PRE POLL voting was introduced for State and Federal elections some time back as a facility for those among us who ''genuinely'' faced difficulty in slipping around to a regular polling booth on election day, even with the lure of those sausage sangas.
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But it seems that ''genuine'' reason is no longer a prerequisite and it has become open slather, no questions asked.
This election's pre poll was set up in a large vacant shop at the top end of Main Street and we're told it's the busiest in the Calare electorate with an average 500 early voters every day.
So the service is popular with all of those happy voters who are perhaps really going to be out of town next Saturday but it really is just another unhappy impost on shopkeepers and their regulars on a shopping strip where finding a parking spot is a challenge most of the time.
Not really a fair go on long suffering local business but apparently the Parish Hall used at the State poll was unavailable.
Hopefully the electoral people will find a less intrusive location next time.
They're a weird mob
STILL on election matters and we're copping more and more throwaway promises, the usual lies (remember Mediscare?), tiresome clichés and laughable baby smooching. But the real entertainment, disturbing as it is, is in the more than usual rate of 'usual' (just to be kind) candidates. Makes those strange American political wannabes that we like to giggle at appear almost normal.
Chaos looms
EXPECT parking chaos in the residential streets around the Lithgow railway precinct and State Office block in coming days (and weeks) as major upgrade work begins at the interchange. Commuters most affected will be those workers from the office block who take up much of the available nearby parking. It's a case of chickens coming home to roost.
Economising by the Carr government resulted in totally inadequate on site parking which in turn resulted in angle parking being imposed on nearby Padley Street. But it's too late to make amends - the former Drill Hall site that was available for parking at construction time is now a residential cul de sac. Good luck all you happy people at the police call centre and State Debt office.
Why no water?
TWO simple questions that deserve simple answers from Council; why is there no water available for the public patronising Lithgow's QE Park? And why was the ONLY water bubbler in the park disconnected? With so many visitors to the park year round this a strange and really unacceptable situation. We will welcome a reply from the Mayor or someone who knows.
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