further strain on already oversubscribed infrastructure.

The community could argue that developers grab opportunities to "develop" entirely for their own financial gain.

The people of the south re-elected Felicity Purchase, Nikki Holderness and Demitri Qually to represent us on the council. As Felicity Purchase explains, "We all electioneer on a party-political basis. However, once elected, we become custodians of the city and represent the ward as objectively as possible".

We are lucky: our councillors have built up a trust relationship with all the communities on the peninsula ? and look after all our interests.

Whenever development is proposed, comments can be made by interested and affected people. Felicity Purchase adds, "Our councillors have an added function - they evaluate the proposals in accordance with the technical reports, including details from the engineers, and use their knowledge of the infrastructure of the area to take a wider and deeper view of the developments. They evaluate the desirability of the changes and project the effects of development into the future to protect our rights".

Our ratepayers' associations have developed knowledge of the infrastructure in each area. You have a voice through them. They involve our councillors in their meetings, suggestions, plans, and decisions.

Our councillors play a pivotal role in gathering important information from their wards and taking their findings to the city for the final say in how our communities develop.

And hopefully, through this process of knowledge sharing, it will result in a commitment to the betterment of the lives of all the inhabitants of the Deep South, and a far-sighted view of development as the evolutionary growth that will result in job creation, security, access to necessary infrastructure such as sufficient water, electricity, road access and being able to deal with the effluent.

You have a role to play. Let your voice be heard.

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